Johan Hedberg

Written by Marty Coffey
 Johan Hedberg is a goalie with the Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL.  He was born in 1973 in Sweden.  He entered the NHL in the 1994 draft as the ninth round choice of the Philadelphia Flyers.  He was the 218th overall pick.  He stands six foot three inches and weighs in just over 200 pounds.  He catches left-handed.
 Prior to joining the NHL, he played in his native Sweden, and then on various minor league teams in Canada and in America, such as Manitoba, Detroit, Baton Rouge, and Kentucky.  His path has now led him to settle in Atlanta.
 In 2006, Hedberg signed a contract with Atlanta which will have him on their team for the next two years, playing goalie as a backup for the starter, Kari Lehtonen.
 Hedberg’s fans have nicknamed him Moose as the result of a rather funny story.  When he was pulled up for a game on late notice once, he had to show up still wearing his helmet from the Manitoba Moose.  Due to this unusual helmet with a Moose painted on it, the big-league fans now refer to him as Moose.  When they call out “Moooose” during a game, it can sometimes be misunderstood as booing.  Quite the opposite, Johan Hedberg has become something of a fan favorite and will likely enjoy an excellent stay in Atlanta.
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