Jannik Hansen

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[edit] History

Jannik Hansen (born March 15, 1986) is a Danish professional ice hockey player. He was drafted to the NHL by Vancouver Canucks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft at position 287, one of the last draftees of that draft.

Jannik is the son of Bent Hansen, a former Danish national team player. While his father has never pushed him to choose hockey, Hansen were already on ice as a two year old in diapers. Despite coming from a hockey background, he played soccer until he was 10 years old, then made the switch to hockey.

He had his hockey training with Rødovre Skøjte og Ishockey Klub, where his father had played most of his life. When Jannik turned 15, he was incorporated in the senior team, getting the jersey number 17, the same as his father had worn in his active career.

Already as a 15 year old he showed promise with energetic play, good technique, good hockey sense and a stellar wristshot. He played in Rødovre for a season and a half, then was invited to play for the junior team in Malmö Redhawks, Sweden. Most talents in Denmark turn to Sweden to get a better hockey education. Hansen played the remainder of the season in Malmö, then returned to Rødovre despite the fact that he had been a success. When asked why he wanted to play in Denmark instead of Sweden, he stated that he would "rather play in a men's league, instead of a junior league".

The competition he was facing in Denmark was harder, and because of his, at the time, rather smaller physique, he did get knocked down a lot by defence men nearly twice his weight. One of his traits, however, are that he will get right up and play on - Hansen never gives up and never backs down.

After being drafted by the Canucks, he stayed on in Denmark for another year, true to his word of keeping his contract with Rødovre Mighty Bulls. His last year in Denmark was his breakout year with 32 points in 34 games, despite the team being one of the weakest in the league. When the Canucks management wanted him to play in a league where they would have a better chance of overseeing his development, he asked to be released of his contract. Rødovre let him go, with the reason that they wouldn't stand in the way of his development. That year, he was nominated for best rookie of the year, and nearly got it, but the honors went to forward Peter Regin instead (drafted by Ottawa Senators in Round 3).

[edit] North America

Jannik Hansen was selected in the CHL import draft by Portland Winterhawks, and chose to move to North America to improve his play. While he was 19 when playing in Portland put up impressive numbers averaging exactly one point pr. game in 64 games. Hansen was one of the most important players on the Portland team, who had drafted him not really knowing what to expect.

Portland was knocked out early in the playoffs, which meant that Hansen could participate in the 2006 World Championships in Riga, Latvia. Denmark succeeded in remaining in the top pool, and Hansen had two goals in 6 games.

In July 2006 he signed with Vancouver Canucks (press release) and is expected to play with the Manitoba Moose in the 2006/07 season.

In Canucks' training camp for the 06/07 season, Hansen got 2+1 in three preseason games.