Espen Knutsen

Espen Knutsen

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
played_for = Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Columbus Blue Jackets
Djurgårdens IF
position = Centre
shot = Left
nickname = Shampoo
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 187
nationality = NOR
birth_date = Birth date and age|1972|1|12|mf=y
birth_place = Oslo, Norway
draft = 204th overall
draft_year = 1990
draft_team = Hartford Whalers
career_start = 1994
career_end = 2005

Espen Knutsen (born January 12, 1972) is a former Norwegian ice hockey player. He played five seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), and is to date the only Norwegian to have played in the NHL All-Star Game. In his native Norway, Knutsen is also known by the nickname "Shampoo" (his father is a hairdresser). He is 6 feet tall (183 cm), weighs 187 lb (85 kg), shoots left and played the centre position during his professional career.

After being drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the 10th round (204th overall) in 1990, Knutsen remained in Europe until 1997, playing for his hometown team Vålerenga, and later Djurgården of the Swedish Elite League. In 1996, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim acquired his rights, and he made his debut with the Ducks in 1997. After a disappointing season (playing in part for the American Hockey League Cincinnati Mighty Ducks), Knutsen returned to Djurgården.

Knutsen got a second chance in the NHL in 2000, when he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the recommendation of assistant coach George Kingston, who had previously coached the Norwegian national team. In a very good first season, Knutsen tallied 53 points (11 goals, 42 assists) in 66 games. His numbers dropped a little the next season, but he was nonetheless named to the World team (as an injury replacement) in the 2002 All-Star Game (making him the first Norwegian ever to play in the NHL All-Star Game). The 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons were disappointing for Knutsen, who spent large parts of the seasons on the injured list. He left the NHL in early 2005, shortly after being assigned to Columbus' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, and once again returned to Djurgården.

In a 2002 game against the Calgary Flames in Nationwide Arena, Knutsen took a shot that deflected off of Flames defenseman Derek Morris' stick and struck 13-year old Brittanie Cecil in the head, resulting in her death. Knutsen later helped set up a charity in Columbus to honor Brittanie's memory. Also as a result of the tragedy, the NHL made it mandatory to install protective nylon mesh nets above the glass behind both goals.

Knutsen retired because of injury in July 2005. At the news of his retirement, the director of Djurgården called him one of the greatest players in the history of the club. After his retirement, Knutsen moved back to his native Oslo, where he lives with his family. He is currently head coach at Vålerenga, the team where he started his career.

External links

*nhlprofile|8456857
*hockeydb|19131
* [http://www.hockey.no/t2.asp?p=4920&x=1&a=194620 Norwegian NHL records]
* [http://www.hockey.no/t2.asp?p=70032&x=1&a=229822 Norwegian born players drafted by NHL teams]

Career statistics


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Espen Knutsen — Données clés Nationalité  Norvege !Norvège Né le 12 janvier 1972, Oslo (Norvège) Taille …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Espen Knutsen — Norwegen Espen Knutsen Personenbezogene Informationen Geburtsdatum 12. Januar 1972 Geburtsort Oslo, Norwegen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Knutsen — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Caroline Knutsen (* 1983), norwegische Fußballspielerin Espen Knutsen (* 1972), norwegischer Eishockeyspieler, trainer und funktionär Paul Olaf Knutsen (1862–1945), deutscher Maler Tormod Knutsen (* 1932) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Morten Knutsen — Personal information Full name Morten Knutsen Date of birth 27 November 1977 ( …   Wikipedia

  • CBJ — Columbus Blue Jackets Gründung 25. Juni 1997 Geschichte Columbus Blue Jackets seit 2000 Stadion …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Columbus Blue Jackets — Gründung 25. Juni 1997 Geschichte Columbus Blue Jackets seit 2000 Stadion …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Death of Brittanie Cecil — Brittanie Nichole Cecil (March 20, 1988 – March 18, 2002) was a hockey fan who died from injuries suffered when a puck was deflected into the stands and struck her in the left temple at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 16, 2002. It… …   Wikipedia

  • 52. NHL All-Star Game — Das 52. National Hockey League All Star Game wurde am 2. Februar 2002 in Los Angeles, Kalifornien, ausgetragen. Die Gastgeber des Spieles waren zum zweiten mal nach 1981 die Los Angeles Kings. An der Veranstaltung, die im Staples Center stattfand …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • 52. National Hockey League All-Star Game — Das 52. National Hockey League All Star Game wurde am 2. Februar 2002 in Los Angeles, Kalifornien, ausgetragen. Die Gastgeber des Spieles waren zum zweiten Mal nach 1981 die Los Angeles Kings. An der Veranstaltung, die im Staples Center stattfand …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • HC Vålergenga — Vålerenga IF Vereinsinfos Geschichte Vålerenga Ishockey (seit 1913) Standort Oslo, Norwegen Stammverein …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1990–91VålerengaNorway313024540
1994–95Djurgårdens IFElit30614201830110
1995–96Djurgårdens IFElit321023335041012
1996–97Djurgårdens IFElit391633492042466
1997–98Cincinnati Mighty DucksAHL414131718----------
1997–98Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL193036----------
1998–99Djurgårdens IFElit391824423240112
1999–00Djurgårdens IFElit4818355365
2000–01Columbus Blue JacketsNHL6611425330----------
2001–02Columbus Blue JacketsNHL7711314247----------
2002–03Columbus Blue JacketsNHL3154920----------
2003–04Djurgårdens IFElit6235430006
2003–04Columbus Blue JacketsNHL140442----------
2003–04Syracuse CrunchAHL21120----------
2004–05Djurgårdens IFElit1508812
NHL Totals2073081111105