- Owen Nolan
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Owen Nolan 
Born February 12, 1972
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UKHeight 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb) Position Right wing Shoots Right National team 
CanadaNHL Draft 1st overall, 1990
Quebec NordiquesPlaying career 1990–present Owen Liam Nolan (born February 12, 1972) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, who is currently a free agent. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild before signing with the Canucks. He plays for Canada internationally, despite being born in Northern Ireland, and was raised in Thorold, Ontario. Nolan is widely known as a power forward.
Contents
Playing career
Minor Hockey
Nolan grew up in Thorold, Ontario playing minor hockey for the Thorold Black Hawks A in the OMHA. After playing A hockey for the Bantam Black Hawks, Nolan was selected in the second round of the 1988 OHL Priority Selection by the Cornwall Royals.
Quebec Nordiques/San Jose Sharks
Nolan was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, and played with them until nine games into the 1995–1996 season (this was the first season the team played in Colorado as the "Avalanche"), when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks for defenceman Sandis Ozolinsh. During his tenure with the Sharks he was named captain, and registered his best career year in 1999–2000, finishing with 84 points, and tied for second in the NHL with 44 goals. That same year, the eighth seeded Sharks took out the first-seeded Blues in seven games with Nolan leading the way with six goals. In game seven, Nolan scored with 10 seconds left in the first period from just past center ice, beating goaltender Roman Turek to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead. The goal propelled them to a 3-1, game seven victory and first round upset of the Blues.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Nolan was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs just before the NHL trade deadline in 2003, for players Alyn McCauley and Brad Boyes, and Toronto's first-round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. However his performance in Toronto was disappointing, he suffered from a series of injuries and never played at the same level as he had in San Jose.
Nolan broke new ground in contract negotiations, having a clause put in that stated if the 2004–05 NHL season was cancelled, then he would gain a player option for an additional year in 2005–06. However, with the NHL CBA in place, this option became a topic of debate. With the new NHL salary cap, the Maple Leafs deemed Nolan's salary too high, and refuse to recognize Nolan as under contract. Nolan argued that the option was valid, that he would play, and be paid, for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and that he deserved to be paid during the 2004–2005 NHL lockout due to injury. The Maple Leafs, who deemed Nolan as healthy just after the lockout, claimed that the injury was incurred off the ice and refused to pay Nolan's desired US$12 million. The case went to an arbitrator. This case was settled in late 2006, however, the terms of the agreement by Leafs management and Nolan were not disclosed. In 2005–2006, Nolan took time off for his injured knees to heal, training in San Jose at Sharks Ice. Before the playoff push, Nolan indicated that several teams (including San Jose) wanted to sign him, but he decided not to play because he wanted to be at 100%, both because he did not want to become re-injured and because he felt he owed his team that.
Recent News
In the summer of 2006, during free agency, Nolan contemplated joining many teams before signing a one-year, US $1 million contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. He scored 16 goals to go with 24 assists during his only year in Phoenix before becoming a free agent once again.
On July 2, 2007, Nolan signed with the Calgary Flames. He was named alternate captain before the season began. On October 22, 2007, Nolan played his 1000th game.
On January 30, 2008, Nolan had his 11th career hat trick and first hat trick since 1999 in a 5-4 victory over former team the San Jose Sharks. He was honored as the game's first star as his hat trick included a short-handed goal and the game winner, and Nolan also had a decisive victory in a second-period scrap with Mike Grier.
On April 13, 2008, Nolan scored the game-winning goal in game three of the first round of the 2008 NHL Playoffs against his former team San Jose Sharks. It was his first playoff goal since 2002, when he was a member of the Sharks and the 19th playoff goal of his 18 year career.
On July 6, 2008, Nolan signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Minnesota Wild.[1] On March 10, 2009, Nolan scored his 400th (and 401st) goal of his NHL career with the Minnesota Wild against the San Jose Sharks.[2]
A free agent prior to the 2010–11 season, and with the intention of continuing his NHL career, Nolan was unable to secure an NHL contract. With the beginning of the season underway, in order to garner interest and keep in game condition, Nolan signed a one-month contract with Swiss team, ZSC Lions of the National League A, on October 20, 2010.[3]
On August 4, 2011, Nolan signed a tryout contract with the Vancouver Canucks, returning to the NHL after a year in Switzerland.[4] He was then released by the Vancouver Canucks on September 25, 2011.
All-Star appearances
Nolan has been chosen as an NHL all-star in 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2001–02. In the 1997 National Hockey League All-Star Game, playing in front of his home crowd in San Jose, he performed a 'Called Shot'. Nolan pointed to the top corner of the net during a breakaway and promptly scored there against goaltender Dominik Hasek, to complete a hat trick. Earlier in the game, he had set a record by scoring two goals eight seconds apart.
Life
- Grew up playing baseball and soccer and didn't start skating until his mother bought a pair of second-hand skates when he was 9 years old for $10.
- Moved from Northern Ireland to Thorold, Ontario when he was seven months old.
- Went to Denis Morris Catholic High School in St. Catharines, Ontario
- One of six players in NHL history to be born in Ireland or Northern Ireland (Sid Finney, Bobby Kirk, Jim McFadden, Sammy McManus and Jack Riley).
