Olie Sundström
Encyclopedia
Olow "Olie" Sundström is a retired professional Swedish
ice hockey
goaltender
.
. As a backup, Sundström never appeared in more than nine games during his first four seasons with the team. Sundström would assume the starting duties of Leksands for the 1990-91 SEL season, appearing in 20 of the team's 22 games. After the 1991-92 SEL season, where Sundström again appeared in 20 of the team's 22 games, he moved onto the ECHL.
and Nashville Knights in his rookie season, going a combined 12-10-0 with an .859 save percentage.
Sundström would spend his two seasons in the International Hockey League as a member of the Cleveland Lumberjacks
. Sundström handled starting the starting duties during the 1993-94 season, appearing in 46 games and going 20-19-4. The following season, he appeared in 23 games, splitting time with Patrick Lalime
and Philippe DeRouville
, who at the time were both Pittsburgh Penguins
goaltending prospects.
Sundström would return to the ECHL in 1995, making stops in Erie
, Johnstown
, and Wheeling
before being recalled by the Providence Bruins
in 1998. Sundström spent the next five seasons playing in the low-level minors, primarily in the United Hockey League
and the West Coast Hockey League
with a brief stop in Europe with Iserlohn Roosters
of the 2nd tier Bundesliga
.
. With less than two minutes remaining, Sundström launched the puck the length of the ice into the Nailers' empty net. Sundström accomplished the feat almost nine months after Hampton Roads'
goaltender Corwin Saurdiff recorded the first goal by a goaltender in ECHL history. Saurdiff scored his goal on March 18, 1995 in a game vs the Charlotte Checkers.
Although scoring a goal is rare, two more ECHL goaltenders also accomplished the same feat during the 1995-96 ECHL season. South Carolina Stingrays
goaltender Sean Gauthier
scored a goal on December 19, 1995 (four days after Sundström scored his goal), and ECHL Hall Of Fame goaltender Nick Vitucci
was credited with a goal on March 6, 1996 as a member of the Charlotte Checkers.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
ice hockey
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...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
.
Elitserien
Sundström spent the first six years of his career playing for the Elitserien team Leksands IFLeksands 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...
. As a backup, Sundström never appeared in more than nine games during his first four seasons with the team. Sundström would assume the starting duties of Leksands for the 1990-91 SEL season, appearing in 20 of the team's 22 games. After the 1991-92 SEL season, where Sundström again appeared in 20 of the team's 22 games, he moved onto the ECHL.
North America
Sundström spent the majority of his next nine season in North America, primarily in the ECHL. He split time with the Columbus ChillColumbus Chill
The Columbus Chill was a professional ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from October 1991 through the 1998-99 season. They played at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum in Columbus, Ohio. The Chill left Columbus in 1999 and relocated to Reading, Pennsylvania...
and Nashville Knights in his rookie season, going a combined 12-10-0 with an .859 save percentage.
Sundström would spend his two seasons in the International Hockey League as a member of the Cleveland Lumberjacks
Cleveland Lumberjacks
The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:...
. Sundström handled starting the starting duties during the 1993-94 season, appearing in 46 games and going 20-19-4. The following season, he appeared in 23 games, splitting time with Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime is a Canadian professional ice hockey broadcaster and former player. Lalime played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres...
and Philippe DeRouville
Philippe DeRouville
Philippe DeRouville is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:DeRouville was a top prospect in junior hockey but his NHL tenure lasted all of three games in the 90s...
, who at the time were both Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
goaltending prospects.
Sundström would return to the ECHL in 1995, making stops in Erie
Erie Panthers
The Erie Panthers were a professional hockey team, and one of the founding members in the East Coast Hockey League. Based in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1988 to 1996, they were one of the most prolific teams in the ECHL. The Panthers were known for their ability to score goals quickly and often, as...
, Johnstown
Johnstown Chiefs
The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed...
, and Wheeling
Wheeling Nailers
The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL....
before being recalled by the Providence Bruins
Providence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...
in 1998. Sundström spent the next five seasons playing in the low-level minors, primarily in the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
and the West Coast Hockey League
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
with a brief stop in Europe with Iserlohn Roosters
Iserlohn Roosters
The Iserlohn Roosters are a professional ice hockey team based in Iserlohn, North-Rhine-Westphalia. They are members of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga since 2000 and play their home games at the Eissporthalle Iserlohn which is also known as Eissporthalle am Seilersee. Playing nine years in the DEL the...
of the 2nd tier Bundesliga
2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey)
The 2nd Eishockey-Bundesliga is the second tier of Ice hockey in Germany. It is organised by the DEB, the German Ice Hockey Federation. In the 2007-08 season, it features 14 teams.- History of the 2nd Ice Hockey Bundesliga :...
.
Return To Europe
Sundström returned to Europe in 2003, playing in Sweden's Allsvenskan until 2007. He briefly returned to professional hockey at age 41 to play for Uppsala Hockey, a Swedish Division 2 team.Scoring A Goal
As a member of the Erie Panthers, Sundström became the second goaltender in ECHL history to score a goal on an empty net. Sundström accomplished on December 15, 1995 in a game versus the Wheeling NailersWheeling Nailers
The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL....
. With less than two minutes remaining, Sundström launched the puck the length of the ice into the Nailers' empty net. Sundström accomplished the feat almost nine months after Hampton Roads'
Hampton Roads Admirals
The Hampton Roads Admirals were an American professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena....
goaltender Corwin Saurdiff recorded the first goal by a goaltender in ECHL history. Saurdiff scored his goal on March 18, 1995 in a game vs the Charlotte Checkers.
Although scoring a goal is rare, two more ECHL goaltenders also accomplished the same feat during the 1995-96 ECHL season. South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina Stingrays
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
goaltender Sean Gauthier
Sean Gauthier
Sean D. Gauthier is a former Canadian goaltender, who played in one National Hockey League game for the San Jose Sharks in 1998–99. He was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 1991.-External links:...
scored a goal on December 19, 1995 (four days after Sundström scored his goal), and ECHL Hall Of Fame goaltender Nick Vitucci
Nick Vitucci
Nick Vitucci is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Currently, he is the head coach of the ECHL's Toledo Walleye....
was credited with a goal on March 6, 1996 as a member of the Charlotte Checkers.