Elias Pettersson

Fredrik Elias Pettersson (born 12 November 1998) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a forward and alternate captain for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Pettersson was selected fifth overall by the Canucks in the 2017 NHL entry draft. He was born in Sundsvall, Sweden, but grew up in Ånge. After one of the greatest under-20 seasons in Swedish Hockey League (SHL) history in 2017–18, and winning the Le Mat Trophy with the Växjö Lakers, Pettersson made the Canucks' opening night roster for the 2018–19 season. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie in 2019, becoming the second Canuck to do so after Pavel Bure in 1992.

Early life

Fredrik Elias Pettersson was born on 12 November 1998, in Sundsvall, Sweden, to Irene Jonsson and Torbjörn Pettersson. According to Pettersson and his older brother Emil, the name "Fredrik" was likely chosen by Emil in honour of Ånge IK forward Fredrik Lindberg. Pettersson is of Finnish descent through his paternal grandfather, born Toivo Jokelainen, who was sent to Sweden in 1941 as a Finnish war child.

Raised in Ånge, Pettersson began playing hockey at three years old. He and his brother Emil played for Ånge IK's youth team. Because Ånge has few teams and his father was Zamboni driver at the local rink, Pettersson had opportunities for extra ice time in his youth. He also played soccer, but stopped when he was 13 years old to focus on hockey.

In 2011, when he was 13 years old, Pettersson found out that two of his best friends, Valerik and Davit Danielyan, were deported from Sweden to Armenia. Along with some friends, Pettersson was interviewed by a local newspaper and television station in support of the Danielyan family. The Danielyans were permitted to return to Sweden in 2012, following about 80 days in Armenia. Pettersson discussed the events in 2019 and 2020 interviews.