Anže Kopitar
Encyclopedia
Anže Kopitar is a Slovene professional ice hockey
player and alternate captain of the Los Angeles Kings
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). The first Slovenian to play in the NHL, Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice
and led his native country before he moved to Sweden at age 16 to play in a better league. He spent one season with the junior teams of the Södertälje SK
organization, and played a few games with the senior team of the top-level Elitserien
. The highest ranked European skater in the 2005 NHL Draft, Kopitar was selected 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
. He moved to North America in 2006 and joined the Kings, where he finished third in scoring among NHL rookies. In 2008, his third season with the Kings, Kopitar signed a seven year contract extension with the team, which would keep him with the team until 2016. One of the top scoring players in the NHL, Kopitar has led the Kings in scoring for four seasons, all consecutive, and finished in the top five in each season, and has been selected to the NHL All-Star Game twice. Internationally, Kopitar has played for the Slovenian national team in several junior and senior
tournaments.
(then part of Yugoslavia
) to Matjaž
and Mateja Kopitar. Matjaž played hockey for HK Acroni Jesenice
in the Yugoslav
and later Slovenian championship in the 1980s and 1990s, and competed in three World Championships (in the B and C pools; lower levels) for both Yugoslavia
and Slovenia in the early 1990s. He also coached HK Acroni Jesenice
of the Austrian Hockey League
in the 2006–07 season and is the current head coach of the Slovenia national ice hockey team. Mateja worked at the family restaurant, Gostišče Kopitar, in nearby Hrušica.
When Kopitar was four, his father first taught him how to skate; Matjaž built an ice rink in their backyard, and Kopitar would go out there whenever he could. Kopitar has a brother, Gašper, who is five years younger. Gašper also plays hockey; when the family moved to Los Angeles he joined a junior team sponsored by the Kings. He then played for the Portland Winterhawks of the major junior Western Hockey League
and the Des Moines Buccaneers
of the United States Hockey League
. Kopitar's grandmother taught English at a local high school, and both Kopitar and his brother learned to speak English
from her. Kopitar speaks five languages: Slovene, Serbian
, German
, Swedish
, and English
. Until he moved to Sweden, Kopitar lived with his parents. While in Sweden he lived alone in an apartment. After his first season in the NHL, the rest of Kopitar's family joined him in Los Angeles. They first lived in a house in Hermosa Beach
, then moved to Manhattan Beach
.
Besides ice hockey he also enjoys playing football and is a declared supporter of Slovenian football club Maribor
.
. He split the year between the team's under-18 and junior club's, and also appeared in 11 games for the senior team HK Kranjska Gora of the Slovenian Hockey League
. Kopitar had 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points in the senior league, and recorded 76 points in 14 games for the Jesenice under-18 team and 27 points in 20 games for the junior club. He led the Slovenian Hockey League in scoring at the age of 16, and Swedish scout Lars Soder recruited Kopitar for the Elitserien
in 2004 (Soder had originally discovered Kopitar when he was 13 at a European Youth Olympic Festival
).
The Slovenian hockey leagues did not have a high skill level, so Kopitar decided that if he wanted to improve his hockey career he would have to leave the country. He was offered a chance to play in Sweden for Södertälje SK
. He played for their junior team and led the league in scoring with 49 points (28 goals, 21 assists) in 30 games. Prior to the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
Kopitar was ranked the top European skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
. After his first season in Sweden, he was chosen 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
. Unlike most top-ranked prospects, Kopitar was not at the draft, but in Sweden playing in preseason games. Some members of the team had a party for the draft, including Niclas Bergfors, who was selected 23rd overall by the New Jersey Devils
. Prior to the NHL Draft, Kopitar was also selected in the CHL
Import Draft by the Regina Pats
of the Western Hockey League
. He declined to move to North America, hoping to further his development by continuing to play against professionals in the Elitserien, rather than the juniors
in the WHL.
