Tavis Hansen
Encyclopedia
Tavis Svend Hansen is a retired professional ice hockey
player.
Hansen played 2 seasons (1993–1994 and 1994–1995) of junior hockey for the Tacoma Rockets
of the Western Hockey League
.
He was drafted in the 3rd round, 58th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
. Hansen made his NHL debut with the Jets after his second and final season in Tacoma. His NHL rights were transferred to Phoenix Coyotes
when the franchise relocated in 1996 and he made his first appearance as a 'Yote in the 1996–1997 season. Hansen was, however, quickly returned to Springfield before being called up again in 1998–1999. He scored his first NHL goal, versus Calgary, in February 1999, during what would be a 20-game stint with the Coyotes that season. He also made his first NHL playoff appearance in 1998.
In 1999–2000, Hansen was named captain of the Springfield Falcons
and recorded career highs for points (48) and penalty minutes (164) while still managing to lend his skills to the Coyotes for five games. He returned in 2000–01 for seven games in Phoenix, playing 24 for the Falcons, alongside Danny Briere.
Hansen missed a majority of the 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 seasons recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in a game vs. the Hershey Bears
(AHL
) on February 3, 2001. Ironically, Hershey later signed him as a free agent and he helped the Bears make a run at playoffs to finish off the 2001–2002 season. He was signed as a free agent by San Jose Sharks
on September 5, 2002, and played the next two seasons as captain for the Cleveland Barons (the Sharks' AHL affiliate).
During the 2004–2005 NHL lockout, Hansen made his first move overseas to play for Oji in the Asia League Ice Hockey
. He played the next two years for HC TWK Innsbruck
(Erste Bank Eishockey Liga
-Austria), and captained the Tirolean team his second season.
Tavis Hansen retired from professional hockey in April 2007. He resides in Seattle, Washington
with his family.
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.
Hansen played 2 seasons (1993–1994 and 1994–1995) of junior hockey for the Tacoma Rockets
Tacoma Rockets
The Tacoma Rockets were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1991 to 1995. They played at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. The Rockets were granted as an expansion franchise, but low attendance forced the team to move to Kelowna, British Columbia after only four seasons,...
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 was drafted in the 3rd round, 58th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
1994 NHL Entry Draft
The 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
. Hansen made his NHL debut with the Jets after his second and final season in Tacoma. His NHL rights were transferred to Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
when the franchise relocated in 1996 and he made his first appearance as a 'Yote in the 1996–1997 season. Hansen was, however, quickly returned to Springfield before being called up again in 1998–1999. He scored his first NHL goal, versus Calgary, in February 1999, during what would be a 20-game stint with the Coyotes that season. He also made his first NHL playoff appearance in 1998.
In 1999–2000, Hansen was named captain of the Springfield Falcons
Springfield Falcons
The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...
and recorded career highs for points (48) and penalty minutes (164) while still managing to lend his skills to the Coyotes for five games. He returned in 2000–01 for seven games in Phoenix, playing 24 for the Falcons, alongside Danny Briere.
Hansen missed a majority of the 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 seasons recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in a game vs. the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
(AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
) on February 3, 2001. Ironically, Hershey later signed him as a free agent and he helped the Bears make a run at playoffs to finish off the 2001–2002 season. He was signed as a free agent by San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on September 5, 2002, and played the next two seasons as captain for the Cleveland Barons (the Sharks' AHL affiliate).
During the 2004–2005 NHL lockout, Hansen made his first move overseas to play for Oji in the Asia League Ice Hockey
Asia League Ice Hockey
Asia League Ice Hockey is an association which operates a professional ice hockey league based in East Asia, with seven teams from Japan, China, and South Korea. The league is headquartered in Japan...
. He played the next two years for HC TWK Innsbruck
HC TWK Innsbruck
HC Tiroler Wasserkraft Innsbruck is an Austrian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian National League. They play their home games at Olympiahalle Innsbruck in Innsbruck.-External links:*...
(Erste Bank Eishockey Liga
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:...
-Austria), and captained the Tirolean team his second season.
Tavis Hansen retired from professional hockey in April 2007. He resides in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
with his family.