Thomas Steen
A skilled and durable centre for the Winnipeg Jets, he became a franchise icon and later served his adopted city in civic politics.
Born 1960 (age 66)·Swedish ice hockey player and coach·Birthday: June 8·Baby Boomers
Biography
Thomas Steen carved out a remarkable 14-season career in the National Hockey League, all of it with the original Winnipeg Jets. The Swedish centre arrived in 1981, bringing a blend of European skill and tenacity that made him a fan favourite and a consistent two-way force. While not always the flashiest scorer, Steen was a pillar of reliability, surpassing 70 points multiple times and serving as an alternate captain. His loyalty to the Jets franchise through the turbulent 1980s and early '90s forged a deep bond with the city of Winnipeg. After retiring, he transitioned to coaching and, in a surprising second act, entered municipal politics, winning a seat on the Winnipeg City Council for the Elmwood-East Kildonan ward, demonstrating a lasting commitment to the community he played for.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Thomas was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Thomas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Thomas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
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
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played his entire 950-game NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, scoring 817 points.
- Represented Sweden in the 1991 Canada Cup and the 1984 and 1987 World Championships.
- Had his number 25 retired by the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise in 1995.
- Served as a Winnipeg city councillor from 2010 to 2014.
Did You Know?
His son, Alex Steen, also played in the NHL for over 15 seasons.
He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
During his council tenure, he focused on issues like infrastructure and community safety.
He was known for his strong defensive play and faceoff prowess.
“You play for the crest on the front, not the name on the back.”