Kopitar signed an entry-level contract with the Kings on September 7, 2005, but went back and played in Sweden for another season. In 2006, he accepted an invitation to the Los Angeles Kings' rookie camp. Kopitar made his NHL debut October 6, 2006, against the Anaheim Ducks
and scored two goals in the game. In January 2007 he was named to the NHL YoungStars Game
, an event of the NHL All-Star Game; Kopitar recorded two goals and three assists. Kopitar completed his first NHL season third among rookies in scoring behind Evgeni Malkin
and Paul Stastny
, with 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points. It marked the fifth highest point total by a Kings rookie, and the highest since Luc Robitaille
in 1986–87. He finished fourth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy
as rookie of the year. Kopitar was awarded the Mark Bavis Memorial Award as the best first-year member of the Kings and named the King's Most Popular Player.
The following season, Kopitar was selected to represent the Western Conference
at the 56th NHL All-Star Game
in Atlanta, his first appearance in the game. He was the youngest player in the game, nearly two years younger than Paul Stastny
. He finished the season with 32 goals and 45 assists for 77 points. Kopitar led the Kings in assists and points and was second in goals. He was named the winner of the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the most valuable player on the Kings; he also received an award for leading the team in scoring.
On October 11, 2008, Kopitar signed a seven-year, $47.6 million contract extension with the Kings that would last until 2016.
Anže notched his first career hat trick
on October 22, 2009 against the Dallas Stars
at the Staples Center
. He helped lead the Kings to a 5–4 overtime win.
He won the Bill Libby Memorial Award for a second time in 2010 as he was named the most valuable player on the Kings, as he led the team in scoring for the third time.
On March 15, 2011, Kopitar played his 325th consecutive NHL game and set a new record for the Kings, passing Marcel Dionne
. Eleven days later, however, Kopitar's season and ironman streak came to an abrupt end at 330 games with a broken ankle.
for the Slovenian national junior team
. He appeared in five games and recorded three points. The following year he appeared in the 2004
tournament and the 2004 World Junior Championships
. Slovenia appeared in the Division I level at both tournaments. Kopitar scored 6 goals and 8 points in 5 games during the under-18 tournament and finished second overall for goals scored and third for points, leading Slovenia in both categores; he had one goal and one assist in five games at the World Juniors.
In 2005 Kopitar appeared in three international tournaments for Slovenia; he took part in the World Juniors
, U18 Championship
and the World Championship
. Both junior tournaments were at the Division I level, while the senior championship was at the top level. At the 2006 World Championship
he played for Slovenia at the top level and recorded 3 goals and 9 points in 6 games and was tied 5th among scoring leaders.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player and alternate captain of the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). The first Slovenian to play in the NHL, Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice
HK Acroni Jesenice
HK Acroni Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Podmežakla in Jesenice.- Before World War 2 :...
and led his native country before he moved to Sweden at age 16 to play in a better league. He spent one season with the junior teams of the Södertälje SK
Södertälje SK
Södertälje Sportklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey club playing in HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje were charter members of Elitserien when the league was founded in 1975 and have since played 24 seasons in the league...
organization, and played a few games with the senior team of the top-level Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
. The highest ranked European skater in the 2005 NHL Draft, Kopitar was selected 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He moved to North America in 2006 and joined the Kings, where he finished third in scoring among NHL rookies. In 2008, his third season with the Kings, Kopitar signed a seven year contract extension with the team, which would keep him with the team until 2016. One of the top scoring players in the NHL, Kopitar has led the Kings in scoring for four seasons, all consecutive, and finished in the top five in each season, and has been selected to the NHL All-Star Game twice. Internationally, Kopitar has played for the Slovenian national team in several junior and senior
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
tournaments.
Personal life
Kopitar was born in Jesenice, SloveniaSocialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1943 until 1990...
