Tuomas Grönman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tuomas Grönman |
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| Born | 22 March 1974 Viitasaari, Finland |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 219 lb (99 kg; 15 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Defenceman | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Pittsburgh Penguins Chicago Blackhawks Lukko Rauma TPS Turku Jokerit Helsinki |
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| National team |  Finland |
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| NHL Draft | 29th overall, 1992 Quebec Nordiques |
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| Playing career | 1991–2003 | ||
Tuomas Oskar Grönman (born 22 March 1974) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He played as a Defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL) and in Finland's top league, SM-liiga.
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Tuomas Grönman's Hockey Journey
Tuomas Grönman was a talented ice hockey player from Finland. He played defense, helping his team protect their goal. His career took him to some of the biggest hockey leagues.
Starting His Career
Tuomas was chosen in the second round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques. This is like being picked by a professional team when you're still young. He spent four years playing in Finland. This time helped him get better at hockey.
After a few years, the Nordiques team moved and became the Colorado Avalanche. Tuomas's rights were then traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1996.
Playing in the NHL
In 1997, the Blackhawks traded Tuomas to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played some games in the NHL, which is the top hockey league in North America. He also played for teams linked to the NHL, like the Indianapolis Ice and the Syracuse Crunch. These are often called "farm teams" where players develop their skills.
In 1998, Tuomas had a serious knee injury. This made him miss a lot of games. After his contract ended, he decided to return to Finland.
Returning to Finland
Back in Finland, Tuomas played for several well-known teams. These included TPS, Lukko, and Jokerit. He continued to play professional hockey there until 2003.
Olympic Success
One of the biggest moments in Tuomas's career was representing his country. He helped Finland win a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. This is a huge achievement for any athlete!
