Frans Nielsen

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size = 132px
team = New York Islanders
former_teams =
prospect_team = Bridgeport Sound Tigers
prospect_league = AHL
league = NHL
position = Left Wing
shoots = Left
height_ft = 5
height_in = 11
weight_lb = 172
nationality = DEN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1984|4|24|mf=y
birth_place = Herning, DEN
draft = 87th overall
draft_year = 2002
draft_team = New York Islanders
career_start = 2001

Frans Nielsen (born April 24, 1984, in Herning) is a Danish professional ice hockey player, currently with the New York Islanders in the NHL. He was the first Danish citizen to play in the NHL.Cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=290445|title=When it comes to hockey, it's a small world|accessdate=2007-04-15|publisher=NHL.com|year=2007|author=Grossman, Evan]

Playing career

Nielsen was drafted by the New York Islanders with their 3rd round pick, 87th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. After playing in the Swedish Elitserien since 2001, Nielsen signed a two-year contract with the New York Islanders on May 15, 2006. He has also played for the Danish national men's ice hockey team.

Over 216 games in the Swedish Elitserien, Nielsen recorded 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points and 66 penalty minutes.

Nielsen started the 2006-07 AHL season with the Islanders' affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and was recalled to the Islanders on January 5, 2007. He made his NHL debut on January 6, 2007. At the time of his recall, he had recorded a point in nine consecutive AHL games, which was three games shy of the Sound Tigers' club record. [cite web | title=FRANS NIELSEN RECALLED BY ISLANDERS - Set to become first Daniard player to appear in an NHL game | publisher=Brideport Sound Tigers | url=http://www.soundtigers.com/news/release_010507.htm | accessdate=2007-02-24]

Nielsen is believed to be the first Danish-born player in the NHL since the 1979-80 NHL season. Poul Popiel was an NHL defenceman in the late 1960s and the 1970s. Popiel played his last games in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1979-80 season. However, Popiel had become an American citizen prior to his debut, leaving Nielsen with the honour of being the first Danish citizen in the NHL. [cite web | title=Dane checks into NHL | publisher=The Copenhagen Post | url=http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,610595&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&ic_itemid=936835 | accessdate=2007-02-24]

Career statistics

References

External links

* [http://stats.theahl.com/stats/player.php?id=1334 Frans Nielsen at theahl.com]
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