If you were a New York Rangers fan during the 2000s, you knew "The King." Henrik Lundqvist was the face of the franchise, the guy with the perfectly coiffed hair and the even more perfect glove hand. But for a lot of hockey fans, it’s still a bit of a shock to realize that there are actually two of them. Well, not two Vezina-winning goalies, but two identical twins who shared the exact same dream and took two wildly different paths to get there.
Most people just think of Henrik Lundqvist and twin brother Joel as a "fun fact" trivia bit. But if you look at their history, the story is actually kind of wild. It’s a tale of a prank that backfired (or worked perfectly, depending on how you look at it), a historic NHL showdown, and two very different legacies built on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Prank That Created a Legend
The twins grew up in Åre, a ski town in Sweden. Naturally, they were expected to be skiers. Instead, they fell in love with hockey. When they were about eight years old, their first youth coach asked if anyone wanted to play goalie. Henrik was interested, but he was too shy to speak up.
Joel wasn't shy.
He literally grabbed Henrik's arm, shoved it into the air, and yelled, "My brother wants to do it!"
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That was it. That moment basically decided the next thirty years of their lives. Henrik stayed in the crease, and Joel stayed at center. Honestly, if Joel hadn't been an "annoying" twin that day, Henrik might have ended up as just another Swedish forward, and the Rangers' history would look a whole lot different.
That One Time They Faced Off in the NHL
While Henrik is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Joel’s NHL career was more of a "blink and you'll miss it" situation. He was actually drafted way higher than Henrik—Joel went 68th overall to the Dallas Stars in 2000, while Henrik sat around until the 205th pick.
On December 14, 2006, they made history.
It was the first time in NHL history that a goaltender faced his twin brother in a game. Imagine the dinner table conversation leading up to that. Joel actually managed to get a couple of shots on Henrik, but he didn't score. Henrik's Rangers beat Joel's Stars 5-2 that night. Joel ended up playing 134 games in the NHL before heading back to Sweden in 2009. He later admitted that a shoulder injury and the "grind" of the North American game made the decision to return home pretty easy.
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Joel Lundqvist: The King of Gothenburg
Don't feel bad for Joel, though. While Henrik was becoming a god in New York City, Joel was becoming a legend in Gothenburg. He played for Frölunda HC for most of his life, serving as the team captain for over a decade.
Basically, he's the Swedish version of Mark Messier.
He won four Swedish championships. He won three World Championship gold medals with Team Sweden. He even holds the record for the most games played in the history of the Swedish Hockey League. When he retired in 2023, it was a massive deal in Europe. He didn't have the celebrity status of "King Henrik," but in the world of European hockey, Joel’s resume is just as heavy.
The Most Emotional Win of Their Lives
For years, the brothers were always on opposite sides or separate continents. That changed in 2017 at the IIHF World Championships. Henrik’s Rangers had just been knocked out of the playoffs, so he flew to Germany to join Team Sweden, which was being captained by—you guessed it—Joel.
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They finally got to play together on a big stage for the first time in 12 years.
It ended in the most cinematic way possible. The final against Canada went to a shootout. Henrik stopped every single Canadian shooter. When the final save was made, the first person to tackle Henrik on the ice was Joel. There’s a famous photo of them holding the trophy together, gold medals around their necks. Henrik later said it was one of the most emotional moments of his entire career, even comparing it to his biggest wins in New York.
Different Lives, Same Bond
Even though they look exactly alike, their personalities are pretty distinct. Joel is often described as the more "serious" or "gritty" one—the quintessential captain who does the dirty work. Henrik, of course, leaned into the New York lifestyle, starting a foundation, playing guitar with John McEnroe, and becoming a style icon.
But they remain incredibly close. They even collaborated on a charity art project called "830 13 for Peace," which is a sculpture of a knotted gun (a famous non-violence symbol) painted in the colors of both the Rangers and Frölunda. The name "830 13" is actually the postal code of their childhood home in Åre.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
- Watch the 2017 Gold Medal Shootout: If you want to see the peak of their connection, find the highlights of the 2017 World Championship final. The post-game interview is pure sibling energy.
- Follow the SHL History: If you’re a jersey collector, a Joel Lundqvist Frölunda #20 jersey is a deep-cut piece of hockey history that garners huge respect in Sweden.
- Check the Non-Violence Project: You can still find information on their "830 13" collaboration, which remains one of the coolest crossovers between the NHL and European hockey culture.
The story of Henrik and Joel is a reminder that success doesn't always look like a Broadway billboard. One twin conquered the world's biggest city, and the other conquered his homeland. Both ended up exactly where they were supposed to be.
Next Steps for Your Hockey Knowledge:
Research the 2006 Olympic Gold Medal game where Henrik led Sweden to victory, often cited as the moment he transitioned from a "rookie" to a national hero. You might also want to look into the Frölunda HC jersey retirement ceremonies to see how Sweden honors its legends compared to the NHL.