Linus Ullmark
A Swedish goaltender whose Vezina-winning season in Boston was a masterclass in athleticism and puck-stopping dominance.
Born 1993 (age 33)·Swedish ice hockey player·Birthday: July 31·Millennials
Biography
Linus Ullmark's path to NHL stardom was one of patient refinement. Hailing from Lugnvik, Sweden, he honed his craft in the Swedish Hockey League, where his calm, positional style and impressive size caught the eye of the Buffalo Sabres. His early years in North America were a test of resilience, battling for starts on struggling teams. The turning point came with a move to the Boston Bruins in 2021. There, under the guidance of goalie coach Bob Essensa, Ullmark's game transformed. He paired his technical foundation with explosive athleticism, resulting in a spectacular 2022-23 campaign. That season, he didn't just win the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie; he became the first netminder in decades to score a goal, capturing the imagination of fans with a blend of elite skill and unexpected flair.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Linus was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Linus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Linus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender for the 2022-23 season.
- Became the first goalie since 2013 to score a goal by shooting the puck into an empty net in 2023.
- Recorded a league-leading .938 save percentage and 1.89 goals-against average in his Vezina season.
- Won the William M. Jennings Trophy (with Jeremy Swayman) for fewest goals allowed in 2022-23.
Did You Know?
He and teammate Jeremy Swayman popularized the elaborate post-win 'hug' ritual in Boston.
His father, Jan Ullmark, was also a professional hockey goaltender in Sweden.
He is an enthusiastic and skilled chess player.
Wore number 35 in Buffalo but switched to 37 in Boston as a tribute to his birth year (1993).
“You have to be a little bit of a weirdo to be a goalie.”
