After beginning his career with Danish team Herning Blue Fox at the junior and men's level, Jensen moved to North America in 2010 to play with the Oshawa Generals. Named to the OHL All-Rookie Team following his first year with the club, he was ranked 21st among North American skaters eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, where he was selected by the Vancouver Canucks 29th overall. Jensen spent most of the 2012–13 season with AIK of the Swedish Elitserien before returning to North America and playing for Chicago, the AHL affiliate of the Canucks. Jensen made his NHL debut with Vancouver in 2013 and appeared in 24 games for the Canucks over three seasons, spending most of his time with the team's AHL affiliates, the Chicago Wolves and Utica Comets, before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2016.
Jensen was born in Herning, Denmark. His father, Dan, was born in Toronto and played in the Ontario Hockey League from 1986 to 1989 before moving to Denmark, where he met his wife. Jensen grew up while Dan played for the Herning Blue Fox, as well as the Danish national team. In addition to hockey, he played soccer, the country's national sport, until he was 14 years old.[1] Despite arriving in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as an import player, he lived near many relatives, due to his father's Canadian heritage. Playing with the Oshawa Generals, his paternal grandparents Poul and Utta Jensen, as well as two uncles live nearby Richmond Hill, Ontario.[2]
Playing career
Following after his father, Jensen began his career with his hometown team, the Herning Blue Fox. Spending most of the 2008–09 season with the team's junior side, he recorded 43 points (28 goals and 15 assists) over 28 games. He also debuted at the men's level during the season, recording three goals over four games with Herning's second-tier team. The following season, he was promoted to Herning's premier team in Denmark's top professional league, AL-Bank Ligaen. With 12 goals and 26 points over 34 games, he won the league's Rookie of the Year award.[3]
After being selected eighth overall in the 2010 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft by the Oshawa Generals, of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)[4] Jensen moved to North America to join the team for the 2010–11 season. Making his OHL debut on 23 September 2010,[5] he scored the deciding goal in a 5–4 win against the Peterborough Petes.[6] Several months into the campaign, he began a seven-game goal-scoring streak, scoring 10 times from 3 December 2010, to 9 January 2011; it tied for the third-longest streak in the league that season.[7] Midway through the campaign, he was named OHL Player of the Week after recording seven points (three goals and four assists) over three games from 10 to 16 January 2011. His award-winning week included a five-point game (one goal and four assists) against the Ottawa 67's.[8] That same month, he competed in the 2011 CHL Top Prospects Game for Team Cherry, alongside Generals teammates Boone Jenner and Lucas Lessio.[9] Jensen completed his OHL rookie campaign with 58 points (29 goals and 29 assists) over 61 games. Ranking fifth in scoring among first-year players,[10] he was named to the OHL Second All-Rookie Team. In the 2011 playoffs, he added 11 points (7 goals and 4 assists) over 10 games, ranking third among league rookies.[11] His efforts helped the Generals to the second round, where they were eliminated in five games by the Niagara IceDogs.[12]
Going into the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Jensen was ranked 21st among prospects playing in North America by NHL Central Scouting Bureau. He was selected 29th overall by the Vancouver Canucks. Following his draft, he characterized himself as "a power forward and goal scorer who protects the puck well", while the Canucks assistant general manager Laurence Gilman highlighted the quick release of his shot. Gilman also described him as a player high in "character and work ethic".[1] In becoming a part of the Canucks organization, Jensen joined countryman Jannik Hansen, who led a wave of Danish players beginning to play in the NHL.[13]
Following his NHL pre-season debut, Jensen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks on 22 September 2011.[14] Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault praised Jensen's play in his training camp performance, but asserted that he still needed development to play in the NHL.[15] By the end of the month, he was returned to the Generals to continue at the junior level.[16] Playing his second OHL season, Jensen scored at a similar pace to his rookie year with 25 goals and 58 points over 57 games. He added five points in six playoff games.
