Henrik Lundqvist has been an elite level goalie in the NHL for over a decade, serving as a brick wall between the pipes for the New York Rangers ever since he entered the league back in 2005.

In a recently penned piece for the Players Tribune, Lundqvist wrote a personal letter to his 8-year-old self, detailing his journey from being a bright-eyed rink rat in Åre, Sweden to cementing his place among the greatest players ever to don a Rangers jersey. In the letter, Lundqvist shed light on the important role his brother played in him taking the crucial first step towards achieving his ultimate dream of becoming a professional hockey player.

When you get out on the ice tomorrow with the 15 other players, you’ll see this one kid all decked out in his goalie equipment, and he will look so awesome. The old-school brown leather pads, the big glove, the waffle paddle, the cool mask. Something about the gear is fascinating to you. You’ll look at the kid’s pads in awe. 


In 1989 in rural Sweden, this kid is the coolest person you have ever seen. 

Then your coach will point to the empty net at the other end of the ice and ask the question that will change your life. 

“Who wants to play goalie?” 

You won’t have the courage to raise your hand. Luckily, your brother knows how badly you want to be a goalie. 

So he will grab your arm and raise it for you. 

“My brother!”

"And that’s it, kid. You are now a goalie. Go put on your pads. A life of pain and misery (and a whole lot of fun) awaits you."

Lundqvist later goes on to reveal the key to his success in the letter, attributing his ability to maintain his focus on one three letter word: fun.

Being a goalie is 90% mental. If you are stuck in your own thoughts or dwelling on negativity you won’t have the mental focus necessary to compete and succeed. Nobody tells you this when you’re a kid, but the best way to get in the right mindset is to start by having fun. The rest you’ll figure out.
...

It’s just ice. It’s just a puck. Stopping it is fun.


Lundqvist has not been at his absolute best this season, and the 34-year-old Swedish netminder isn't getting any younger, but from the sounds of this letter, Rangers fans should have nothing to worry about as long as the King sticks to his positive secret to success. 

(H/T: Players Tribune)