| Born March 23, 1958 in Karlskoga, Sweden. Forward. In 1973 at the age of 15, Gustavsson was already playing second division hockey for his KB Karlskoga club and at 19, he was ready for big league action with nearby Farjestads BK. One year later, in 1978, Bengt-Ake made his international debut with the "Tre Kronor". After the successful 1979 IIHF World Championship in Moscow, Gustavsson signed with the WHA's Edmonton Oilers and played briefly with the club before the league folded. He was immediately claimed by the Washington Capitals where he spent nine NHL seasons in which he played 629 regular season games and accumulated 196 goals and added 359 assists. Despite playing abroad, Gustavsson always made himself eligible for the Swedish national team. His 117 games included two Canada Cups, the 1992 Olympic Winter Games and five IIHF World Championhips, which earned him two gold, a silver and a bronze medals with two allstar team selections. In 1989, Gustavsson returned to Farjestad and the Elitserien for four more seasons before he signed with VEU Feldkirch of the Austrian league, guiding the club to five national titles in his six seasons. In 1998, at the age of 40, Gustavsson led Feldkirch to a stunning European Hockey League championship. After retiring in 1999, he has coached the Swiss club Langnau and was also the assistant coach of the Swiss national team between 1999 and 2002. In his first season as head coach Farjestads BK, Gustavsson captured the 2002 national championship. |
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