The Henrik Lundqvist Blog: Henrik Lundqvist Signs With IMG

Monday, July 23, 2012

Henrik Lundqvist Signs With IMG

Henrik at IMG's New York City headquarters with his new representation team.

Here's the press release:

Jul 23, 2012 - Source: IMG

IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, announced today that it has signed the popular NHL New York Rangers All-Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist exclusively for representation in marketing, speaking and broadcasting.

This past season, the 30-year-old Swedish born Lundqvist won his first Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s best goaltender, became the only goaltender in NHL history to record 30 wins in each of his first seven seasons, led the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals and was named First Team NHL All-Star.

"Henrik is a very special athlete and we are honored that he has selected IMG to manage the business side of his incredibly successful NHL career," said Sandy Montag, Senior Corporate Vice President, Managing Director of Clients at IMG. "His reputation far exceeds the boundaries of hockey and his potential off the ice is as great as his accomplishments on it. He helped Sweden win Olympic Gold in 2006 and has established himself as one of the all time New York Rangers greats. He's a genuinely terrific human being whose interests from rock and roll to fashion and now fatherhood have made him popular in New York and around the world.”
"I'm very pleased to be working with IMG," Lundqvist said. "Their reputation of handling the business aspects of the careers of some of the greatest athletes in the world is legendary. Their presence in Sweden and key markets around the globe will present me with opportunities that I might never have otherwise had."

Prior to joining the New York Rangers, Henrik, and his twin brother Joel, played for the Frolunda Hockey Club in the Swedish Elitserin from 2000 to 2005. During his time in Sweden he won the Honken Trophy three consecutive seasons (2003-05) and in 2005 he won the two most prestigious awards in Swedish hockey, the Golden Puck and the Golden Helmut. During the 2005 season, Lundqvist broke four Swedish National records: lowest goals against average (1.05), highest save percentage (.962), longest goalless streak (172 min 29 sec) and most shutouts in a season (6). He was also named Best Goaltender, Best Player and the league's MVP by fellow players.

Lundqvist made his NHL debut in October 2005 with the Rangers. In his Rookie year he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and he won the 2005-2006 MetLife/Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, a New York Rangers' team award. As a reflection of his outstanding athletic ability, work ethic and dominating play in his rookie season, the New York media gave him the nickname "The King." Lundqvist was a member of the Swedish Olympic ice hockey team that won the Gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin where he went 5-1, allowing only 12 goals with a .907 percentage.

In a December 2006 game against the Dallas Stars, Lunqvist became the first NHL goaltender ever to face his twin brother. He and his brother are only the third set of twins to play each other in an NHL game. The game was won by Lundqvist and the Rangers.

Lundqvist also serves as the Rangers spokesperson for the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which works with Madison Square Garden and its tenants to host charitable events and grant wishes to sick children, on the order of The Make A Wish Foundation. He also launched a clothing line called the Crown Collection to benefit the charity.

Lundqvist was named to the NHL All-Star Team in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and is the first Rangers player to be named the team's MVP as voted by the Professional Hockey Writer's Association five consecutive times.

IMG's Sandy Montag and David Abrutyn, who also manages Alex Ovechkin, star left winger of the NHL's Washington Capitals, will lead the team at IMG that will manage Lundquist.