(then part of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
) to Matjaž
Matjaž Kopitar
Matjaz Kopitar is a retired Slovenian professional ice hockey player. He is the father of the ice hockey players, Gasper, and Anze Kopitar.-Career:...
and Mateja Kopitar. Matjaž played hockey for HK Acroni Jesenice
HK Acroni Jesenice
HK Acroni Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Podmežakla in Jesenice.- Before World War 2 :...
in the Yugoslav
Yugoslav Ice Hockey League
The Yugoslav Ice Hockey League was the top ice hockey league in the old Yugoslavia.In 1939 Yugoslavia became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. That year also, the country held his first national League, with Ilirija Ljubljana emerging as champion.The League folded in 1991, when...
and later Slovenian championship in the 1980s and 1990s, and competed in three World Championships (in the B and C pools; lower levels) for both Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national ice hockey team
The Yugoslav national ice hockey team was the national men's ice hockey in the former republic of Yugoslavia. They competed in five Olympic Games competitions. This article discusses the team that represented the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its predecessors, but not the Federal...
and Slovenia in the early 1990s. He also coached HK Acroni Jesenice
HK Acroni Jesenice
HK Acroni Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Podmežakla in Jesenice.- Before World War 2 :...
of the Austrian Hockey League
Austrian Hockey League
The Austrian Hockey League , called the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Austria.-History:...
in the 2006–07 season and is the current head coach of the Slovenia national ice hockey team. Mateja worked at the family restaurant, Gostišče Kopitar, in nearby Hrušica.
When Kopitar was four, his father first taught him how to skate; Matjaž built an ice rink in their backyard, and Kopitar would go out there whenever he could. Kopitar has a brother, Gašper, who is five years younger. Gašper also plays hockey; when the family moved to Los Angeles he joined a junior team sponsored by the Kings. He then played for the Portland Winterhawks of the major junior Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
and the Des Moines Buccaneers
Des Moines Buccaneers
The Des Moines Buccaneers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team of the United States Hockey League . The team played in the West Division starting in the 2009 - 2010 season....
of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
. Kopitar's grandmother taught English at a local high school, and both Kopitar and his brother learned to speak English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
from her. Kopitar speaks five languages: Slovene, Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Until he moved to Sweden, Kopitar lived with his parents. While in Sweden he lived alone in an apartment. After his first season in the NHL, the rest of Kopitar's family joined him in Los Angeles. They first lived in a house in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach, California
Hermosa Beach is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its population was 19,506 at the 2010 census, up from 18,566 at the 2000 census....
, then moved to Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
.
Besides ice hockey he also enjoys playing football and is a declared supporter of Slovenian football club Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
.
European career
In 2002 Kopitar began playing for the youth team of his hometown, HK Acroni JeseniceHK Acroni Jesenice
HK Acroni Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Podmežakla in Jesenice.- Before World War 2 :...
. He split the year between the team's under-18 and junior club's, and also appeared in 11 games for the senior team HK Kranjska Gora of the Slovenian Hockey League
Slovenian Hockey League
The Slovenian Ice Hockey League Championship is the highest level ice hockey league in the country of Slovenia. The Championship is open only to Slovenian teams. During the regular season these teams play in the Slohokej Liga and the Austrian Hockey League...
. Kopitar had 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points in the senior league, and recorded 76 points in 14 games for the Jesenice under-18 team and 27 points in 20 games for the junior club. He led the Slovenian Hockey League in scoring at the age of 16, and Swedish scout Lars Soder recruited Kopitar for the Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
in 2004 (Soder had originally discovered Kopitar when he was 13 at a European Youth Olympic Festival
European Youth Olympic Festival
European Youth Olympic Festival, known by its initials EYOF, is a biennial multi-sport event for youth athletes from the 48 member countries of the association of European Olympic Committees. EYOF has a summer edition, held for the first time in Brussels in 1991, and a winter edition, which began...
).
The Slovenian hockey leagues did not have a high skill level, so Kopitar decided that if he wanted to improve his hockey career he would have to leave the country. He was offered a chance to play in Sweden for Södertälje SK
Södertälje SK
Södertälje Sportklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey club playing in HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje were charter members of Elitserien when the league was founded in 1975 and have since played 24 seasons in the league...
. He played for their junior team and led the league in scoring with 49 points (28 goals, 21 assists) in 30 games. Prior to the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
2005 NHL Entry Draft
The 2005 NHL Entry Draft was the 43rd NHL Entry Draft.As a lockout cancelled the games of the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years...
Kopitar was ranked the top European skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
NHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
. After his first season in Sweden, he was chosen 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
2005 NHL Entry Draft
The 2005 NHL Entry Draft was the 43rd NHL Entry Draft.As a lockout cancelled the games of the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years...
