Mats Zuccarello
A diminutive Norwegian playmaker who defied size expectations to become a dynamic offensive catalyst and an NHL All-Star.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Norwegian ice hockey player·Birthday: September 1·Millennials
Biography
Mats Zuccarello’s story reads like a Nordic hockey fairy tale. Undersized and overlooked by major junior circuits, he honed his dazzling puck skills and visionary passing in the Swedish Hockey League, where he was named league MVP in 2010. When he arrived in New York with the Rangers, his 5'8" frame raised doubts, but his fearlessness and elite hockey sense quickly made him a Madison Square Garden favorite. Nicknamed 'The Hobbit,' Zuccarello played with a giant's heart, becoming the Rangers' offensive engine and emotional leader. A serious head injury in the 2015 playoffs threatened his career, but his comeback was triumphant. After a decade in New York, he continued to produce at a point-per-game pace in Dallas and Minnesota, shattering records for Norwegian-born players and inspiring a generation of smaller skill players back home.
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.
Mats was born in 1987, 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 Mats Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Mats's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Guldhjälmen (Golden Helmet) as the Swedish Hockey League's most valuable player in 2010 while playing for Modo.
- Became the first Norwegian-born player to be selected for an NHL All-Star Game in 2023.
- Holds the record for most career points and assists by a Norwegian player in NHL history.
- Recorded a career-high 79 points (26 goals, 53 assists) for the Minnesota Wild in the 2022-23 season.
Did You Know?
He has a prominent tattoo on his arm that reads 'Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat', Latin for 'Fortune Favors the Bold'.
He played street hockey and soccer growing up and didn't start playing organized ice hockey until age 10.
He is close friends with fellow Norwegian and NHL player Patrick Thoresen.
He won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, voted by Rangers fans, three times for his dedication.
“I play with my heart. I don't care how big you are, if you play hard you can do anything.”
