Erik Ersberg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
Height
Weight		 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
183 lb (83 kg/13 st 1 lb)
NHL Team Los Angeles Kings
Nationality Flag of Sweden Sweden
Born March 8, 1982 (1982-03-08) (age 26),
Sala, SWE
NHL Draft undrafted
Pro career 2005 – present

Erik Ersberg (born March 8, 1982, in Sala, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender, currently with the Los Angeles Kings.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

Ersberg started his ice hockey career playing for VIK Västerås HK in HockeyAllsvenskan (tier two in the Swedish league structure). For season 2005-06 he joined the Jönköping based elite club HV71.[1] As a backup goalie behind Stefan Liv, Ersberg guarded the net for ten games in his rookie season, ending the regular season with a save percentage of .929. In the Elitserien playoffs 2006 he played in two games with a .857 save percentage.

The following season he got his breakthrough and became starting goaltender for HV71 and was also selected for the Swedish national team in the 2006 Karjala Tournament and Channel One Cup. He is somewhat of a late bloomer as he has never before played for the national team, including youth and junior tournaments.[2] In season 2006-07 he was nominated as the second candidate for the title Elitserien Rookie of the Year.[3] On March 22, 2007, he was awarded the Honken Trophy, which is awarded to the Swedish goaltender of the year.[4] On May 31, 2007, Los Angeles announced on their web site that they have signed Ersberg to a one-year entry-level deal.[5] He started the 2007-08 season playing for Manchester Monarchs in the American Hockey League.

On February 21, 2008, the Kings recalled Ersberg from Manchester,[6] becoming the first Swedish-born goaltender in Los Angeles Kings franchise history.

On February 23, Ersberg made his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He replaced Dan Cloutier, who was pulled in the second period with the score 5-1. The Kings scored four goals in the third period to tie the game 5-5 and send it into overtime, where the Blackhawks scored for the 6-5 victory. Ersberg allowed only one goal on 19 shots, but earned the overtime loss.

On March 6, Ersberg recorded his first career NHL win and shutout. He made 40 saves to defeat the Ottawa Senators 2-0. Ersberg became the first NHL rookie to make at least 40 saves in a shutout since November 14, 1996. He also broke the Kings' franchise record for saves by a rookie, breaking Gary Edwards' previous mark of 38 saves during the 1971-72 season.[7]

[edit] Awards

  • Awarded the Honken Trophy (Swedish Goaltender of the Year) in 2007.

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] Regular season

   
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
2005-06 HV71 SEL 10 7 2 1 601 18 2 1.79
2006-07 HV71 SEL 41 22 12 7 2455 98 4 2.39
2007-08 Manchester Monarchs AHL 30 10 13 0 1540 75 2 2.92
2007-08 Los Angeles Kings NHL 14 6 5 3 798 33 2 2.48
SEL totals 51 29 14 8 3056 116 6 2.27
AHL totals 30 10 13 0 1540 75 2 2.92
NHL totals 14 6 5 3 798 33 2 2.48

Statistics as of April 10, 2008 [1][8][9][10][11]

[edit] Post-season

   
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
2005-06 HV71 SEL 2 0 2 0 78 4 0 3.05
2006-07 HV71 SEL 14 7 7 0 776 35 0 2.71
SEL totals 16 7 9 0 854 39 0 2.74

Statistics as of April 2, 2007 [1][8]

[edit] International play

Ersberg has played for Sweden in the following competitions:

[edit] International statistics

   
Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
2007 Sweden WC 1 0 1 0 59 4 0 4.06
Senior int'l totals 1 0 1 0 59 4 0 4.06

Statistics as of May 13, 2007 [12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Erik Ersberg. Elite Prospects. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
  2. ^ Erik Ersberg uttagen i Tre Kronor. sr.se (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2006-12-17.
  3. ^ Ersberg blev rookie #2 (Swedish). hockeyligan.se (2006-12-06). Retrieved on 2006-12-18.
  4. ^ Hasse Andersson (2007-03-22). Erik Ersberg får Honken Trophy (Swedish). HV71.se. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
  5. ^ KINGS SIGN PAIR OF PROSPECTS. LAKings.com (2007-05-31). Retrieved on 2007-06-01.
  6. ^ KINGS ANNOUNCE MULTIPLE TRANSACTIONS. LAKings.com (2008-02-21). Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  7. ^ Los Angeles Times Page D5, March 8, 2008
  8. ^ a b Erik Ersberg - player profile and career stats. European Hockey.Net. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
  9. ^ Elitserien - Leading Goaltenders SVS%. Swedish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved on 2007-03-21.
  10. ^ Los Angeles Kings - Team: Erik Ersberg Official Player Page. LAKings.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
  11. ^ theahl.com : Stats - Erik Ersberg (G). American Hockey League. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
  12. ^ GOALKEEPERS. IHWC.net. Retrieved on 2007-05-13.

[edit] External Links