Eddie Genborg, Detroit’s 2025 second-round draft pick, is carrying Red Wings colors into the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship as he suits up on Sweden’s top forward line. He’s not the only player in the Swedish lineup with the Red Wings connection, though.
Herman Liv is following the same path as his father, in more ways than one.
Goalie for the Swedes, Liv turned in an impressive performance between the pipes on Wednesday as Sweden was edged 2-1 by Canada in a pre-tournament game.
— Samuel Edberg (@samuel_edberg) December 17, 2025
If the name sounds familiar, there’s a reason for that. Liv’s father Stefan, was also a goalie, one who was a draft choice of the Red Wings.
Detroit selected Stefan Liv 102nd overall in the 2000 NHL entry draft. He was one of the goalies on Sweden’s 2006 gold medal-winning Olympic team. During the 2006-07 season, he played 34 AHL games for the Grand Rapids Griffins and three games with the ECHL Toledo Storm.
In 2011, Stefan Liv signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of Russia’s KHL. Tragically, he was among those killed when Lokomotiv’s plane crashed shortly after takeoff on September 7, 2011. The team was heading to what would’ve been their season-opening game.
Among others killed in the crash were former Red Wings defenseman Ruslan Salei and ex-Detroit player and assistant coach Brad McCrimmon. McCrimmon was entering his first season as head coach of Lokomotiv.
Like Father, Like Son For Offspring Of Former Red Wings Prospect
Stefan Liv spent the majority of his career playing for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League. Including his junior years, he spent 14 seasons with the club, winning three SHL championships. Following his death, HV71 retired Stefan Liv’s No. 1 jersey.
Now there’s a chance that it might be coming down from the rafters. It’s been revealed in the Swedish media that Herman Liv is joining HV71 for the 2026-27 SHL season.
Uppgifter: Herman Liv återvänder till HV71 https://t.co/wBM3L7lexr
— HockeyNews.se (@HockeynewsSe) December 17, 2025
“It would be great if Stefan’s son came back,” HV71 legend David Petrasek told Swedish website Sportbladet. The all-time leader in SHL games played, Petrasek, was a teammate of Stefan Liv. “It won’t be easy to keep the tears away then (when Herman plays for HV71).”
There might even be an additional emotional moment afoot upon Herman’s return to his dad’s team.
“If Herman wants number 1, we’ll take it down (from the rafters),” Petrasek said.