• Patrolling the blue-line for Modo in the Swedish Elite League, Hedman recorded 21 points (7-14-21) in 43 games to earn the Rookie of the Year honors in 2008-09.

• For the second year in a row, he represented Team Sweden at the World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal each year -- in 2008 he was an All-Star selection. Hedman also represented Sweden on the Under-18 team, winning a gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament and a bronze at the World Championships.

• He was born in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden; a town of less than 55,000 people known for producing star NHL players, including: Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Niklas Sundstrom.

• A familiar opponent this season was his brother, Oscar, who plays for Frolunda HC. His oldest brother, Johan, plays for Morrum in the Swedish Elite League Division II.

• At the age of five Hedman began skating, trying to follow in his older brothers footsteps – “my brothers and my parents have always supported me and have been a big part of my career”.

• He patterns his game after top Swedish defenseman and Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom and his most memorable international hockey moment was watching Sweden capture the 2006 Olympics and World Championships.

• Outside of hockey, Hedman has a love for flying (his grandfather was a pilot in the military) and he hopes to get his pilot’s license in the near future.