Kenny Jönsson

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


team = Rögle BK
former_teams = Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
league = SEL
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 205
nickname =
nationality = SWE
birth_date = Birth date and age|1974|10|6|mf=y
birth_place = Ängelholm, SWE
draft = 12th overall
draft_year = 1993
draft_team = Toronto Maple Leafs
career_start = 1991

Per Anders Kenny Jönsson (born October 6, 1974 in Ängelholm) is a Swedish ice hockey player playing for Rögle BK in the Swedish league Elitserien.

Playing career

Jönsson was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1st round as the 12th overall selection in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. After playing with the Toronto club during the 1994-95 lockout shortened season, he was traded midway through the 1995-96 season to the New York Islanders in a player exchange which brought highly popular former captain Wendel Clark back to Toronto. Jönsson has spent most of his career as a professional player with the Islanders. After playing with the Swedish second division team Rögle BK, where he started his career, during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, he announced in the summer of 2005 that he was staying with the club for the 2005-2006 season.

Jönsson played with the Islanders from 1996 through 2004. Fans and journalists considered Jönsson one of the most underrated defensemen in the league during his time in the NHL. He played good positional defense and had sound offensive skills as well, but his quiet demeanor and low-key playing style kept him below the radar of some observers. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCM/is_3_30/ai_80678766 No respect: we give our props to the NHL's 10 most underrated players, starting with New Jersey's unheralded Patrik Elias | Hockey Digest | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] During the 1998-99 NHL season, Jönsson was named captain of the Islanders. After almost one season, he stepped down and ultimately, was succeeded by Michael Peca.

He was voted Best Defender of the Tournament at the 2006 Winter Olympics where Sweden won the gold medal. This was quite surprising considering he had spent a season in the Swedish second division, while most of the other players played in the NHL.

His brother Jörgen Jönsson is also a well-known Swedish ice hockey player.

During IHWC 2006 World Championship, with brother Jörgen initially sidlined by injury, he was named captain of the Swedish national team.

Awards

* Elitserien Rookie of the Year in 1993.
* Named to the Junior World Championship All-Star Team in 1993 and 1994.
* Elitserien Junior of the Year in 1994.
* Junior World Championship's Best defenceman in 1994.
* Bronze medal at the World Championships in 1994.
* Gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 1994 and 2006.
* Named to the NHL All-Rookie team in 1995.
* Bronze medal at the World Cup of Hockey in 1996.
* Played in the NHL All-Star game in 1999.
* Silver medal at the World Championship in 2004.
* Winter Olympic's Best defenceman in 2006.
* Awarded Elitserien Guldpucken (Swedish Player of the Year) in 2006.
* Gold Medal at the World Championship in 2006.

ee also

*Captain (ice hockey)
*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*Notable families in the NHL

References

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