. Unlike most top-ranked prospects, Kopitar was not at the draft, but in Sweden playing in preseason games. Some members of the team had a party for the draft, including Niclas Bergfors, who was selected 23rd overall by the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Prior to the NHL Draft, Kopitar was also selected in the CHL
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
Import Draft by the Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. He declined to move to North America, hoping to further his development by continuing to play against professionals in the Elitserien, rather than the juniors
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
in the WHL.
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and scored two goals in the game. In January 2007 he was named to the NHL YoungStars Game
NHL YoungStars Game
The NHL YoungStars Game started in 2002, to replace the Heroes of Hockey Old-Timers game during the All-Star Weekend activities. The first four games were played as separate games to the actual All-Star Game, but starting in 2008, it was changed to become part of the NHL Super Skills Competition,...
, an event of the NHL All-Star Game; Kopitar recorded two goals and three assists. Kopitar completed his first NHL season third among rookies in scoring behind Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
and Paul Stastny
Paul Stastny
Paul Stastny is an American professional ice hockey center, an alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . Of Slovak lineage, Stastny is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played for the Avalanche's predecessor, the Quebec Nordiques...
, with 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points. It marked the fifth highest point total by a Kings rookie, and the highest since Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. During his 19-season National Hockey League career, Robitaille won a Stanley Cup in 2001–02 with the Detroit Red Wings, and played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, but is most known for his fourteen seasons,...
in 1986–87. He finished fourth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
as rookie of the year. Kopitar was awarded the Mark Bavis Memorial Award as the best first-year member of the Kings and named the King's Most Popular Player.
The following season, Kopitar was selected to represent the Western Conference
Western Conference (NHL)
The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
at the 56th NHL All-Star Game
56th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on January 27, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Atlanta Thrashers, during the 2007–08 NHL season....
in Atlanta, his first appearance in the game. He was the youngest player in the game, nearly two years younger than Paul Stastny
Paul Stastny
Paul Stastny is an American professional ice hockey center, an alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . Of Slovak lineage, Stastny is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played for the Avalanche's predecessor, the Quebec Nordiques...
. He finished the season with 32 goals and 45 assists for 77 points. Kopitar led the Kings in assists and points and was second in goals. He was named the winner of the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the most valuable player on the Kings; he also received an award for leading the team in scoring.
On October 11, 2008, Kopitar signed a seven-year, $47.6 million contract extension with the Kings that would last until 2016.
Anže notched his first career hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
on October 22, 2009 against the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
at the Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
. He helped lead the Kings to a 5–4 overtime win.
He won the Bill Libby Memorial Award for a second time in 2010 as he was named the most valuable player on the Kings, as he led the team in scoring for the third time.
On March 15, 2011, Kopitar played his 325th consecutive NHL game and set a new record for the Kings, passing Marcel Dionne
Marcel Dionne
Marcel Elphege "Little Beaver" Dionne is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers...
. Eleven days later, however, Kopitar's season and ironman streak came to an abrupt end at 330 games with a broken ankle.
International play
Kopitar first played in an international tournament when he participated in the Division I (second level) tournament of the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships2003 IIHF World U18 Championships
-Final standings: and are relegated to Division I for the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships.- Table :- Table :- Table :- Table :- Table :- Table :-External links:*...
for the Slovenian national junior team
Slovenia men's national junior ice hockey team
The Slovenia men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team of Slovenia. The team is controlled by the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation.-History:...
. He appeared in five games and recorded three points. The following year he appeared in the 2004
2004 IIHF World U18 Championships
-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Fifth place game:-Bronze medal game:-Gold medal game:-Final standings: and are relegated to Division I for the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships.-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:...
tournament and the 2004 World Junior Championships
2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 26, 2003 and January 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland...
. Slovenia appeared in the Division I level at both tournaments. Kopitar scored 6 goals and 8 points in 5 games during the under-18 tournament and finished second overall for goals scored and third for points, leading Slovenia in both categores; he had one goal and one assist in five games at the World Juniors.
In 2005 Kopitar appeared in three international tournaments for Slovenia; he took part in the World Juniors
2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 25, 2004, and January 4, 2005, at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States...
