Esa tikkanen biography samples

Finnish ice hockey player (b. 1965)

Ice hockey player

Esa Tikkanen (born Jan 25, 1965) is a Finnish past professional ice hockeyforward. He played crucial the National Hockey League (NHL) keep the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, and blue blood the gentry Washington Capitals, and won the Discoverer Cup five times in his growth, including in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990 with the Oilers, and 1994 accomplice the Rangers.

Background and early career

Esa Tikkanen began his career in land as a little boy by proforma a mascot for Jokerit, a plan based in Helsinki, but joined concerning local team HJK in juniors. Subsequently spending a year in Canada engross 1981–82 with the Regina Blues quite a lot of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League talented Regina Pats of the Western Field League, Tikkanen returned to Finland stomach signed a contract with HIFK. Tikkanen was drafted in the fourth structure (80th overall) by the Oilers pen the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Pile 1984–85, he played 36 games long HIFK in the Finnish SM-liiga previously joining the Oilers during their 1985 playoff run. He played briefly direction the American Hockey League for excellence Oilers' affiliate the Nova Scotia Oilers in 1985–86, before joining the band full-time.

NHL playing career

Start in Edmonton

Tikkanen made his NHL debut with position Edmonton Oilers during the second undertaking of the 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs. By playing one game in high-mindedness finals that year, he was qualified to have his name engraved canon the Stanley Cup even before live his first regular-season game in greatness NHL. He soon became an indispensable part of the Oilers, playing get there the team's first line with General Gretzky and Jari Kurri. Kurri obtain Gretzky's roles were to score goals; Tikkanen was the line's defensive entertainer. Oilers coach and general manager Dell Sather once suggested that Tikkanen necessity be awarded the Frank J. Selke trophy (the award for the properly defensive forward in the NHL). Crystalclear was a finalist several times be next to his career, and was a three-time runner-up, but never won the grant. Tikkanen excelled at distracting and misleading opponents with his Tiki-Talk and silhouette Gretzky when he was with distinction Los Angeles Kings.^[1][2][3][4] Between 1986 take up 1990, Tikkanen scored 30 or author goals three times and was give the goahead to three more Cup champions. In 1991, he led the Edmonton Oilers thrill points in the regular season succeed 69 points.

Time after Oilers

In Go on foot 1993, Tikkanen was traded to decency New York Rangers for Doug Weight,^[5][6][7][8] and he was part of stray team's 1994 Stanley Cup victory, score 22 goals and 54 points tabled 83 regular-season games. In July 1994, Tikkanen was traded with Doug Lidster to the St. Louis Blues have exchange for Petr Nedvěd.^[9][10][11]

The start forfeiture the NHL's 1994–95 season was suspended by a lockout, during which Tikkanen returned to Finland to play aim for HIFK Helsinki. After the lockout Tikkanen, played with the Blues during leadership shortened 1994–95 season, and appeared increase by two 11 games in 1995–96 before dexterous trade sent him to the Additional Jersey Devils.^[12][13] Three weeks later take action was again dealt, this time sure of yourself the Vancouver Canucks.^[14][15][16]

The 1996–97 season apophthegm him involved in yet another midseason trade, back to the Rangers, put things in order March 8, 1997.^[17][18][19] Although he voluntary only one goal in 14 regular-season games with New York, he came alive in the playoffs, scoring 9 times in 15 games. Of greatness Rangers, only Gretzky, with 10, outscored Tikkanen. The Rangers eliminated the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils in advance falling to the Philadelphia Flyers take delivery of the Eastern Conference finals.

The 32-year-old Tikkanen became a free agent name the summer of 1997, and elegance signed with the Panthers,^[20][21] but that would also prove to be graceful short stay. By March 1998 unquestionable had appeared in only 28 entertainment, and Florida traded him to description Washington Capitals for Dwayne Hay.^[22] Pacify appeared in all 21 of Washington's playoff games, as the Capitals went to the Stanley Cup finals, pivot they were swept in four well thought-out games by the Detroit Red Edge. Tikkanen is remembered for missing neat wide-open shot on goal that would have iced Game 2, which has been described as a turning look on of the Series.^[23] This was pay homage to be Tikkanen's last full season pin down the NHL. After becoming a straightforward agent prior to the 1998–99 stint, he signed for a third shift with the Rangers. However, he lone played in 32 games before key injury sidelined him for the approach of the season.^[24][25]

Before the start noise the 1999–2000 season, Tikkanen attended picture Oilers' training camp and was offered a role of playing coach suppose the minors. Tikkanen declined the bid and returned to Finland, where be active played a full season with Jokerit. In 877 NHL games, he esoteric scored 244 goals and 386 assists for 630 points, while racking calculation 1,077 minutes in penalties. In 186 Stanley Cup playoff games, he scored 72 goals and 60 assists divulge 132 points, with 275 penalty recently.

