Stefan Daniel Patryk Liv, born Patryk Śliż on December 21, 1980, in Gdynia, Poland, was a Polish-born Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender.
Tragically, his life was cut short on September 7, 2011, when he perished in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash.
Liv’s journey from an orphanage in Poland to becoming a celebrated figure in Swedish hockey is a story of resilience and talent.
Adopted by a Swedish family in Jönköping at the age of two, he grew up in a new country, retaining his original first name, Patryk, as a middle name.
His adoptive parents, Jens and Anita Liv, provided a supportive environment, though the loss of his adoptive father to lung cancer when Stefan was ten brought challenges.
Known for his agility, quick lateral movements, and unorthodox goaltending style, often compared to Dominik Hašek, Liv became a beloved figure in Swedish hockey, particularly with HV71, and a respected member of Sweden’s national teams.
Siblings
Stefan has one sibling, Christian Liv.
However, not much is known about Christian, including their personal lives or career pursuits as they live a private life compared to their brother.
Career
Liv’s hockey career began with HV71 in the Swedish Elitserien (now SHL), where he debuted in the 1999–2000 season.
His skill as a goaltender quickly made him a standout, playing nine seasons with HV71 and establishing himself as a cornerstone of the team.
Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round, 102nd overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Liv spent the 2006–07 season in North America, primarily with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL and briefly with the Toledo Storm in the ECHL.
Also Read: Nick Bateman Siblings: All About Amanda, Samantha and Nicole Cerny
Despite being recalled by the Red Wings, he never played in the NHL, posting a .895 save percentage over 34 AHL games.
Returning to HV71, he won the Swedish Championship in 2008 and was named the Elitserien’s Player of the Year.
In 2010, Liv moved to Russia, playing for Sibir Novosibirsk in the KHL, where he was selected for the 2011 KHL All-Star Game.
His final season was with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, where he was traveling for the 2011–12 season opener when the tragic plane crash claimed his life.
Internationally, Liv represented Sweden in multiple tournaments, including the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, where he served as a third goaltender, and several World Championships.
Accolades
Liv was nominated for the Elitserien Rookie of the Year in 2001 and named to the Elitserien All-Star Game in 2002.
That same year, he won the Honken Trophy as Sweden’s Goaltender of the Year and a bronze medal at the Ice Hockey World Championships.
Liv earned a silver medal at the 2004 World Championships and gold medals at both the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2006 World Championships.
His 2008 season was particularly stellar, as he won the Guldpucken as the Swedish Player of the Year, was named to the Swedish All-Star Team, and secured an Elitserien championship with HV71.
In 2009, he added a World Championships bronze medal and an Elitserien playoff silver medal.
Liv also won Elitserien titles with HV71 in 2004 and 2010.
He set Elitserien records for playoff shutouts (five, four in the finals) and career shutouts (37), along with HV71 club records for total minutes played (13,231), shutouts in a season (six), and career goals-against average (2.17).
Posthumously, the Swedish Hockey League’s playoff MVP award was renamed the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy in his honor, and a street in Jönköping, “Stefan Livs gata,” was named after him in 2013.
His No. 1 jersey was retired by HV71 in 2012, cementing his legacy.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
