Sandis Ozoliņš facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sandis Ozoliņš
Ozoliņš with the San Jose Sharks in 2008
Born	(1972-08-03) 3 August 1972 (age 52) Sigulda, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Dinamo Riga San Jose Sharks Colorado Avalanche Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers Mighty Ducks of Anaheim New York Rangers Dinamo Riga< Atlant Moscow Oblast
National team	Latvia
NHL Draft	30th overall, 1991 San Jose Sharks
Playing career	1990–2014

Sandis Ozoliņš (born August 3, 1972) is a famous Latvian former professional ice hockey player and coach. In North America, he was known as Sandis Ozolinsh. He was a seven-time NHL All-Star and won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. He was also a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is given to the league's best defenceman.

Ozoliņš holds many records for Latvian players in the NHL. He has the most goals, assists, points, and games played. He also set several team records for the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks. For a time, he was the highest-paid athlete in Latvian history. After his playing career, he briefly coached Dinamo Riga in 2017.

Ozoliņš was chosen in the 1991 NHL entry draft by the San Jose Sharks. He was the 30th player picked overall. He played for several NHL teams, including the Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and New York Rangers. He was known as an "offensive defenceman" because he loved to join the attack and create scoring chances.

In 2014, Ozoliņš received the Order of the Three Stars. This award recognized his important contributions to Latvian ice hockey and sports over many years.

Playing Ice Hockey

Starting His Career

Sandis Ozoliņš was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 1991. Before joining the NHL, he played for the Kansas City Blades. This was a minor league team in the IHL. In 1992, he and his Latvian teammate Artūrs Irbe helped the Blades win the Turner Cup.

Ozoliņš (right) on a 2000 Latvian stamp

Playing in the NHL

San Jose Sharks Years

Ozoliņš joined the Sharks in the 1992–93 season. He scored 23 points in 37 games. He missed most of his first season due to a knee injury. After recovering, he had a great second season in 1993–94. He played 81 games, scoring 26 goals and 64 points. He led all defencemen in the league in goals that year. Ozoliņš helped the Sharks reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time.

Winning with Colorado Avalanche

Ozoliņš started the 1995–96 season with the Sharks. He was then traded to the Colorado Avalanche in October 1995. In his first season with the Avalanche, he scored 50 points in 66 games. He helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996. This was a huge achievement for him and the team.

The next season, Colorado won the Presidents' Trophy for having the best regular season record. Ozoliņš had a career-high 68 points. This was the second-highest among all defencemen in the league. He was also a top contender for the James Norris Memorial Trophy. He scored his first career hat trick in December 1999. The 1999–2000 season was his last year in Denver.

Time with Carolina, Florida, and Anaheim

In 2000, Ozoliņš was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. This trade reunited him with his friend and fellow Latvian player, Artūrs Irbe. They had played together before and even helped fund a youth hockey program in Latvia. Ozoliņš signed a big contract with Carolina. The team's general manager was excited to have such a talented player.

Ozoliņš played about a season and a half with Carolina. Then, he was traded to the Florida Panthers during the 2001–02 season. He played 37 games for the Panthers, scoring 10 goals and 19 assists. The Panthers did not make the playoffs while he was there.

In the 2002–03 season, the Panthers traded Ozoliņš to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He helped the Ducks reach their first Stanley Cup Finals. They played a tough seven-game series but lost to the New Jersey Devils. In 2003–04, Ozoliņš dealt with injuries and played in 36 games.

New York Rangers and Return to San Jose

After the NHL lockout in 2004–05, Ozoliņš joined the New York Rangers. He helped the Rangers reach the playoffs in 2005–06. This was the first time the Rangers had made the playoffs since 1997. In the next season, he was assigned to a minor league team due to a knee injury.

After a break from playing, Ozoliņš signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on November 2, 2007. He said he felt good and was ready to play again. In the 2007–08 season, he scored three goals and 13 assists in 39 games for the Sharks.

Playing in the KHL

Dinamo Riga Captain

After his time with the Sharks, Ozoliņš took a year off from playing. On July 13, 2009, he signed a one-year deal with Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was named captain for the first time in his career. In the 2009–10 KHL season, he was the top-scoring defenceman for his team. He was also chosen to play in the KHL All-Star game.

Ozoliņš extended his contract with Dinamo Riga for another year in May 2010. He turned down bigger offers from other teams to stay. In the 2010–11 KHL season, he was named the league's best defenceman in the first month. He was injured later that season but returned to play in the KHL All-Star game again. He was even named captain of the Western Conference team for the 2012 All-Star Game. He played for Dinamo Riga until July 2012, serving as captain for every game. He set several team records as a defenceman during this time.

Atlant Moscow Oblast

On September 24, 2012, Ozoliņš signed a one-year deal with Atlant Moscow Oblast in the KHL. He was named team captain there too. In his only season with Atlant in 2012–13, he was a key player on defense, scoring 2 goals and 20 points in 42 games.

Back to Dinamo Riga

In May 2013, Ozoliņš returned to Dinamo Riga as a free agent. He signed a one-year contract to play for his home team again.

Retirement and Coaching

On May 27, 2014, Sandis Ozoliņš announced he was retiring from professional ice hockey. He also shared plans to get involved in politics. However, he returned to Dinamo Riga as an assistant coach on October 31, 2016. He was then promoted to head coach on May 29, 2017. More recently, on November 8, 2022, Ozoliņš was hired as a scout for the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.

International Hockey

Medal record
Representing  CIS
World Junior Championship
Gold	1992 Germany	Ice hockey
Representing  Soviet Union
World Junior Championship
Silver	1991 Canada	Ice hockey

Ozoliņš was born in Latvia and played internationally for the Soviet Union until 1991. His first big international tournament was the 1991 World Junior Championships. He won a silver medal there, losing to the Canada junior team in the final game.

After the Soviet Union broke up, he played for the CIS junior team. He won a gold medal at the 1992 World Junior Championships. During this tournament, the Soviet Union officially dissolved. The team was renamed the Commonwealth of Independent States national junior team.

Ozoliņš did not play internationally again until 1998. This was due to injuries and his NHL playoff schedule. In 1998, he made his debut for the Latvia senior team. He played in the 1998 World Championship. He also played for Latvia in the 2001 World Championship. He played in the next year's championship and one game at the 2002 Winter Olympics. In a game against Slovakia, Ozoliņš had four assists, helping Latvia tie the game 6–6.

After a three-year break, Ozoliņš helped Latvia qualify for the 2006 Winter Olympics. After those Olympics, he announced he was retiring from international play. However, he later rejoined Latvia's team to help them qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Ozoliņš was the captain for Latvia at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Latvia finished eighth in the tournament.

Personal Life

Sandis Ozoliņš has two sons with his former wife. During the hockey off-season, he used to live in Denver. More recently, he has lived in Jūrmala, Latvia. Ozoliņš used to own a hockey team called Vilki OP/LaRocca. He also owns other sports businesses in Latvia. This includes Latvia's first 18-hole golf course, the Ozo Golf Club. In December 2009, people voted Ozoliņš as the most popular sportsman in Latvia online.

Awards and Honours

Colorado Avalanche Records

• Most all-time playoff goals by an Avalanche defenceman – 18
• Most all-time playoff assists by an Avalanche defenceman – 49
• Most all-time playoff points by an Avalanche defenceman – 67