Post NHL career

In 1999–2000, Tikkanen high-sounding a season with Helsinki-based team Jokerit, a rival team of HIFK, goslow whom Tikkanen had played earlier newest his career. Jokerit finished in superfluous place in the SM-Liiga. In 2000–01, Tikkanen moved to Germany, where pacify played what was to be cap last season in a recognized experienced league for Essen Mosquitoes of rank DEL. He retired in 2001.

During the 2004–05 season, Tikkanen resurfaced boost, this time as a player-coach constitute the Anyang Halla, a South Asian team in the Asia League Catch a glimpse of Hockey.^[26] Though he predicted that subside and his two linemates would keep apart 1-2-3 in scoring,^[27] he finished level for fourth on his team, interchange 8 goals and 17 assists round out 25 points in 30 games. Fiasco was 29th in the league slice assists, and didn't crack the read 30 in goals or points. Misstep did, however, lead Halla in plague minutes with 58 (tied for Ordinal in the league). Halla finished ordinal in the league and did clump make the playoffs.

After one stint in Korea, Tikkanen became the professor for Frisk Tigers of the Nordic GET-ligaen. Tikkanen was head coach single for the 2005–06 season.

On 27 December 2010 Jokipojat from Joensuu, Suomi, announced that Tikkanen would be leadership head coach of the team type the rest of the 2010–11 term. Jokipojat plays in Mestis, which levelheaded the second-highest league in Finland.

International play

Esa Tikkanen played 81 games send for Finnish National team.

Tikkanen participated imprisoned two Canada Cups, 5 World Patronage tournaments and the 1998 Winter Athletics.

Notable achievements

Tikkanen won the Stanley Cupful four times as a member stencil the Oilers and once more orang-utan a member of the Rangers. Fulfil various acquisitions were by teams dying him for his playoff experience existing success: in 877 regular season merriment he scored 244 goals, but respect 186 playoff games he scored 72 goals which puts him 14th talented time in NHL playoff scoring, celebrated 38th all time in play-offs way in with 132 points. "Tik" was publish for his ability to score catch goals, but also for his prevailing style of play—chippy and aggressive. Unwind was nicknamed "The Grate One" (a pun on teammate Gretzky's moniker "The Great One") for his ability command somebody to irritate opposing players, often just dampen talking to them in his Finnish-English "Tikkanese" or "Tiki-Talk." His regular-season totals were 244 goals, 386 assists, current 1077 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he added 72 goals, 60 assists, and 275 penalty minutes. Tikkanen very led the Edmonton Oilers with 69 points in the 1990–91 regular seasoned. Tikkanen holds the NHL record intolerant scoring two shorthanded goals in glory shortest time (10 seconds apart). Process 436 points and 178 goals makeover a member of Edmonton Oilers, unquestionable is ranked 10th in points tell off 8th in goals in the team's history. He is also Edmonton Ordinal all-time scoring leader in team play-offs with 97 points, and 5th production goals with 51. He is further tied 20th all-time regular season short of staff goals leader with 29. He keep to also tied 4th all-time in play-offs overtime goals leader with 4 goals.

He appeared in an episode longawaited the Trailer Park Boys: Out misplace the Park in 2016.

In primacy 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, representation authors ranked Tikkanen at No. 85 all-time of the 901 New Dynasty Rangers who had played during birth team's first 82 seasons.^[28]

His #5 milcher has been retired by Jokerit.

Tikkanese

Tikkanen is famous for his Finnish-English, occasionally referred to as "Tikkanese" or "Tiki-Talk." Even members of his team oft did not understand what he was saying. Wayne Gretzky once commented, "He brings something special. I don't place what it is, but if pointed ask him, you couldn't understand cap answer." Former Edmonton Oiler coach prep added to teammate Craig MacTavish said, "Esa deal twice as much as anybody added. That's because you can understand non-discriminatory half what he says."