, U18 Championship
2005 IIHF World U18 Championships
-Final standings: and are relegated to Division I for the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships.-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:- Group A in Maribor, Slovenia :-Group B in Sosnowiec, Poland :...
and the World Championship
2005 IIHF World Championship
- Group B :All times local - Group C :All times local - Group D :All times local -Qualifying round:The top three teams from each group in the First Round advance to the qualifying round...
. Both junior tournaments were at the Division I level, while the senior championship was at the top level. At the 2006 World Championship
2006 IIHF World Championship
-Group B :All times local - Group C :All times local - Group D :All times local -Qualifying round:The top three teams from each group in the Preliminary round advance to the Qualifying Round...
he played for Slovenia at the top level and recorded 3 goals and 9 points in 6 games and was tied 5th among scoring leaders.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... | A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... | Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... | PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2002–03 | HK Acroni Jesenice U18 HK Acroni Jesenice HK Acroni Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Podmežakla in Jesenice.- Before World War 2 :... |
Slov-U18 | 14 | 38 | 38 | 76 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | HK Acroni Jesenice Jr | Slov-Jr | 20 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | HK Kranjska Gora | Slov | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | HK Acroni Jesenice Jr. | Slov-Jr | 25 | 32 | 28 | 60 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | HK Kranjska Gora | Slov | 21 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | Södertälje SK U18 Södertälje SK Södertälje Sportklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey club playing in HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje were charter members of Elitserien when the league was founded in 1975 and have since played 24 seasons in the league... |
Swe-U18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2004–05 | Södertälje SK Södertälje SK Södertälje Sportklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey club playing in HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje were charter members of Elitserien when the league was founded in 1975 and have since played 24 seasons in the league... |
J20 J20 SuperElit J20 SuperElit is a junior ice hockey league composed of 20 teams in Sweden. It is the highest-level junior ice hockey league in Sweden. The teams are divided in two groups, or divisions, Norra and Södra , and are usually associated with a professional team in either Elitserien or HockeyAllsvenskan... |
30 | 28 | 21 | 49 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 Elitserien season The 2004–05 Elitserien season was the 30th season of Elitserien. It started on September 20, 2004, with the regular season ending March 1, 2005. The playoffs of the 81st Swedish Championship ended on April 11, with Frölunda HC taking the championship.... |
Södertälje SK | SEL Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 2005–06 Elitserien season The 2005–06 Elitserien season was the 31st season of Elitserien. It ran from September 26, 2005 until March 6, 2006, with the Elitserien playoffs, the 82nd Swedish Championship, to April 18, with Färjestads BK taking the championship.-Final standings:... |
Södertälje SK | SEL | 47 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Södertälje SK | Swe-Q Kvalserien Kvalserien, also known as Kvalserien till Elitserien, is the name of the Swedish round-robin ice hockey tournament to qualify for play in the next season of Elitserien, Sweden's top-level ice hockey league for men.-Teams:... |
10 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
72 | 20 | 41 | 61 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 82 | 32 | 45 | 77 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 82 | 27 | 39 | 66 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 82 | 34 | 47 | 81 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 75 | 25 | 48 | 73 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Elitserien totals | 52 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 28 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| NHL totals | 393 | 138 | 220 | 358 | 114 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships -Final standings: and are relegated to Division I for the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships.- Table :- Table :- Table :- Table :- Table :- Table :-External links:*... |
Slovenia Slovenia men's national junior ice hockey team The Slovenia men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team of Slovenia. The team is controlled by the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation.-History:... |
U18 (Div I) | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2004 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 26, 2003 and January 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland... |
Slovenia | WJC (Div I) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2004 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships -Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Fifth place game:-Bronze medal game:-Gold medal game:-Final standings: and are relegated to Division I for the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships.-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:... |
Slovenia | U18 (Div I) | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2005 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 25, 2004, and January 4, 2005, at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States... |
Slovenia | WJC (Div I) | 5 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 6 | |
| 2005 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships -Final standings: and are relegated to Division I for the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships.-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:- Group A in Maribor, Slovenia :-Group B in Sosnowiec, Poland :... |
