Ulf Ivar Erik Sterner - Born February 11, 1941 in Deje, Sweden is a Swedish retired ice Hockey left winger and coach.

- World Ice Hockey Champion 1962 with Sweden.
Sterner was named to the tournament Media All-Star Team.

- Ice Hockey World Championships Silver Medal Winner 1963, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973 with Sweden.
Sterner was named the Best Forward at the 1969 World Championships.

- Ice Hockey World Championships Bronze Medal Winner 1971 with Sweden.

- Winter Olympics Silver Medal Winner 1964 with Sweden.

- Guldpucken Winner 1962-63 with Västra Frölunda IF.

Sterner played for Forshaga IF from 1956 to 1961, Västra Frölunda IF from 1961 to 1964.

The New York Rangers had taken notice of Sterner during the 1962 world championships, which Sweden won. Then he was awarded the Guldpucken in 1963, also helping Sweden win a Silver Medal at the 1963 world championships.

Sterner then decided to attend the Rangers training camp in Winnipeg, Canada prior to the 1963-64 NHL season. He was set to join the Rangers for NHL opening night in October 1963, but could not get written confirmation that playing up to 5 NHL games would not affect his amateur status for the upcoming 1964 Winter Olympics, so he decided to put his NHL dream on hold and return to Sweden to help the national team prepare for the Winter Olympics, which they would win the Silver Medal.

Sterner attended the Rangers training camp again prior to the 1964-65 NHL season. He then made his pro debut with the Central Professional Hockey League / CPHL St. Paul Rangers, playing in 16 games, scoring 12 goals. The Rangers then sent him to the American Hockey League / AHL Baltimore Clippers for the remainder of the 1964-65 season, where he scored 18 goals in 52 games played. During his time with the Clippers, The Rangers recalled Sterner up to the NHL, and he made his NHL debut on January 27, 1965 vs Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden in a 5-2 Rangers win - Sterner played with Don Marshall and Bob Nevin. Sterner became the 1st player who was born and trained in Europe to play in an NHL game.

While the 1st NHL game for Sterner went well and he was cheered by the Rangers faithful at MSG, the next 3 games were different, as the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks all checked Sterner at every opportunity by their toughest players. All 3 games were losses and Sterner was left with 2 black eyes. He had 0 points or penalties.

Sterner would not play in the NHL again, returned to Baltimore where he finished the season, also helping them reach the AHL playoffs.

Sterner returned to Sweden for the 1965-66 season, signing with Rögle BK, playing there for 2 seasons with his brother Owe, helping them get promoted to the top Swedish league in his 2nd season there.

Sterner then signed with Färjestads BK, playing there for the next 5 seasons. He finished his playing career with the London Lions in Great Britain (1973-74), BK Bäcken (1974-77) and Vänersborgs HC (1977-84). Sterner never won a Swedish championship (Le Mat Trophy), but he won silver in 1962 and bronze in 1968 with Västra Frölunda and bronze in 1971 with Färjestad. He was also awarded the Guldpucken in 1963.

During his playing days, Sterner was a Sweden National Team regular, playing 189 games, scoring 91 goals. He played at 2 Olympic Games (1960 & 1964) and 9 World Championships. He won an Olympic Silver Medal in 1964, was a World Champion in 1962, won silvers at the 1963, 1967, 1969, 1970 and 1973 World Championships and won bronze at the 1971 World Championships. Sterner was named as the best forward at the 1969 World Championships and was selected to the all-star teams at the 1962 and 1969 World Championships. Sterner was also European champion in 1962, while taking silver at the 1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1970 and 1973 European Championships and bronzes at the 1960, 1961, 1965 and 1971 European Championships.

After retiring as a player, Sterner turned to coaching, mostly in Germany with Bayreuth SV, EC Hedos München, and EV Füssen from 1986 to 1989.

Ulf Sterner was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #59 in ice Hockey.

Ulf Sterner was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2001.