Fly the Danish Flag

With the heavyweights vying for 2010 Olympic Gold in Vancouver come February, Denmark’s burgeoning hockey program will be on the outside looking in when it comes to mining precious metals.  With just one player taken in the National Hockey League’s latest Entry Draft in Montreal, Quebec, the Danes have a small but substantial list of players worthy of competing at the highest levels. 

The latest International Ice Hockey Federation’s rankings mark Denmark at 13^th worldwide.  Remarkable, as it places the nation ahead of their much older counterparts, Austria (1912), Italy (1924), and France (1908).  The best ranking ever achieved for the country was in 2007, when the IIHF placed Denmark 12^th worldwide, just shy of their 50^th anniversary of competition.  This ranking was indicative of the resolve of the country’s playing elite, as Denmark officially operates zero outdoor rinks, only 22 indoor facilities, and has just 4,961 registered male players (303 females).  However, Denmark has demonstrated it can produce high-level players, with 2007-2008 Memorial Cup Champion (Kitchener) and Phoenix Coyote rookie Mikkel Boedker, owning perhaps the highest North American profile.  A 2-2 tie against perennial superpower Canada and a 5-2 defeat of the USA at the 2003 IIHF World Championships in Finland, serve as a highlight and rallying points for the Danish hockey movement.  The last few NHL Entry Drafts have raised the profile even further.

Denmark waved the flag once more last month, when the Philadelphia Flyers secured the services of hulking defenseman, Oliver Lauridsen.  Selected in the 7^th round (196^th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Lauridsen’s efforts and size as a shut-down, ‘project’ defender, fit the Flyer mold.  The 6’5”, 218 pound Lauridsen plied his trade while going to school at St. Cloud University in Minnesota this season, earning an assist, and sitting in the penalty box for 38 minutes during his short 28 game NCAA career.  Oliver’s brother, Markus, is a younger defenseman who also hails from Gentofte, Denmark, and has seen his role increasing on the Linkoping U18 club team.

Phoenix forward Boedker and the Lauridsen brothers serve as only a couple of the Dane examples.  Vancouver Canucks’ right-winger Yannik Hansen pulls a regular NHL paycheque, and Peter Regin has begun what could be a fine career with the Ottawa Senators.  Morten Madsen has played two seasons in the AHL with the Wild’s farm team, the Houston Aeros, as well.

Two of the finest Danish players have yet to even don an NHL jersey, though their rights are fastened securely to each franchise’s vest.  Lars Eller is a dynamic young scorer who finished fourth on his Swedish Elite League club team, the Frolunda Indians last season and is set to become a St. Louis Blue.  Frolunda has shown a penchant for developing young talents among men and also boast young Dallas defense prospect, Philip Larsen. 

Frans Nielsen could easily have the nicest numbers of any of the Danish countrymen after next season; Nielsen’s role with the New York Islanders increased during the 2008-2009 season when his fine playmaking skills and strong skating came to the forefront on the weak club, shooting up the depth chart.  Nielsen was also the first Danish player in the NHL, and is the eldest of all the Danish NHL roster players and prospects.  In an under-rated way, the Herning, Denmark product should provide relief to the young stars John Tavares and Joshua Bailey in the scoring department.  He scored nine goals (two game-winners) and 33 points in just 59 games as an Islander last season.

With more players joining the NHL ranks and an increasing presence that has not gone unnoticed in the Swedish Elite League, Denmark will remain an influence on the world hockey stage.

Robin Keith Thompson

7 July 2009