Slovenia | U18 (Div I) | 5 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 14 | |
| 2005 2005 IIHF World Championship - Group B :All times local - Group C :All times local - Group D :All times local -Qualifying round:The top three teams from each group in the First Round advance to the qualifying round... |
Slovenia | WC | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2006 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships were held in Vancouver, Kelowna, and Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. The championships began on December 26, 2005, and finished on January 5, 2006. Games were played at GM Place and the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, the Interior Savings Centre in... |
Slovenia | WJC (Div I) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2006 2006 IIHF World Championship -Group B :All times local - Group C :All times local - Group D :All times local -Qualifying round:The top three teams from each group in the Preliminary round advance to the Qualifying Round... |
Slovenia | WC | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2007 2007 IIHF World Championship Division I The following teams took part in the Division I tournament, held from April 15, 2007 through April 21, 2007. Group A was played in Qiqihar, China. Group B was played in Ljubljana, Slovenia.- Standings :*France is promoted to Main Championship.... |
Slovenia | WC (Div I) | 5 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 2 | |
| 2008 2008 IIHF World Championship The 2008 IIHF World Championship was played between May 2 and May 18, 2008 in the Canadian cities of Halifax and Quebec City . The two venues were the Halifax Metro Centre and the Colisée Pepsi... |
Slovenia | WC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 30 | 30 | 13 | 43 | 24 | |||
| Senior totals | 22 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 8 | |||
All-Star Games
| Year | Location | G | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game The 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on January 27, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Atlanta Thrashers, during the 2007–08 NHL season.... |
Atlanta Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season... |
0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 58th National Hockey League All-Star Game The 58th National Hockey League All-Star Game, also known as the 2011 National Hockey League All-Star Game presented by Discover, was the National Hockey League’s annual All-Star game played on January 30, 2011. The game took place during the 2010–11 NHL season at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North... |
Carolina Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center... |
2 | 0 | 2 | |
| All-Star Game totals | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
Los Angeles Kings team awards
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Bill Libby Memorial Award | 2008 2007–08 Los Angeles Kings season The 2007–08 Los Angeles Kings season was the 41st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967. Their season began with the team playing a neutral site home-and-home series with the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks at the O2 Arena in London,... , 2010 2009–10 Los Angeles Kings season The 2009–10 Los Angeles Kings season is the 43rd season in the club's history. For the first time since the 2001–02 NHL season, the Kings qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs.- Pre-season :... , 2011 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings season The 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings season is the 44th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967.- Pre-season :- Regular season :... |
| Leading Scorer Award | 2008 2007–08 Los Angeles Kings season The 2007–08 Los Angeles Kings season was the 41st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967. Their season began with the team playing a neutral site home-and-home series with the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks at the O2 Arena in London,... , 2009 2008–09 Los Angeles Kings season The 2008–09 Los Angeles Kings season was the 42nd season in the club's history. The Kings showed improvement while fielding the youngest team in the league , but came up short of breaking a playoff drought that stretches back to the 2001-02 season.Despite a crazy schedule which saw them play 17 of... , 2010 2009–10 Los Angeles Kings season The 2009–10 Los Angeles Kings season is the 43rd season in the club's history. For the first time since the 2001–02 NHL season, the Kings qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs.- Pre-season :... , 2011 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings season The 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings season is the 44th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967.- Pre-season :- Regular season :... |
| Mark Bavis Memorial Award | 2007 2006–07 Los Angeles Kings season The 2006–07 Los Angeles Kings season was the 40th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967. This season marked the beginning of a rebuilding phase, as the team hired Marc Crawford as their new head coach, former San Jose Sharks General Manager Dean... |
| Most Popular Player | 2007 2006–07 Los Angeles Kings season The 2006–07 Los Angeles Kings season was the 40th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967. This season marked the beginning of a rebuilding phase, as the team hired Marc Crawford as their new head coach, former San Jose Sharks General Manager Dean... , 2011 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings season The 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings season is the 44th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967.- Pre-season :- Regular season :... |
| Best Defensive Player | 2011 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings season The 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings season is the 44th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967.- Pre-season :- Regular season :... |