After the Generals were eliminated in the first round of the 2012 OHL playoffs, Jensen was assigned to the Canucks' American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.[17] He made his professional debut on 6 April 2012, against the Houston Aeros, before scoring his first professional goal two games later against Texas Stars goaltender Jack Campbell in a 5–2 loss.[18][19] In the last game of the regular season later that month, he recorded a hat trick in a 4–2 win against the Peoria Rivermen on 15 April 2012.[20] Playing the San Antonio Rampage in the first game of the 2012 playoffs, Jensen scored two goals in a 5–4 loss.[21] His series was cut short when he suffered a concussion the following game after receiving an elbow to the head.[22]
The Canucks assigned Jensen to AIK of the Elitserien, the top professional league in Sweden, for the 2012–13 season.[23] Jensen scored 17 goals and 23 points in 50 games with AIK, leading the team in goals and tied for fourth with points. He also led all Elitserien rookies in goal scoring and was tied for eleventh overall.[24] After the Elitserien season ended in early March, the Canucks assigned Jensen to the Chicago Wolves; he joined the team on 8 March 2013.[24] Jensen played 11 games for Chicago, scoring two goals and four points. After a series of injuries to the Canucks' line-up, he was recalled in hopes of adding an offensive spark to the team.[25] He made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut on 1 April 2013 in a game versus the San Jose Sharks.[26] After Mason Raymond and Dale Weise returned from injury Jensen was reassigned to Chicago. He went pointless in two games.[27]
On 8 January 2016, while with AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, Jensen was traded by the Canucks along with a 6th round draft pick in 2017 to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Emerson Etem.[29] On 20 April 2016, Jensen was recalled by the New York Rangers from the team's AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.[30]
After parts of two seasons with the Rangers, Jensen featured in just seven games going scoreless. Unable to break through with the Rangers following the 2016–17 season, Jensen's KHL rights, originally attained by Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the 2012 KHL Draft, were traded to Finnish outfit Jokerit on 20 April 2017.[31] As a restricted free agent from the Rangers, Jensen opted to pause his NHL aspirations in agreeing to an optional two-year contract with Jokerit on 12 July 2017.[32]
Jensen played five seasons with Jokerit before the team withdrew from the KHL during the 2021–22 season due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a free agent in the off-season, Jensen moved to the Swiss National League, signing a two-year contract with SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers on 6 May 2022.[33]
Although Jensen is a dual citizen of Denmark, where he was born, and Canada, where his father was born, he chose to play for the Danish national team.[1][34] He debuted internationally for Denmark in Division I play of the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship, held in Asiago, Italy.[notes 1] At 16 years old, he was the youngest player on the team.[35] He registered one assist over five games, helping Denmark to second place in their pool. They finished two points shy of first place, which would have qualified them for the main division the following year.[notes 2]
Seven months later, Jensen joined Denmark's under-20 team, competing in Division I of the 2010 World Junior Championships, held in Megeve and Saint-Gervais, France. Once again the youngest player on the team,[37] he tied for third among Danish players in scoring with five points (three goals and two assists) over five games while recording a team-leading 19 shots on goal.[38] Denmark finished second in Pool A, missing out on a promotion to the 2011 tournament's main division by one win.[notes 3]
The following year, Jensen returned to the under-18 team for the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships, which was held in his hometown of Herning, Denmark. In the tournament's first game, he scored five goals against France, leading Denmark to a 7–4 win.[40] He was named his team's player of the game.[41] In a later 13–3 win against Korea, Jensen recorded a hat trick, as well as one assist.[42] Going undefeated after four games, Denmark played Norway (also undefeated) in the final contest of the tournament, with the winner deciding who would earn a promotion to the top division the following year.[43] Jensen recorded a goal and an assist in the match, as Denmark lost 5–4.[44] Finishing with a team-leading 15 points over 5 games, including a pool-leading 13 goals,[45] Jensen was distinguished as Denmark's best player and the pool's best forward by the coaches and the directorate, respectively.[46][47]
In December 2010, Jensen made his second appearance at the under-20 level in the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships Division I tournament, held in Slovenia. Recording two goals and five points over five games, as well as a team-leading 28 shots on goal,[48] he helped Denmark to the top spot in their pool and a promotion to the top division for the 2012 tournament.[49] Denmark had tied with Slovenia for first place in Pool B with four wins and one loss each,[50] but won by virtue of having won their game against them 2–1.[51]
Jensen made his third appearance for Denmark's under-20 team in the 2012 World Junior Championships. It was his first time competing in the top division of an international tournament (all his previous appearances had been in second-tier Division I play). Jensen was chosen to the team as the lone player competing with a North American club at the time (the Oshawa Generals)[52] and was also named an alternate captain.[notes 4][53] During the preliminary round, Jensen was named Denmark's player of the game after recording an assist and five shots on goal in a 10–2 loss to Canada.[53] Denmark finished the tournament in last place, relegating them to Division I for the 2013 World Juniors.[54] Jensen led his team in scoring with two goals and six points over six games.[55]
Following his 2011–12 season, in which he made his professional debut, it was expected that Jensen would be named to the Danish national team for the 2012 IIHF World Championship, but he had sustained a concussion during the 2012 AHL playoffs, which may have dissuaded the Danish team officials from selecting him.[22] Jensen would make his debut at the World Championships in 2013 when he was added to Denmark's roster following the elimination of the Vancouver Canucks from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Jensen recorded two goals in three games at the tournament as Denmark finished in 12th place.
↑ Division I is the second-highest level of play in the tournament.
