Pahlsson, Ozolinsh and Selanne off to Winter Olympics
PrintSelanne currently leads the Mighty Ducks in goals (18) and points (30), while also pacing the club in power play markers with seven. The nine-time NHL All-Star has appeared on several of Finland’s National Teams over the past 15 years, including the country’s World Championship teams (1996, 1999 & 2003) and World/Canada Cup participants (1991, 1996 & 2004). He helped Finland to the silver medal at the 1999 World Championships, while also being voted the event’s MVP.
He will be competing in his fourth Olympic Games, having totaled 14-10=24 points in 17 previous Olympic contests. Selanne tied for first in goals and fourth in scoring (7-4=11 points) at the Albertville games in 1992. He won bronze in 1998’s tournament in Nagano, Japan, while co-leading the tournament with 4-6=10 points. Additionally, he led the Finnish team with three goals in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1992.
The 28-year-old Pahlsson has earned 2-7=9 points this NHL season, appearing in all of Anaheim’s 36 games. He currently ranks seventh in the NHL in faceoff wins (346) and eighth in total faceoffs (648).
A native of Ange, Sweden, Pahlsson will be appearing in his first Olympic Games. He played for Sweden in the World Championships in 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2005. He helped Sweden to a bronze medal in 1999 and a silver medal in 2004. Pahlsson also appeared in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, going scoreless in four games.
Ozolinsh, a seven-time NHL All-Star, has posted 1-3=4 points for Anaheim in 2005-2006, missing 23 games due to various injuries. He will be appearing in his second Olympic games, after posting 0-4=4 points in one game for Latvia at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He’s also played on two Latvian World Championship entries, earning 0-5=5 points in six games in 2001 and 2-1=3 points in six games during the 2002 tournament. He also played for medal-winning Soviet teams in 1991 (silver) and 1992 (gold) at the World Championships.
