Petes alum has jersey retired in Sweden
Former Edmonton Oiler Liam Reddox spent much of his career playing overseas
Liam Reddox originally went to Sweden hoping to kick-start his National Hockey League career not knowing the “magical” experience that awaited.
The Peterborough Petes alumnus so enjoyed his time with the Swedish Hockey League’s Vaxjo Lakers, he turned down NHL contract offers that came in later years. Last month, Reddox returned to Sweden, where he last played in 2018-19, as the Lakers retired his jersey No. 85. In eight seasons with Vaxjo, Reddox scored 72 goals and 150 points, which is tied for third in franchise history. His banner joins Stefan Nilsson’s No. 14 and Johan Markusson’s No. 38 in the rafters of Vida Arena.
“It was the best part of my career,” said Reddox, 38. “It was such a difficult decision to go over there. I was 25 and had just finished 46 games with the Edmonton Oilers and was a restricted free agent. They had qualified me and we just couldn’t get a deal done.”
The Oilers drafted Reddox from the Petes, where he won an Ontario Hockey League championship in 2006. He was in their system from 2006 to ’11, playing 100 games with the NHL club. The Oilers were only offering him a two-way contract and Reddox wasn’t sure he really fit into their future plans.
The Lakers had just gained promotion for the first time to Sweden’s top league and were entering a new arena. When they reached out to Reddox, the situation intrigued him.
“The plan was never to stay,” he said. “The plan was to become unrestricted and then get myself back over and get another crack at the NHL.”
A funny thing happened when Reddox and his new bride, Ashley, arrived in Sweden.
“We just loved it right from the start,” he said. “After year four, there were a couple of offers to come back and sign a two-way with a couple of teams where maybe I’d get another chance to look at the NHL, but I didn’t want to leave what I had. It was such an amazing organization. I loved the way they treated myself and the way they took care of my family. It was just too enticing to stay.”
He was not considered an import player in Sweden as his parents were Scottish immigrants to Canada, giving him a British passport. Being in the European Union at the time, he was recognized by the SHL as a domestic player. His sons Linden and Lochlan were born in Sweden.
In his first season, the Lakers placed ninth of 14 teams with the highest point total of any team in its first year of promotion to the SHL. The second year was a dogfight to stay out of the relegation round, but in year three they reached the semifinals and in year four won their first of two SHL championships during Reddox’s time there.
“They have won another two since I left and have really established themselves as a top organization not only in Sweden but in Europe. It’s pretty cool what they’ve been able to achieve there in such a short period of time,” he said.
When he was informed they were going to retire his jersey and fly his family over for the ceremony along with a number of former teammates, it was a special moment.
“I went over as a 25-year-old and I left as a husband and a father of two,” he said.
“That place is just magical to me. To think they wanted to honour me in a way that my jersey hangs in those rafters until the end of time is just next level.”
They enjoyed the slower pace of life in Sweden and a hockey environment unlike anything Reddox experienced in North America.
“The fans are on their feet for the entire game cheering and chanting and encouraging,” he said. “On practice days, where I was, you go up to the restaurant after practice and eat with your teammates every single day. Fans come to the arena and watch practice and eat at tables right around us. The fans get to meet us on a more personal level and it feels more like a close-knit community.”
The ceremony was his first visit to Sweden since he retired.
“It was first class from start to finish,” he said. “It was an amazing trip.”
Reddox, a Whitby resident, played one year in Britain before he retired in 2020 and was hired by the Durham Regional police services. He also started Durham Hockey Development with two partners teaching skills development to minor hockey players in the Whitby area and the business has done so well he recently left policing to run the business full-time.
“Once I got back to the rink, it was just so refreshing to be back at the rink doing what I love,” Reddox said.
‘‘ It was the best part of my career. It was such a difficult decision to go over there. I was 25 and had just finished 46 games with the Edmonton Oilers and was a restricted free agent.