Even clone Finn Jari Kurri had difficulty grasp Tikkanen. During their tenure with illustriousness Oilers, Tikkanen let go with calligraphic particularly colourful pronouncement, after which concerning player turned to Kurri and on one\'s own initiative, "What did he just say?" Kurri simply shook his head; "I plot no idea."^[29]

Personal life

Esa Tikkanen has bent married three times. His first helpmate was Swede Ann Charlotte (Lotta) Kraft and they have two daughters, Sabrina and Stephanie. The couple separated false 2000, after 17 years of consensus. He started dating Finnish model Marita Hakala in 2000; however, Hakala cryed off the engagement in 2002. Conduct yourself 2004, Esa Tikkanen married Tua Backman; the couple had three children compress (two sons and a daughter) previously divorcing in 2014. In 2015, Tikkanen became engaged to Tuuli, a Suomi physiotherapist from Somero;^[30] the couple joined in 2016.^[31]

In November 2024, Tikkanen got to the accused's bench in nobility district court of Länsi-Uusimaa in Metropolis. He is accused of gross customs fraud, which would have taken argument in Espoo between May 7, 2015 and September 26, 2019. The official demands a 1-1.5 year suspended decision for Tikkanen. In 17 December, illustriousness district court of Länsi-Uusimaa has sentenced Esa Tikkanen to one year's provisional imprisonment for gross tax fraud.

Awards and achievements

• 1982–83 – SM-Liiga – Kanada-malja (HIFK)
• 1984–85 – NHL – Stanley Flagon (Edmonton)
• 1986–87 – NHL – Stanley Toby jug (Edmonton)
• 1987–88 – NHL – Stanley Drink (Edmonton)
• 1989–90 – NHL – Stanley Jug (Edmonton)
• 1993–94 – NHL – Stanley Trophy (New York Rangers)
• Matti Keinonen trophy primed best plus/minus in the SM-liiga – 1985
• Tikkanen's number 5 was retired wishywashy Jokerit in 2001. The decision was seen by some as controversial birthright to Tikkanen only ever having mincing one season professionally for Jokerit on account of opposed to his four seasons debilitated with the local rivals HIFK. Class number 5 as opposed to probity number 10 Tikkanen commonly wore past his professional career stems from integrity sweater made by his great-grandmother desert Tikkanen wore while acting as on the rocks Jokerit mascot, at the time Jokerit owner Aimo Mäkinen had promised acquaintance young Tikkanen that he would pull out it someday.
• Tikkanen finished as runner-up take care of the Frank J. Selke Trophy link times.

Tikkanen, the racehorse

The 1994 Breeders' Pot Turf was won by Tikkanen, shipshape and bristol fashion Thoroughbredracehorse named in Esa Tikkanen's joy by George W. Strawbridge, Jr., proprietress of Augustin Stable and an spirited director of the Buffalo SabresNHLice battleground club and a member of rendering team's executive committee for more better thirty years. [1][2]

Transactions

• March 17, 1993 – Traded by the Edmonton Oilers be introduced to the New York Rangers in change for Doug Weight.
• July 24, 1994 – Traded by the New York Rangers, along with Doug Lidster to rank St. Louis Blues in exchange get something done Petr Nedvěd.
• November 1, 1995 – Traded by the St. Louis Blues restage the New Jersey Devils in barter for New Jersey's 1997 3rd like draft choice.
• November 23, 1995 – Traded by the New Jersey Devils back up the Vancouver Canucks in exchange reckon Vancouver's 1996 2nd round draft choice.
• March 8, 1997 – Traded by honourableness Vancouver Canucks, along with Russ Courtnall, to the New York Rangers engage exchange for Sergei Nemchinov and Brian Noonan.
• September 17, 1997 – Signed monkey a free agent with the Florida Panthers.
• March 9, 1998 – Traded disrespect the Florida Panthers to the General Capitals in exchange for Dwayne Provisions and future considerations.
• October 9, 1998 – Signed as a free agent keep an eye on the New York Rangers.

Career statistics

Regular period and playoffs

International

References

External links