| abstract | - Hardy Åström (b. March 29th 1951 in Skellefteå, Västerbotten, Sweden) is a former professional goaltender, who played in the Elitserien and in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers and the Colorado Rockies. Åström began his career with Skellefteå AIK in 1975. He moved to North America in 1977 to join the New Haven Nighthawks, the New York Rangers's affiliates. He did well there, playing in 27 games and keeping a fine save percentage of 91.3%. He played four games with the Rangers in 1977-78, becoming, on Febraury 25th 1978, only the second European born and trained goaltender to play in the NHL (the first one was Göran Högosta on November 1st 1977). At the end of the season, he returned home to play one more season with Skellefteå. In 1979-80, he was back in North America, after the Rangers had traded his rights to the Colorado Rockies for Bill Lochead. He played 49 games for the Rockies that season (going 9-27-6, with a 3.75 goal-against average), and 30 the next (with a 6-15-6, 3.76 GAA record). Hardy had a hard time in the NHL, and his former head coach Don Cherry wasn't very fond of him, nicknaming him "The Swedish sieve". He then spent a season in the Central Hockey League before going back to Sweden. He retired in 1986.
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