Roland Eriksson
Encyclopedia
Bengt "Roland" Eriksson is a retired a Swedish ice hockey
forward
who played in the National Hockey League
during the late 1970s.
, Eriksson was selected 131st overall by the Minnesota North Stars
, the first Swede ever drafted by the franchise. In the following two seasons, he would continue to excel in Sweden with Leksands IF
. In 1975–76, he was named to the Swedish All-Star Team, and turned in a standout performance at the World Championships
, recording 15 points in 10 games. That summer, he was signed by the North Stars and set high expectations for himself with a strong performance against NHL players at the 1976 Canada Cup
tournament.
A tall, classy playmaking center, Eriksson would break into the NHL in 1976–77 with a splash, recording 4 assists in his first game to tie an NHL record. He wouldn't look back from there, finishing the season with 25 goals and 44 assists to set a North Stars rookie record (since broken) with 69 points. He led all NHL rookies in assists in points, but somewhat surprisingly finished only 3rd in Calder Trophy voting for the league's top freshman.
In 1977–78, Eriksson continued to be one of the lone bright lights on a woeful North Stars team which finished the season with just 18 wins. He led the team with 39 assists and 60 points, and was selected to play in the 1978 NHL All-Star Game.
Following his second season in Minnesota, Eriksson became an unrestricted free agent, and signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks
. He was one of four Swedes to join the club for 1978–79, although he was the only one with previous NHL experience. Coming off an All-Star season in Minnesota, expectations were high, but Eriksson struggled badly. He found himself behind Don Lever
and Thomas Gradin
on the depth chart at center for the Canucks, and scored just 2 goals and 14 points in 35 games. He was ultimately released by the Canucks mid-way through the season, and finished the year in the World Hockey Association
with the Winnipeg Jets. His previous offensive touch continued to elude him in Winnipeg, however, as he recorded 5 goals and 15 points in 33 games.
After the disappointment of the previous season, Eriksson returned to Sweden and Leksands IF in 1979. Aside from two years in Germany from 1980–82, he would continue to be a productive player in the Swedish Elite League for most of the 1980s. He last played in the SEL in 1989 for Västerås IK
, and played a few more years in lower-tier leagues before retiring in 1992.
In 193 NHL games, Eriksson recorded 48 goals and 95 assists for 143 points, along with just 26 penalty minutes. He was also one of the most decorated Swedes of his time in international play, representing his country in 5 World Championships between 1976 and 1983 - winning two silver medals and a bronze - as well as the 1976 Canada Cup.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
who played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
during the late 1970s.
Playing career
Following a stellar performance at the 1974 World Junior ChampionshipsWorld Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
, Eriksson was selected 131st overall by the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
, the first Swede ever drafted by the franchise. In the following two seasons, he would continue to excel in Sweden with Leksands IF
Leksands IF
Leksands Idrottsförening is a Swedish ice hockey team from the town of Leksand in the region of Dalarna. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Leksand has played 53 seasons in the top Swedish league – between 1951 to 2001, 2002 to 2004, and 2005–06...
. In 1975–76, he was named to the Swedish All-Star Team, and turned in a standout performance at the World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
, recording 15 points in 10 games. That summer, he was signed by the North Stars and set high expectations for himself with a strong performance against NHL players at the 1976 Canada Cup
1976 Canada Cup
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991...
tournament.
A tall, classy playmaking center, Eriksson would break into the NHL in 1976–77 with a splash, recording 4 assists in his first game to tie an NHL record. He wouldn't look back from there, finishing the season with 25 goals and 44 assists to set a North Stars rookie record (since broken) with 69 points. He led all NHL rookies in assists in points, but somewhat surprisingly finished only 3rd in Calder Trophy voting for the league's top freshman.
In 1977–78, Eriksson continued to be one of the lone bright lights on a woeful North Stars team which finished the season with just 18 wins. He led the team with 39 assists and 60 points, and was selected to play in the 1978 NHL All-Star Game.
Following his second season in Minnesota, Eriksson became an unrestricted free agent, and signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. He was one of four Swedes to join the club for 1978–79, although he was the only one with previous NHL experience. Coming off an All-Star season in Minnesota, expectations were high, but Eriksson struggled badly. He found himself behind Don Lever
Don Lever
Donald Richard "Cleaver" Lever is the head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League and a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1972–73 until 1986–87.-Playing career:Lever was drafted 3rd overall by the...
and Thomas Gradin
Thomas Gradin
Thomas Kjell Gradin was a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League from 1978 to 1987. He is best remembered for the 8 seasons he spent with the Vancouver Canucks, and remains one of the top players in that franchise's history.-NHL career:Gradin was already one of the top...
on the depth chart at center for the Canucks, and scored just 2 goals and 14 points in 35 games. He was ultimately released by the Canucks mid-way through the season, and finished the year in the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
with the Winnipeg Jets. His previous offensive touch continued to elude him in Winnipeg, however, as he recorded 5 goals and 15 points in 33 games.
After the disappointment of the previous season, Eriksson returned to Sweden and Leksands IF in 1979. Aside from two years in Germany from 1980–82, he would continue to be a productive player in the Swedish Elite League for most of the 1980s. He last played in the SEL in 1989 for Västerås IK
Västerås IK
Västerås IK is a Swedish sports club located in Västerås, with the following sections:* VIK Västerås HK – ice-hockey.* Västerås IK Fotboll - football....
, and played a few more years in lower-tier leagues before retiring in 1992.
In 193 NHL games, Eriksson recorded 48 goals and 95 assists for 143 points, along with just 26 penalty minutes. He was also one of the most decorated Swedes of his time in international play, representing his country in 5 World Championships between 1976 and 1983 - winning two silver medals and a bronze - as well as the 1976 Canada Cup.