Mark Olver

Mark Olver
Born January 1, 1988
Burnaby, BC, CAN
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams 		HC Sochi
Colorado Avalanche
NHL Draft 144th overall, 2008
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2010–present

Mark Olver (born January 1, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for HC Sochi of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He previously played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche. Mark's older brother Darin also plays professionally in Germany with Eisbären Berlin.

Playing career

Amateur

Olver originally played Midget AAA hockey in Michigan with the Marquette Electricians. In two seasons with the Electricians, Olver led the team in scoring in each season and in 2004–05 was named the Teams Most Valuable player. With his father John, an assistant coach and his brother Darin, a Junior, at Northern Michigan University, he followed his family in committing as a recruit of the Wildcats in 2005. Before he was eligible to attend college, Olver initially joined the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League. However on the eve of the season, Mark was controversially released by the Chiefs, under the advice of owner Morey Keith. Ultimately seen as an act of personal retribution by Keith against John Olver, Mark was then recruited to join the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League.[1]

In his second season with the Lancers in 2006–07, Olver displayed offensive potential to lead the team with 29 goals 35 assists and 64 points to earn the honour as Omaha's Forward of the Year and Most Valuable Player. Graduating from Millard North High School, Olver then joined Northern Michigan Wildcats of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association as an undersized skilled forward.[2] As a freshman in 2007–08, Mark returned from an early season concussion to lead all NCAA Rookies in goals (21) and the Wildcats in scoring with 38 points in 39 games to be selected to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. Passed over in the two previous draft years due to size concerns, Olver was selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round, 140th overall.[3]

Olver with Lake Erie Monsters (2013).

Olver consolidated his offensive potential the succeeding year as sophomore, winning CCHA player of the month in January as he again led the Wildcats in scoring with 35 points in 40 games. In the 2009–10 season, as player of the month in February he helped a re-emerging NMU advance to the NCAA finals for the first time since 1999 before suffering a 4-3 defeat to St Cloud State in the West Regional semi-finals.[4] In the wake of leading the Wildcats for a third consecutive season in scoring he was named to the CCHA First All-Star team and the NCAA West First-All American team.[5] Mark also led the CCHA with 49 points in 40 games as a junior earning selection as a top 10 finalist in the Hobey Baker Award.[6]

Professional

On March 30, 2010, after a three-year collegiate career with the Wilcats, Olver was signed by the Avalanche to a two-year entry level contract.[7] Continuing his 2009–10 season, he was immediately assigned to AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, on an amateur try-out contract.[8] In his professional debut, Olver scored his first pro goal in a 3-1 victory over the Peoria Rivermen on April 1, 2010.[9] In 6 games, Olver posted 2 goals to finish the year with the Monsters.

After four seasons within the Avalanche organization, as a restricted free agent, Olver opted to sign his first European contract, agreeing to a one-year deal with the HC Sochi for their inaugural 2014–15 season in the KHL on May 27, 2014.[10] Due to injury he played only one game for HC Sochi.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Omaha Lancers USHL 59 5 20 25 72 2 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Omaha Lancers USHL 57 29 35 64 84 5 3 3 6 18
2007–08 Northern Michigan University CCHA 39 21 17 38 59 — — — — —
2008–09 Northern Michigan University CCHA 40 16 19 35 84 — — — — —
2009–10 Northern Michigan University CCHA 40 19 30 49 48 — — — — —
2009–10 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 6 2 0 2 4 — — — — —
2010–11 Colorado Avalanche NHL 18 2 7 9 18 — — — — —
2010–11 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 58 23 17 40 79 7 2 2 4 4
2011–12 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 15 2 7 9 8 — — — — —
2011–12 Colorado Avalanche NHL 24 4 3 7 15 — — — — —
2012–13 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 36 6 16 22 34 — — — — —
2012–13 Colorado Avalanche NHL 32 4 2 6 6 — — — — —
2013–14 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 65 15 34 49 82 — — — — —
2014–15 HC Sochi KHL 1 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 74 10 12 22 39 — — — — —

Awards and honours

Award Year
College
All-CCHA Rookie Team 2007-08 [11]
All-CCHA First Team 2009-10
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2009–10 [12]

References

  1. ↑ "USHR News". U.S. Hockey Report. 2005-09-30. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  2. ↑ "Northern Michigan University Wildcats 2007 Hockey Guide". Northern Michigan University. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  3. ↑ "Prospect Q&A: Mark Olver". Colorado Avalanche. 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  4. ↑ "In this week in the CCHA: March 4". Central Collegiate Hockey Association. 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  5. ↑ "Olver helps put NMU back on the map". TheNorthWindOnline.com. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  6. ↑ "Hobey Baker Award announces top ten finalists". polishnews.com. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  7. ↑ "Avalanche signs Olver". Colorado Avalanche. 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  8. ↑ "Rookie preview: Mark Olver". Lake Erie Monsters. 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  9. ↑ "Three in three starts with a win". Lake Erie Monsters. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  10. ↑ "Transfer news May 26, 27" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  11. ↑ "Michigan, Miami top CCHA All-Conference Teams". USCHO.com. 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  12. ↑ "5 CCHA players named reebok All-Americans". Central Collegiate Hockey Association. 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-09-20.

External links