Ed Jovanovski

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size=250px
team=Phoenix Coyotes
former_teams = Vancouver Canucks
Florida Panthers
league = NHL
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 210
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1976|6|26|mf=y
birth_place = Windsor, Ontario, CAN
draft = 1st overall
draft_year = 1994
draft_team = Florida Panthers
career_start = 1995

Ed Jovanovski ( _mk. Ед Јовановски) (born June 26, 1976 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) is a Macedonian Canadian professional hockey player who plays in the National Hockey League for the Phoenix Coyotes. Former teams include the Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks. He is known for his smooth skating, offensive flair, on and off ice leadership and heavy body checks.

Playing career

Major junior

Jovanovski played two recorded seasons of minor hockey in his hometown of Windsor before beginning his major junior career in 1993–94 in the OHL; he continued to play in his hometown for the Windsor Spitfires. In his rookie season with the Spitfires, Jovanovski led all team defencemen in scoring, with 50 points in 62 games, and was named to the OHL All-Rookie Team, as well as the OHL Second All-Star Team. That off-season, Jovanovski was selected first overall by the Florida Panthers in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

After being drafted, Jovanovski played one more season for Windsor and was named to the OHL First All-Star Team before joining the Florida Panthers in 1995–96. The 1994–95 season also saw Jovanovski compete for Canada at the 1995 World Juniors, where he helped Canada capture gold.

NHL

Florida Panthers

In his rookie season in the NHL, Jovanovski embarked on a cinderella run with the Florida Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals. Facing the Colorado Avalanche, they were swept in four games. Jovanovski established himself as an NHL star in the making and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie (won by Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators), and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

On January 17, 1999, after three and a half seasons with the Panthers, Jovanovski was traded in a blockbuster, seven-player deal to the Vancouver Canucks. He was sent with Dave Gagner, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and a first round draft choice in 2000 (Nathan Smith) in exchange for superstar Pavel Bure, Bret Hedican, Brad Ference and a third round draft choice in 2000 (Robert Fried).

Vancouver Canucks

Joining the Canucks in the midst of a rebuilding period for the franchise, Jovanovski quickly established himself as a top defencemen in Vancouver's lineup. After one full season with the Canucks, Jovanovski underwent a breakout campaign in 2000–01, leading all team defencemen with 47 points in 79 games, earning him the first of three consecutive Babe Pratt trophies (the fan-voted Canucks' best defenceman). Jovanovski's contributions in 2000–01 helped the Canucks return to the playoffs after a six-year absence.

In 2002, Jovanovski competed for Team Canada in the Winter Olympics, capturing gold. Jovanovski earned an assist on the gold medal winning goal, backhanding a saucer pass from the point to Joe Sakic on a two-man advantage. [citeweb|title=Oh, Canada! 5-2 victory caps a 50-year quest to reclaim gold|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/oly/view/0,3949,70001630,00.html|last=Buckley|first=Tim|accessdate=2008-07-26]

As a Canuck, Jovanovski enjoyed consistent offensive production, indicated by three consecutive 40-point campaigns (spanning from 2000–01 to 2002–03); his ability to join the rush as a defencemen complemented the Canucks' up-tempo style of play. Offensively and defensively, he was a key member of the Canucks' regular season success that culminated in a Northwest Division title in 2003–04.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Jovanovski played for Team Canada in the 2004 World Cup and 2004 World Championships, earning gold both times. In the World Cup, however, Jovanovski only played one game, injuring himself in the first game against the US.

When the NHL resumed play in 2005–06, Jovanovski was on pace for a career year, but was cut short due to a groin injury that occurred twice before the season was over. In his last season with the Canucks, he finished 2005–06 with 33 points in 44 games.

Phoenix Coyotes

Failing to come to terms with the Canucks, Jovanovski joined the Phoenix Coyotes in July 2006, signing a five-year, $32.5 million contract. His first season with the Coyotes, however, was plagued once more with injury, limiting him to 29 points in 54 games. Like the Canucks when they first acquired Jovanovski, the Coyotes also signed Jovanovski during a rebuilding period.

In 2007–08, Jovanovski set a career high in points with 51.

Family

Jovanovski's parents are Canadian immigrants from Macedonia. Coming from an athletic family, his father Kostadin was a professional soccer player in Yugoslavia. In 2005, Jovanovski was the subject of a documentary by Macedonian-Canadian Bill Yancoff entitled "The Late Bloomer: Ed Jovanovski", which explored his career, family tragedy and his attachments to his Macedonian heritage.

Jovanovski and his wife, Kristin, have four children — Kylie, Kyra, Cole and Coco.

Awards and achievements

OHL
*OHL All-Rookie Team - 1994
*OHL Second All-Star Team - 1994
*OHL First All-Star Team - 1995NHL
*NHL All-Rookie Team - 1996
*Calder Memorial Trophy Runner-up - 1996
*NHL All-Star Game - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008Team
*Babe Pratt Trophy (Canucks' best defenceman) - 2001, 2002, 2003

Movements

*June 28, 1994 - Drafted by the Florida Panthers first overall.
*January 17, 1999 - Traded to the Vancouver Canucks with Dave Gagner, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and a 2000 NHL Entry Draft first round draft choice (Nathan Smith) for Pavel Bure, Bret Hedican, Brad Ference and a 2000 NHL Entry Draft third round draft choice (Robert Fried).
*July 1, 2006 - Signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes (5-year, $32.5 million).

Career statistics

International play

Played for Team Canada in:
*1995 World Junior Championships (gold medal)
*1998 World Championships
*2000 World Championships
*2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
*2004 World Cup of Hockey (gold medal)
*2005 World Championships (silver medal)
*2008 World Championships (silver medal)

International statistics

ee also

*List of current NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*List of Vancouver Canucks players
*List of Phoenix Coyotes players

External links

*hockeydb|2599