| Linus Omark | |
|---|---|
Omark with Luleå HF during an Elitserien game in 2008. |
|
| Born | February 5, 1987 Övertorneå, Sweden |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 174 lb (79 kg; 12 st 6 lb) |
| Position | Left wing |
| Shoots | Left |
| NHL team Former teams |
Edmonton Oilers Luleå HF (SEL) Dynamo Moscow (KHL) |
| National team | Sweden |
| NHL Draft | 97th overall, 2007 Edmonton Oilers |
| Playing career | 2005–present |
Linus Karl Heimer Omark (born February 5, 1987) is a Swedish professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was drafted by the Oilers in the 4th round (97th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
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Omark began his professional hockey career in his native Sweden, playing for Luleå HF of the Elitserien. In 2008-09, Omark led Luleå in scoring with 23 goals and 55 points, good for third in the league. Following that successful campaign, Omark played one season with HC Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. He scored 20 goals and 36 points in 56 games. Omark became known as a "YouTube sensation" for his creative scoring attempts,[1] which included a shootout goal where he flipped the puck over a sprawling Swiss netminder, Marco Bührer, in a March 2009 international exhibition,[2] a between-the-legs goal in a game against Timrå,[3] and a behind the net lacrosse-style attempt versus Brynäs.[4]
Omark moved to North America for the 2010-11 season and, following his first training camp with the Oilers, during which he recorded 3 points in 2 exhibition matches, was assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons, the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Omark drew attention when he blamed the demotion on 'politics'.[5][6] However, he had a successful start to the season, recording 13 goals and 26 points through his first 26 games with the Barons to lead the team in scoring. Five of those goals came in one game on November 7, 2010, when Omark scored five times against the Toronto Marlies and added another goal in a shootout to help the Barons to a 7-6 victory.[7] Omark admitted that although he was initially angry with the demotion, he took it as a learning experience and an opportunity to prove himself, channeling his emotions to work at improving his game.[8]
After injuries to Oilers forwards Aleš Hemský and Shawn Horcoff, Omark and fellow Barons teammate Ryan O'Marra were recalled on December 8, 2010.[9] Omark made his NHL debut on December 10 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a 4-3 shootout win for the Oilers. Omark recorded an assist and the clinching shootout goal.[10] His shootout goal drew widespread attention as it featured a spin move at centre ice;[11] Lightning forward Simon Gagne called it "too much" while Gagne's teammate Martin St. Louis described it as a "slap in the face."[10][12] Oilers head coach Tom Renney defended Omark, telling those who did not like the move to "deal with it."[12] Omark scored his first NHL goal on December 16 against Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets; he also recorded 2 assists in a 6-3 Oilers victory.[13] By season's end Omark had dressed for 51 games with the Oilers, recording 5 goals and 27 points. With the Oilers missing the playoffs, Omark returned to Oklahoma City and finished with 14 goals and 31 points in 28 games. He added 1 goal and 3 points in the Barons' first round playoff loss.
After going pointless in five games, and scratched for five, Omark was demoted to the minors.
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitor for Sweden | ||
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
| Bronze | 2010 Germany | |
| Bronze | 2009 Switzerland | |
Omark has represented Sweden several times. He made his international debut at the 2007 World Junior Championships in his native country, where Omark recorded 5 points in 7 games to help Sweden to a 4th place finish in the tournament. He made his senior international debut at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. Omark recorded 10 points in 9 games as Sweden captured the bronze medal. He again represented his country at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany, and Sweden won another bronze medal with Omark recording 4 points.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2003–04 | Luleå HF | J20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Luleå HF | J20 | 32 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 44 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | ||
| 2005–06 | Luleå HF | J20 | 32 | 22 | 21 | 43 | 56 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 28 | ||
| 2005–06 | Luleå HF | SEL | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Luleå HF | SEL | 50 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Luleå HF | SEL | 55 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Luleå HF | SEL | 53 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 66 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10 | HC Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 56 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 | Oklahoma City Barons | AHL | 28 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 51 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 51 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| AHL totals | 28 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||
| KHL totals | 56 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||
| SEL totals | 177 | 42 | 63 | 105 | 154 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||||
| J20 totals | 65 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 100 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 30 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Sweden Jr. | WJC | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 2009 | Sweden | WC | 9 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 14 |
| 2010 | Sweden | WC | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| Senior int' totals | 18 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 22 | ||