Anže Kopitar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Center |
| Shoots | Left |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) |
| NHL Team | Los Angeles Kings |
| Nationality |  Slovenia |
| Born | August 24, 1987, Jesenice, Slovenia |
| NHL Draft | 11th overall, 2005 Los Angeles Kings |
| Pro Career | 2004 – present |
Anže Kopitar (born August 24, 1987 in Jesenice, Slovenia) is a Slovenian professional hockey player. He was the 11th overall draft pick by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
According to the NHL's European Scouting Service, Kopitar was the number one European draft prospect in 2005; he played in the Swedish Elitserien for Södertälje SK, until he went to North America in 2006.
Kopitar made his NHL debut on October 6, 2006, at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, against the Anaheim Ducks, becoming the second Slovenian-born player to play in the NHL. He scored two goals as the Kings lost 4-3. In his home debut at Staples Center the following night, he had 3 assists in a 4-1 Kings victory against the St. Louis Blues.
On November 25, 2006, in a game against the Calgary Flames, Kopitar recorded his first goal at Staples Center, also recording an assist, in a 3-1 victory.
Kopitar's father Matjaž was also a hockey player and is currently coaching Slovenian champions Jesenice.
[edit] Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2004-05 | Södertälje SK | Elitserien | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005-06 | Södertälje SK | Elitserien | 47 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 28 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006-07 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 30 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Career totals | 79 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 38 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| NHL totals | 27 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||
Stats as of 10 December 2006
[edit] Trivia
- Anže Kopitar is the first Slovenian-born hockey player to be drafted into the NHL, the second to play in the NHL.
- As of late 2006, several instances of Anže Kopitar graffiti done in a stencil like manner have been seen around Los Angeles.
