Patrick Thoresen

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_caption = Photo: Cato Edvardsen
team= HC Lugano
league = NLA
former_teams = "NHL"
Edmonton Oilers
Philadelphia Flyers


image_size = 200px
position = Left Wing
shoots = Left
nickname = Thor
The Electric Norseman
height_ft = 5
height_in = 11
weight_lb = 188
nationality = NOR
birth_date = birth date and age|1983|11|7
birth_place = Oslo, Norway
career_start = 2003

Patrick Thoresen (born November 7, 1983 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian professional ice hockey player. He plays for HC Lugano in the NLA in Switzerland. He resides in Hamar, Norway, where he grew up, during the off season. [ [http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/indeks/133065 NRK Nett-TV - hastighetsmåling ] ] He has a younger brother, Steffen who's also an ice hockey player. His father Petter was one of Norway's most notable players who played at five Olympic Winter Games (1980-1994).

Playing career

Thoresen started his career with his hometown Storhamar Dragons before he shifted to Canada and played junior hockey for two teams in the QMJHL; the Moncton Wildcats, and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. In the 2002–03 season, while a member of the Drakkar, he had 108 points in 71 games played, good enough for second in team scoring. His 75 assists that season were best in the QMJHL. This was a vast improvement from his first year of junior in which he compiled 73 points in 60 games played.

His first year of pro hockey in the Elitserien was a learning year for him in which most of his time was spent with the Division 2 team, Mörrums GoIS IK. He worked hard down there and put up 41 points in 38 games and eventually found himself back among the Swedish elite. He then spent the next 2 years playing for Djurgården full time, playing a total of 80 games and obtaining 53 points, 27 of them being goals.

On May 31, 2006, Thoresen signed a contract with the Oilers as a free agent. He was somewhat of a major surprise in training camp before the 2006–07 season, and played well enough for Oilers coach Craig MacTavish to publicly state that he had earned a spot on the roster. [ [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Tychkowski/2006/09/23/1884345.html CANOE - SLAM! Sports - Columnists - Tychkowski: Thoresen's in! ] ]

Thoresen became only the fifth player from Norway to play a game in the NHL, the others being Bjørn Skaare, Anders Myrvold, Espen Knutsen, and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen. In fact Thoresen is the only Norwegian NHL'er not previously drafted.

Thoresen scored his first NHL goal on October 12, 2006 against the San Jose Sharks (Evgeni Nabokov). He tallied four goals (including two game winners) and notched 12 assists in 68 games during his rookie campaign. He was a -1, among the best of the Oilers regulars that season.

On February 22, 2008, Thoresen was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers.

On April 11, 2008, Thoresen was hit in the groin by a Mike Green slapshot during a playoff game against the Capitals. Thoresen was taken off the ice and driven to a local hospital. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ao41WmApI0lrPNNWALbQLXR7vLYF?slug=ap-flyers-thoresenhurt&prov=ap&type=lgns Flyers LW Patrick Thoresen taken to hospital after being hit in groin by Green’s shot] ] He returned to action later in the playoffs, after becoming the first Norwegian born player to take part in NHL postseason play.

On July 14, 2008, Patrick Thoresen signed a one-year contract with HC Lugano of the Swiss League.

Career statistics

References

External links

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* [http://www.hockey.no/t2.asp?p=4920&x=1&a=194620 Norwegian NHL records]
* [http://www.dragons.no/alumni/content.asp?menuItem=78 Storhamar Dragons alumni profile]