Deep Ink: Alex Wennberg

For many people, body art can be an outward expression of individual stories, passions, or memories. For Alex Wennberg, tattoos are a more personal connection to the accomplishments and individuals that mean the most to him.

Simple in design, and not entirely visible to a passerby, Wennberg's tattoos are significant to him because they serve as touchstones for the story of his life thus far.

The Year

2014 was a significant milestone for Alexander Wennberg. After being drafted in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, when the calendar turned, the pieces of his professional career started to come together. First, the center helped win a silver medal for Team Sweden at the World Junior Championship held in his home country.

Then, on Oct. 4, 2014, Wennberg made his NHL debut in a game against the Buffalo Sabres. He also earned his first NHL point: an assist on a third period goal by Artem Anisimov.
Wennberg would go on to play 68 NHL games that year and record a stat line of 4-16-20 in his rookie season.

"It was a good year for me," Wennberg said. "First NHL game, national team play, so for me personally, it felt like when you achieve something big…I wanted to put it down."

It took a year or two for Wennberg to decide what the tattoo would look like. He thought about what he wanted and eventually settled on the year in roman numerals on the inside of his right forearm. He got the tattoo in his home country of Sweden.

Now, years later, from time to time, looking down at black ink on his arm reminds him of what he has accomplished.

"It grows on you how big the things you accomplished that year are," Wennberg said. "(The tattoo) is a great way to remember and look down on it in a spot where I always can see it.

Every now and then, you go through rough patches, and you just look down and it's like, 'hey, you know what? Life is really good and it's a great thing to accomplish.' I feel like that's the purpose of the whole thing."

The Birthday

Even before Wennberg marked his own career moments on his body, there was another tattoo. Etched on the side of his left torso is the birthday of his older sister, Kimberly. It came three years before the arm marking Wennberg chose, and, also in roman numerals, this tattoo set the theme for Wennberg's body art to date.

While It's hidden from view, the birthday is a reminder of family that is now spread far and wide. Sweden is a long way from Seattle where Wennberg has made his home and his tattoo helps keep them close in mind and spirit.

"We live in different countries," Wennberg said. "We're away from each other a lot of times. But family is always important to me. I feel like (my tattoo) is a great way to just have (them) right there with you."

And it's family that is on the Swede's mind as he thinks about getting more body art. Wennberg said he's definitely getting more starting with something to honor his son who was born this past Fall. The center's eyes light up as he talks about making time this off-season to get a tattoo for little Rio. Wennberg is not sure yet what the tattoo will be, or if it will stick with the roman numeral theme, but he knows he'll get it.

"Even with a few tattoos, it just makes me want to have more because they're meaningful to me," Wennberg said. "I feel like that's a great way to just have that (meaning) printed on you. For me, I really appreciate having them and I feel like it's a lot of fun."

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Photography by Chris Mast