↑ There are two pools who play separate round robins in Division I competition. The top-ranked team from each pool earns a promotion to the top division for the following year. Top-ranked Latvia won four games and lost one in regulation for 12 points. Denmark won three games, lost one in regulation, and lost one in overtime for 10 points.[36]
↑ Top-ranked Germany went undefeated in five games, while Denmark lost one game.[39]
Todd Bertuzzi is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger of the National Hockey League (NHL). Known as a power forward, he has played in the NHL for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings. He is widely known for his role in the Todd Bertuzzi–Steve Moore incident, for which he was suspended by the NHL and IIHF, and criminally charged.
Edward Jovanovski is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was born in Windsor, Ontario, and is of Macedonian descent.
Christopher Robert Higgins is an American former professional ice hockey winger and current Skills and Development coach for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). While playing college hockey, he was selected 14th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He finished a two-year career with the Yale Bulldogs, earning ECAC Hockey Player of the Year honors as a sophomore, before turning professional for the 2003–04 season. After two seasons with the Canadiens' minor league affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL), he joined the NHL in 2005–06. He recorded three consecutive 20-goal seasons to begin his NHL career before being traded to the New York Rangers in June 2009. After brief stints with the Rangers, Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers, he joined the Vancouver Canucks in February 2011. Internationally, Higgins has competed for the United States in two World Junior Championships and one World Championship (2009).
Jonas Erik Andersson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player. Most of his career was spent playing in the SM-liiga, the top league in Finland, though he also briefly played for the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Andersson played internationally for Sweden at both the junior and senior level, including the 2010 World Championship.
Daniel Hamhuis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in 2001 by the Nashville Predators.
Kyle Wellwood is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs 134th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, playing his first three seasons in the NHL with Toronto before joining the Vancouver Canucks in 2008.
Derek Leonard Roy is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and the Edmonton Oilers. He was originally drafted in the second round, 32nd overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Christian Ehrhoff is a German professional ice hockey defenceman for Krefeld Pinguine of the German DEL2. In 2018, he won silver at the Winter Olympics. He played more than 800 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) and more than 300 in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany. He is known primarily as an offensive defenceman with strong skating and shooting abilities.
Jannik Hansen is a Danish former professional ice hockey right winger. Hansen began playing professionally at the age of 16 with both the Rødovre Mighty Bulls of the Danish league and the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish J20 SuperElit and HockeyAllsvenskan leagues. He played three seasons with Rødovre, during which time he was selected 287th overall by the Canucks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. A year after his selection, he moved to North America to play major junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for one season. In 2006–07, Hansen began playing with the Canucks' minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL). That season, he was called up by the Vancouver Canucks and became the first Danish citizen to play and register a point in an NHL playoff game. After another campaign spent primarily with Manitoba, Hansen earned a full-time roster spot with the Canucks.
Ulf Niklas Alexander Edler is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman who is an unrestricted free agent. He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted out of Sweden's third-tier ice hockey league by the Canucks in the third round, 91st overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and played junior ice hockey with Modo Hockey of the J20 SuperElit and the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Sergei Sergeyevich Shirokov is a Russian professional ice hockey winger currently with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Before signing with Vancouver in 2009, Shirokov played with CSKA Moscow for four seasons in the Russian Superleague and Kontinental Hockey League. He returned to CSKA Moscow in 2011 after two years with the Vancouver Canucks and Manitoba Moose.
Philip Elzer Gade Larsen is a Danish professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with Esbjerg Energy of the Metal Ligaen (DEN). He was originally drafted 149th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
William Joseph Sweatt is an American former professional ice hockey left winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks before playing in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Cody Douglas Hodgson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centreman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Jordan John Schroeder is an American professional ice hockey center who currently plays for Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Zack Adam Kassian is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who is an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga. During his junior career, he won a Memorial Cup with the Windsor Spitfires in 2010. Selected 13th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he began his career within the Buffalo Sabres organization before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2012. He played parts of four seasons with the Canucks before they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in 2015. Kassian never played for the Canadiens, however, as he was suspended for substance abuse issues, and was traded to the Edmonton Oilers several months later. After seven seasons in Edmonton, Kassian was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, spending one season there before retiring during the 2023–24 NHL season.
Brendan Gaunce is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 26th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks.
Bowie William Horvat is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Darren Archibald is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Grizzlys Wolfsburg in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He played major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Barrie Colts and Niagara IceDogs. Undrafted out of junior, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent and played at multiple levels within the organization.
Olli Juolevi is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently on a one-month contract with Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was selected fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Born and raised in Finland, Juolevi developed in the Jokerit program before he moved to North America to play major junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s London Knights in 2015. After one season with London, he was drafted by the Canucks.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Denmark 
