Ed Belfour wins Swedish League debut

Former NHL goaltender Ed Belfour was a winner in his Swedish League debut with Leksand IF on Wednesday night.

Belfour, 42, surrendered a goal on the first shot he faced, but played flawlessly the rest of the way as Leksand posted a 4-1 victory over Sundsvall in front of 7,000 fans at the Ejendals Arena.

Leksand competes in the Allsvenskan, one tier below the Swedish Elite League (Elitserein).

"I see it as an honour to play for a classic club like Leksand,"he said.

Belfour, who made 16 saves, signed Aug. 27 with Leksand after failing to find employment in the NHL.

He went 27-17-10 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in 58 games with the Florida Panthers last season.

Belfour toiled 18 seasons in the NHL, going 484-320-125 with a 2.50 GAA, .906 SP and 76 shutouts in 963 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and Panthers.

The Carman, Man., native earned the Calder Trophy as top rookie (1991), the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender (1991, 1993), and the Jennings Award for lowest goals-against average (1991, 1993, 1995, 1999).

He won a Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999 and an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games.