Roland Eriksson

Last updated
Roland Eriksson
Roland Eriksson Panini 1979.jpg
Born (1954-03-01) March 1, 1954 (age 68)
Stora Tuna, Sweden
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Minnesota North Stars
Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
National teamFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
NHL Draft 131st overall, 1974
Minnesota North Stars
Playing career 19761979

Roland Bengt Eriksson (born March 1, 1954, in Stora Tuna, Sweden) is a retired Swedish ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League during the late 1970s.

Contents

Playing career

Following a stellar performance at the 1974 World Junior Championships, 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 broke into the NHL in 1976–77 with four assists in his first game to tie an NHL record. He continued on to finish 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 and points, but finished only third in Calder Memorial Trophy voting for the league's top freshman.

In 1977–78, Eriksson continued to be one of the lone bright lights on a 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 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. 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 to 1982, he continued 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 five world championships between 1976 and 1983 - winning two silver medals and a bronze.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1969–70IF Tunabro SWE.2 22111526
1970–71IF TunabroSWE.216171229
1971–72 IF Tunabro SWE 145384
1972–73 IF TunabroSWE14102120
1973–74 IF TunabroSWE1475122
1974–75 Leksands IF SWE2811162714
1975–76 Leksands IF SEL 3621143516493120
1976–77 Minnesota North Stars NHL 802544691021010
1977–78 Minnesota North StarsNHL7821396012
1978–79 Vancouver Canucks NHL35212144
1978–79 Winnipeg Jets WHA 33510152101450
1979–80 Leksands IFSEL351821391423140
1980–81 Düsseldorfer EG 1.GBun 403155862411615210
1981–82 Düsseldorfer EG1.GBun3730386814
1982–83 Leksands IFSEL3620274716
1983–84 Leksands IFSEL3620204020
1984–85 HV71 SWE.2 323142734
1985–86 HV71SEL351115261020002
1986–87 Västerås IK Hockey SWE.23123264981249134
1987–88 Västerås IK HockeySWE.231192342414915240
1988–89 Västerås IK HockeySEL2187158
1988–89 Västerås IK Hockey Allsv 1858130
1989–90IK Westmannia SWE.3 322437614
1991–92 IFK Arboga IK SWE.32815254010
SWE totals7033265920
SEL totals19998104202848124162
NHL totals19348961432621010

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1971 Sweden EJC 33140
1972 SwedenEJC54260
1973 SwedenEJC53580
1974 Sweden WJC 55490
1976 Sweden WC 1087150
1976 Sweden CC 52242
1977 SwedenWC1075120
1978 SwedenWC101232
1981 SwedenWC82132
1983 SwedenWC102242
Junior totals181512270
Senior totals532219418

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