Jimmie Ericsson, born Sven Jimmie Ericsson on February 22, 1980, in Skellefteå, Sweden, is a retired professional ice hockey player renowned for his gritty, two-way play and leadership on the ice.
A left winger who could also play center, Ericsson spent the majority of his career with Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), where he became a cornerstone of the team’s success.
Hailing from a hockey-enthusiastic family, Ericsson’s journey from a young player in Norrköping to an international star is marked by resilience, skill, and a deep connection to his roots.
His father, Sven Eriksson, was a professional hockey player, and this familial passion for the sport profoundly shaped Jimmie’s career and those of his siblings.
Siblings
Jimmie is the eldest of three brothers, all of whom have ties to hockey, though their paths diverged in terms of success and focus.
His younger brother, Jonathan Ericsson, born on March 2, 1984, carved out a notable career as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings.
Jonathan played over 600 NHL games, known for his physical presence and defensive reliability, and represented Sweden internationally, including alongside Jimmie at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where they won a silver medal.
The brothers’ shared Olympic experience was a cherished moment for their family, despite earlier missed opportunities to play together, such as at the 2010 World Championships, where Jimmie’s injury prevented them from sharing the ice for long.
The youngest sibling, Jesper Eriksson, is less documented in the public sphere but is noted as part of the hockey-playing family.
Career
Ericsson began playing at age seven with HC Vita Hästen in Norrköping, his father’s former club.
At 15, he joined the hockey gymnasium in Södertälje, honing his skills before returning to Vita Hästen as a senior player in 1999, competing in Sweden’s third-tier Division 1.
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In 2002, Ericsson moved to Skellefteå AIK in the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier league, marking the start of his long association with his hometown club.
Despite failing to secure promotion to the Elitserien (now SHL) in three attempts, Ericsson’s talent shone through, leading him to a brief stint with Leksands IF in the Elitserien during the 2005-06 season.
When Skellefteå AIK finally earned promotion in 2006, Ericsson returned and became a pivotal figure, eventually serving as assistant captain and later captain in 2011.
His leadership culminated in Skellefteå’s first Swedish Championship (Le Mat Trophy) since 1978 in the 2012-13 season, followed by a second consecutive title in 2013-14, where he led the playoffs with 12 goals, the second-highest single-playoff goal total in SHL history.
Seeking a new challenge, Ericsson signed a one-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2014, winning the Gagarin Cup in 2015.
He returned to Skellefteå AIK for the 2015-16 season but suffered a severe Achilles and calf injury in February 2019, which led to his retirement in early 2020 after a challenging rehabilitation.
Internationally, Ericsson represented Sweden with distinction, competing in the 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 World Championships and the 2014 Winter Olympics, where he was the only non-NHL player on the Swedish roster.
Accolades
In 2013, Ericsson was awarded the Guldpucken, recognizing him as the SHL’s player of the year, and the Peter Forsberg Trophy, honoring him as the league’s top forward, following his leadership in Skellefteå AIK’s championship run.
That same year, he won a gold medal with Sweden at the 2013 World Championship, playing through a broken rib sustained earlier in the tournament.
In 2014, Ericsson’s playoff performance earned him the top goal-scorer title in the SHL playoffs, with 12 goals in 14 games, a critical factor in Skellefteå’s back-to-back championships.
His international career was capped with a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he played alongside his brother Jonathan, and a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championship.
Ericsson’s time in the KHL added the prestigious Gagarin Cup to his resume in 2015, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and accomplished player across different leagues.
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