A goalie, Thord Flodqvist played most of his career from 1944-60 with Södertälje SK, except a short spell with AIK in 1950-52. With Södertälje, Flodqvist won Swedish titles in 1953 and 1956. Flodqvist also played 82 internationals with the Swedish national team between 1946-58, and was their top goalie between 1952-57. He won an Olympic bronze in 1952, was World Champion in 1953 and 1957 and won the World Championships bronzes in 1954 and 1958.
He returned from the 1957 World Championships held in Moscow back home as a national hero, because his fearless goaltending brought the Swedes their second World title. In a final-round match against the Soviet Union in front of 50,000 Soviet fans, Sweden needed only a tie to win the title. In the final minutes, with the score 4-4, the Soviets attacked heavily. Flodqvist, suffering from a high fever throughout the game, stopped one of the Soviet’s efforts by fending the puck away with his cheek. In that time goaltenders did not wear helmets, and Flodqvist fell unconscious to the ice. After Flodqvist had regained consciousness, he continued the match and kept his goal safe until the final whistle had blown. He was also European Champion in 1952 and 1953, while taking silver at the 1954 and 1958 European Championships. After finishing his sporting career, Flodqvist worked as an ice hockey coach with Södertälje SK, coaching their junior teams. He was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #37 in ice hockey, a Swedish sports honorary award created in 1928 by Bo Ekelund.
Sweden