Sven Bärtschi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sven Bärtschi |
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Bärtschi with the Calgary Flames in 2012
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| Born | 5 October 1992 Bern, Switzerland |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Calgary Flames Vancouver Canucks Vegas Golden Knights SC Bern |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Switzerland |
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| NHL Draft | 13th overall, 2011 Calgary Flames |
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| Playing career | 2008–2023 | ||
Sven Bärtschi (sometimes spelled: Baertschi) is a former professional ice hockey player from Switzerland. He was born on October 5, 1992. Sven played as a forward. He started his professional career in 2009 in Switzerland before moving to North America. He was picked by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Sven made his debut in the NHL in 2012.
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Sven's Hockey Journey
Sven Bärtschi started his professional hockey journey in 2009. He played for a team called SC Langenthal in Switzerland. Even though a bigger Swiss team wanted him, Sven decided to move to North America. He wanted to chase his dream of playing in the NHL.
In 2010, the Portland Winterhawks picked him in a special draft for international players. This team plays in the Western Hockey League (WHL). In his first season (2010–11), Sven was amazing! He scored 34 goals and got 85 points, which was the most for any rookie in the WHL. He was almost named the best rookie of the year.
Joining the NHL: Calgary Flames
Because of his great performance, Sven was ranked as one of the top young players for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The Calgary Flames chose him as the 13th overall pick. This was a big deal! The Flames quickly signed him to a three-year contract.
Sven went to the Flames' training camp, but he was sent back to play for the Portland Winterhawks for the 2011–12 season. He continued to play incredibly well, scoring 94 points in just 47 games. His teammates even voted him as Portland's most valuable player.
NHL Debut and First Goals
In March 2012, the Calgary Flames needed players because of injuries. So, they called Sven up to play in the NHL! He made his first NHL appearance on March 9, 2012. Just two nights later, he scored his very first NHL goal. He scored goals in his next two games too, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
After playing five NHL games and scoring three goals, Sven went back to Portland. He then became the top scorer in the 2012 WHL playoffs. He got 34 points in 22 games, helping his team reach the championship series again.
Time with the Canucks
Sven became a full-time professional player in 2012. He started playing for the Abbotsford Heat, which was Calgary's minor league team.
On March 2, 2015, the Calgary Flames traded Sven to the Vancouver Canucks. He had asked to be traded. Sven made his debut with the Canucks in April 2015. He scored his first two goals as a Canuck on April 11, 2015, against the Edmonton Oilers.
Sven had a very successful season with the Canucks in 2015–16. He scored 15 goals and got 28 points, which were his best numbers yet! He continued to play well for the Canucks, signing new contracts in 2016 and 2018.
However, during the 2018–19 season, Sven suffered from post-concussion syndrome after being hit in the head during a game. This caused him to miss many games.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2019, Sven was sent to play for the Canucks' minor league team, the Utica Comets. After playing for the Canucks organization for seven years, he left as a free agent.
In 2021, Sven signed a contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. He spent most of the 2021–22 season playing for their minor league team, the Henderson Silver Knights.
After that, Sven decided to return home to Switzerland. He signed a three-year deal with SC Bern. However, after one season back in Switzerland, Sven Bärtschi officially retired from professional hockey on August 2, 2023.
Playing for Switzerland
Sven Bärtschi also played for the Swiss national junior team several times. He played in the Under-18 World Championship in 2009 and 2010. He also played in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, he had to leave the tournament early because of a concussion.
He also played one game for the senior Swiss national team in the 2014 IIHF World Championship.
About Sven's Life
Sven Bärtschi was born and grew up in Langenthal, Switzerland. His father was also a professional hockey player in Switzerland. When Sven was 11, his parents divorced. His mother worked two jobs to make sure Sven and his brother could continue to play hockey.
Images for kids
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Bärtschi with the Calgary Flames in 2012
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Bärtschi with the Portland Winterhawks in 2011.
