Patrick Thoresen
A Norwegian scoring machine who became one of Europe's most dominant players, shattering records in the Swedish and Swiss leagues.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Norwegian ice hockey player·Birthday: November 7·Millennials
Biography
Patrick Thoresen didn't just play hockey; he dominated it on the European stage with a scorer's touch that made him a legend in the Swedish Hockey League and Swiss National League. The son of Norwegian Olympic veteran Petter Thoresen, Patrick carved his own formidable path. After a brief stint in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers, he returned to Europe where his game truly exploded. In Sweden with Djurgårdens IF and later in Switzerland with the ZSC Lions and SC Bern, Thoresen was a point-per-game force, winning scoring titles and championship MVP honors. He was the engine of Norway's national team for over a decade, leading them to historic finishes at World Championships. A fierce competitor with sublime playmaking vision, Thoresen's career is a testament to a player finding his ultimate level and rewriting record books there.
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.
Patrick was born in 1983, 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 Patrick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Patrick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
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 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Guldhjälmen award as the Swedish Hockey League's most valuable player in 2014 with Djurgårdens IF.
- Led the Swiss National League (NL) in scoring during the 2016-17 season with SC Bern.
- Represented Norway in two Olympic Winter Games (2010, 2014) and multiple IIHF World Championships.
- Holds the record for most points in a single SHL playoff season (24 in 18 games in 2014).
Did You Know?
His father, Petter Thoresen, played for Norway in five consecutive Winter Olympics from 1980 to 1994.
His younger brother, Steffen, is also a professional hockey player who has played for the Norwegian national team.
He once scored a famous 'Michigan' or lacrosse-style goal in a Swiss league game.
He served as an alternate captain for the Norwegian national team for many years.
“Scoring goals is about being in the right place and wanting it more.”
