The Olympic Kids – prospects that starred on the big stage
The other day, we were looking at some of the players that might turn WJC success into a chance to compete at the Olympics in South Korea in February. If players like Miro Heiskanen or Elias Pettersson make their teams, it will surely be a great feat, but not in any way or form unique.
Today, we’ll take a look at five other junior aged players that did not only make their Olympic teams, but also performed very well on the biggest international stage.
Eric Lindros, c, Canada (1992 Albertville, France)
“Big E” was about to turn 19 years old when he was among the top scorers at the Olympics in Albertville, where Canada lost to Russia – or the United Team as they were called at the time, due to the political disarray in the former Soviet Union – in the gold medal game. Lindros was able to participate due to his unsolved conflict with the Québec Nordiques, who he refused to play for after being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL entry draft. He made his NHL debut the following season after being dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers. Lindros went on to play 760 NHL games, scoring 865 points during a injury-riddled career. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame last season.
Miroslav Satan, fw, Slovakia (1994 Lillehammer, Norway)
At 19, the devilish scorer was a menace to opposing goalies in Lillehammer, scoring nine goals in eight games and finishing second only to compatriot Zigmund Palffy in the scoring race. Satan moved to North America the following season and made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers in 1995. He played more than 1,000 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in ’09. Today, he’s the general manager of Slovakia’s national team.
Paul Kariya is stopped by Tommy Salo in the shootout in Lillehammer.
Photo: Bildbyrån
Paul Kariya, fw, Canada (1994 Lillehammer, Norway)
Most people will remember Kariya’s Olympic performance in Lillehammer for failing to score on the last shot against Tommy Salo in the shootout, giving Sweden their first gold medal. But despite that, he had a heck of a tournament. At 19, he picked up seven points in eight games and was Canada’s leading scorer. Kariya made his debut in the NHL the next season and was second in Calder Trophy voting behind another young star from the winter games in Noway, Peter Forsberg. He got his Olympic revenge in 2002, when he was a part of the Canadian team that won gold i Salt Lake City. Kariya played 989 NHL games and had 989 points before his career was tragically ended by concussions. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside close friend and long-time teammate Teemu Selänne last month.
Yevgeni Malkin, c, Russia (2006 Torino, Italy)
The year before he moved to North America to join the Pittsburgh Penguins, Malkin was one of a handful non-NHL players selected to compete for Team Russia in Torino. He showed that he belonged in the tournament at 19, scoring six points (2+4) in seven games and adding 31 penalty minutes to the mix. Since 2006, Malkin has participated in two more Olympics, but has failed to win a medal. In the NHL, however, he has had his name etched to the Stanley Cup on three occasions. He has also won two Art Ross Trophies, one Hart Trophy and the Calder Trophy, among other individual achievements.
Olli Määttä, b, Finland (2014 Sochi, Russia)
We had to have at least one defenseman on this list, and who better than the two-time Stanley Cup champion from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Olli Määttä. At 19, he played a key role for Finland in Sochi four years ago. Actually, the only defensemen who had more points than Määttä in the tournament were Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty and Shea Weber. Quite the company. The youngster, who has seen his fair share of injuries during a short career, scored three goals and picked up another two assist in six Olympic games. He also picked up a bronze medal in the process.