Peter Forsberg

Hockey

Feathery passes. Bullet shots into the net. Bone-rattling body checks. They’re all part of Peter Forsberg’s on-ice arsenal.

The Swede can dazzle and dominate, displaying the skills many believe make him a worthy successor to Wayne Gretzky.

He already possesses the prizes, including one that Gretzky hopes to take from the Nagano Olympics - a gold medal.

Forsberg, a 24-year-old center for the Colorado Avalanche, led Sweden to its first Olympic hockey gold in 1994.

That was just the beginning. He was NHL rookie of the year in 1995, then won the Stanley Cup and made the All-Star team in 1996.

Forsberg is known for his excellent skating and puck-handling skills. Like Gretzky, he possesses an uncanny vision of the ice, always sensing every player’s location, then hitting teammates with pinpoint passes.

“You’re going to see how dominating he can be on this bigger ice surface,” American Mike Modano said.

Forsberg is equally talented on offense and defense. Unlike the prototypical European, he’s also willing to punish opponents.

“If you want to run and gun, he can score on you. He can put it between your legs, go in on net and make your goalie look like a fool,” Modano said. “Then if you want to play the tough game, he can lay someone out.”

Sweden coach Kent Forsberg, who first coached his son 11 years ago, is realistic about Peter being called the world’s best.

“I’m proud as a father, but I know there’s so many players over there (in the NHL),” he said. “Maybe he’s the best today. Tomorrow, it’ll be someone else.”

“At the rink, he’s my coach,” Peter said. “We don’t talk about that he’s my dad. He knows my moves. I’m glad he’s on our team.”

Before the ‘94 Lillehammer Games, Gretzky called Forsberg the “best young player in the world” - heady praise from the man regarded as the greatest ever. Forsberg had yet to play in the NHL.

The shy kid from small-town Sweden proved his idol right. Forsberg scored the winning goal against Canada in a thrilling shootout that culminated the most dramatic gold-medal game in Olympics history.