Erik Ersberg

Infobox Ice Hockey Player

---

image_size = 300 px
team = Los Angeles Kings
league = NHL
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 183
nickname =
nationality = SWE
birth_date = birth date and age|1982|3|8
birth_place = Sala, SWE
draft = undrafted
draft_year =
draft_team =
career_start = 2005

Erik Ersberg (born March 8, 1982, in Sala, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender, currently with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Ersberg started his ice hockey career playing for VIK Västerås HK in HockeyAllsvenskan (tier two in the Swedish league structure). For season 2005-06 he joined the Jönköping based elite club HV71.cite web | title=Erik Ersberg | publisher=Elite Prospects | url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=1229 | accessdate=2006-11-08] As a backup goalie behind Stefan Liv, Ersberg guarded the net for ten games in his rookie season, ending the regular season with a save percentage of .929. In the Elitserien playoffs 2006 he played in two games with a .857 save percentage.

The following season he got his breakthrough and became starting goaltender for HV71 and was also selected for the Swedish national team in the 2006 Karjala Tournament and Channel One Cup. He is somewhat of a late bloomer as he has never before played for the national team, including youth and junior tournaments. [cite web | title=Erik Ersberg uttagen i Tre Kronor | publisher=sr.se | url=http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/vastmanland/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=1008592 | date=2006-10-30 | accessdate=2006-12-17] In season 2006-07 he was nominated as the second candidate for the title "Elitserien Rookie of the Year". [cite web | title=Ersberg blev rookie #2 | publisher=hockeyligan.se | language=Swedish | url=http://www.hockeyligan.se/nyheter.php?nid=10041 | date=2006-12-06 | accessdate=2006-12-18] On March 22, 2007, he was awarded the Honken Trophy, which is awarded to the Swedish goaltender of the year. [cite web | title=Erik Ersberg får Honken Trophy | author=Hasse Andersson | publisher=HV71.se | language=Swedish | url=http://www.hv71.se/nyhet.asp?sid=1471 | date=2007-03-22 | accessdate=2007-03-22] On May 31, 2007, Los Angeles announced on their web site that they have signed Ersberg to a one-year entry-level deal. [cite web | title=KINGS SIGN PAIR OF PROSPECTS | publisher=LAKings.com | url=http://kings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=314775 | date=2007-05-31 | accessdate=2007-06-01] He started the 2007-08 season playing for Manchester Monarchs in the American Hockey League.

On February 21, 2008, the Kings recalled Ersberg from Manchester, [cite web | title=KINGS ANNOUNCE MULTIPLE TRANSACTIONS | publisher=LAKings.com | url=http://kings.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=354322&page=NewsPage&service=page | date=2008-02-21 | accessdate=2008-02-23] becoming the first Swedish-born goaltender in Los Angeles Kings franchise history.

On February 23, Ersberg made his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He replaced Dan Cloutier, who was pulled in the second period with the score 5-1. The Kings scored four goals in the third period to tie the game 5-5 and send it into overtime, where the Blackhawks scored for the 6-5 victory. Ersberg allowed only one goal on 19 shots, but earned the overtime loss.

On March 6, Ersberg recorded his first career NHL win and shutout. He made 40 saves to defeat the Ottawa Senators 2-0. Ersberg became the first NHL rookie to make at least 40 saves in a shutout since November 14, 1996. He also broke the Kings' franchise record for saves by a rookie, breaking Gary Edwards' previous mark of 38 saves during the 1971-72 season. ["Los Angeles Times" Page D5, March 8, 2008]

Awards

* Awarded the Honken Trophy (Swedish Goaltender of the Year) in 2007.

Career statistics

Regular season

"Statistics as of May 13, 2007" [cite web | title=GOALKEEPERS | publisher=IHWC.net | url=http://live82.ihwc.net/english/statistics/?report=IHM113Z17_85A_1_0.html | accessdate=2007-05-13]

References

External links

*hockeydb|80950