- Runner-up to Mark Recchi for the 1997 All-Star MVP Award.
- Was on the cover of EA Sports' NHL 2001 video game.
- Owns two restaurants in San Jose, California.
- Nolan and his wife Diana have one daughter, Jordan and one son, Dylan.
- Nolan is a host of Fish TV, a fishing show in Canada, along with Ron James & Leo Stakos.
Awards
Medal record Ice hockey Competitor for CanadaWinter Olympics Gold 2002 Salt Lake City World Championships Gold 1997 Helsinki - 1988–89: OHL - Emms Family Award (Rookie of the Year)
- 1989–90: OHL - First All-Star Team
- 1989–90: OHL - Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy (Top Scoring Right Winger)
- 1991–92: Played in NHL All-Star Game
- 1995–96: Played in NHL All-Star Game
- 1996–97: Played in NHL All-Star Game
- 1999–2000: Played in NHL All-Star Game
- 2002: Olympic gold medal (Canada)
- 2001–02: Played in NHL All-Star Game
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1987–88 Thorold Hawks OMHA 28 53 32 85 24 — — — — — 1988–89 Cornwall Royals OHL 62 34 25 59 213 18 5 11 16 41 1989–90 Cornwall Royals OHL 58 51 60 111 240 6 7 5 12 26 1990–91 Halifax Citadels AHL 6 4 4 8 11 — — — — — 1990–91 Quebec Nordiques NHL 59 3 10 13 109 — — — — — 1991–92 Quebec Nordiques NHL 75 42 31 73 183 — — — — — 1992–93 Quebec Nordiques NHL 73 36 41 77 185 5 1 0 1 2 1993–94 Quebec Nordiques NHL 6 2 2 4 8 — — — — — 1994–95 Quebec Nordiques NHL 46 30 19 49 46 6 2 3 5 6 1995–96 Colorado Avalanche NHL 9 4 4 8 9 — — — — — 1995–96 San Jose Sharks NHL 72 29 32 61 137 — — — — — 1996–97 San Jose Sharks NHL 72 31 32 63 155 — — — — — 1997–98 San Jose Sharks NHL 75 14 27 41 144 6 2 2 4 26 1998–99 San Jose Sharks NHL 78 19 26 45 129 6 1 0 1 6 1999–00 San Jose Sharks NHL 78 44 40 84 110 10 8 2 10 6 2000–01 San Jose Sharks NHL 57 24 25 49 75 6 1 1 2 8 2001–02 San Jose Sharks NHL 75 23 43 66 93 12 3 6 9 8 2002–03 San Jose Sharks NHL 61 22 20 42 91 — — — — — 2002–03 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 14 7 5 12 16 7 0 2 2 2 2003–04 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 65 19 29 48 110 — — — — — 2006–07 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 76 16 24 40 56 — — — — — 2007–08 Calgary Flames NHL 77 16 16 32 71 7 3 2 5 2 2008–09 Minnesota Wild NHL 59 25 20 45 26 — — — — — 2009–10 Minnesota Wild NHL 73 16 17 33 40 — — — — — 2010–11 ZSC Lions NLA 24 7 19 26 53 5 2 2 4 2 NHL totals 1200 422 463 885 1793 65 21 19 40 66 International
Year Team Comp GP G A Pts PIM 1997 Canada WC 10 4 3 7 31 2002 Canada OG 6 0 3 3 2 Senior int'l totals 16 4 6 10 33 See also
- Captain (ice hockey)
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
References
- ^ "Wild signs forward Owen Nolan". Minnesota Wild. 2008-07-06. http://wild.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=485545. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ "Nolan's pair notches milestone; earns point for Wild". CBS Sports. 2009-03-10. http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20090310_SJ@MIN?tag=pageRow;pageContainer. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ LeBrun, Pierre (2010-10-20). "Owen Nolan hoping for NHL comeback". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=5708884. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
- ^ "Canucks sign Owen Nolan, Todd Fedoruk". National Hockey League. 2011-08-04. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=585749&navid=mod-rr-headlines. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
External links
Preceded by
Mats Sundin1st overall pick in NHL Entry Draft
1990Succeeded by
Eric LindrosPreceded by
Mats SundinQuebec Nordiques first round draft pick
1990Succeeded by
Eric LindrosPreceded by
Todd GillSan Jose Sharks captain
1998–2003Succeeded by
Rotating captains
Mike RicciPreceded by
Chris ProngerEA Sports NHL Cover Athlete
NHL 2001Succeeded by
Mario LemieuxCategories:- 1972 births
- Canadian ice hockey right wingers
- Canadian people of Irish descent
- Canadian people of Northern Ireland descent
- Colorado Avalanche players
- Cornwall Royals (OHL) alumni
- Halifax Citadels players
- Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics
- Living people
- Minnesota Wild players
- National Hockey League All-Stars
- National Hockey League first overall draft picks
- National Hockey League first round draft picks
- Immigrants to Canada from Northern Ireland
- Olympic gold medalists for Canada
- Olympic ice hockey players of Canada
- People from Thorold
- Phoenix Coyotes players
- Quebec Nordiques draft picks
- Quebec Nordiques players
- San Jose Sharks players
- Toronto Maple Leafs players
- ZSC Lions players
- Olympic medalists in ice hockey
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