Early Life
Nystrom was born and raised in Syosset, New York, where his father, Bob, was an NHL player for the New York Islanders. Bob, who was himself born in Sweden but grew up in Western Canada, won four consecutive Stanley Cups between 1980 and 1983. Bob coached his son during his formative years in hockey. Nystrom is Jewish on his mother's side and had a Bar Mitzvah. He attended high school at Portledge School in Locust Valley, New York. He has an older sister, Marissa.
Nystrom grew up playing several sports, including soccer and baseball, and only seriously considered a hockey career in his mid-teens. While Eric was regarded as an NHL prospect himself, his father encouraged him to seek an education first, which the younger Nystrom did upon earning a scholarship to play for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 2000. He spent four years at Michigan where he earned a degree in liberal arts.
Read more about this topic: Eric Nystrom
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