Daniel Alfredsson was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 2:00 p.m. ceremony on Tuesday, June 7 “in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Canadian hockey and, in particular, his commitment to the community through philanthropic efforts that include mental health awareness and advocacy for equality for athletes, regardless of their sexual orientation.”
Born in Gothenburg Sweden, “Alfie” was a member of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club from 1994 to 2013, including 14 years as team captain. He and his wife Brigitte have four sons – Hugo, Louis, Fenix and William.
Daniel represented Sweden internationally 14 times, including the 2006 gold medal and 2014 silver medal winning Swedish Olympic teams. An avid world traveller with a mission to make things better, Laroche’s work has shaped Canada’s conversation about people with disabilities, accessibility and awareness.
Daniel won the National Hockey League Rookie of the Year in 1996, and two NHL leadership awards – the 2012 King Clancy Memorial trophy and the 2013 Mark Messier Leadership award.
He is most proud of his work in Ottawa fighting the stigma against mental illness. His efforts have helped people open up and talk about mental health.