Esa Tikkanen
Encyclopedia
Esa Tikkanen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey
forward
. He played for the Edmonton Oilers
, New York Rangers
, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils
, Vancouver Canucks
, Florida Panthers
, and the Washington Capitals
in the National Hockey League
and won five Stanley Cup
s in 1985
, 1987
, 1988
, 1990
with the Oilers, and 1994
with the Rangers.
, a team based in Helsinki, Finland, and playing for the Jokerit junior team. After spending a year in Canada in 1981–82 with the Regina Blues
of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
and Regina Pats
of the Western Hockey League
, Tikkanen returned to Finland and signed with HJK and after a set of impressive performances signed a contract with Finland's leading team, HIFK
. Tikkanen was drafted in the fourth round (80th overall) by the Oilers in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft
. In 1984–85, he played 36 games for HIFK in the Finnish SM-liiga before joining the Oilers for their 1985 playoff run. He played briefly in the American Hockey League
for the Oilers' affiliate the Nova Scotia Oilers
in 1985–86
, before joining the team full time.
during the second round of the 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs
. By playing one game in the finals that year
, he was eligible to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup
even before playing his first regular-season game in the NHL. He soon became an important part of the Oilers, playing on the team's first line with Wayne Gretzky
and Jari Kurri
. Kurri and Gretzky's roles were to score goals; Tikkanen was the line's defensive player. Oilers coach and general manager Glen Sather
once suggested that Tikkanen should be awarded the Frank J. Selke trophy
(the award for the best defensive forward in the NHL). He was a finalist several times in his career, but never won the award. Tikkanen excelled at distracting and confusing opponents with his Tiki-Talk. Between 1986 and 1990, Tikkanen scored 30 or more goals three times and was on three more Cup champions.
for Doug Weight
, and he was part of that team's 1994 Stanley Cup victory
, scoring 22 goals and 54 points in 83 regular-season games. In July 1994, Tikkanen was traded with Doug Lidster
to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Petr Nedvěd
.
The start of the NHL's 1994-95 season was delayed by a lockout, during which Tikkanen returned to Finland to play for HIFK Helsinki
. After the lockout Tikkanen, played with the Blues during the shortened 1995 season, and appeared in 11 games in 1995-96 before a trade sent him to the New Jersey Devils
. Three weeks later he was again dealt, this time to the Vancouver Canucks
.
The 1996–97 season saw him involved in yet another midseason trade, back to the Rangers, in March. Although he contributed only one goal in 14 regular-season games with New York, he came alive in the playoffs, scoring 9 times in 15 games. Of the Rangers, only Gretzky, with 10, outscored Tikkanen. The Rangers eliminated the Florida Panthers
and New Jersey Devils before falling to the Philadelphia Flyers
in the Eastern Conference finals.
The 32-year-old Tikkanen became a free agent in the summer of 1997, and he signed with the Panthers, but this would also prove to be a short stay. By March 1998 he had appeared in only 28 games, and Florida traded him to the Washington Capitals
for Dwayne Hay
. He appeared in all 21 of Washington's playoff games, as the Capitals went to the Stanley Cup finals, where they were swept in four straight games by the Detroit Red Wings
. Tikkanen is remembered for missing a wide-open shot on goal that would have iced Game 2. Many thought this was the turning point of the Series. This was to be Tikkanen's last full season in the NHL. After becoming a free agent prior to the 1998–99 season, he signed for a third stint with the Rangers. However, he would only play in 32 games before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Before the start of the 1999–2000 season, Tikkanen attended the Edmonton Oilers' training camp and was offered a role of playing coach. Tikkanen declined the offer and returned to Finland, where he played a full season with Helsinki's second team, Jokerit
. In 877 NHL games, he had scored 244 goals and 386 assists for 630 points, while racking up 1,077 minutes in penalties. In 186 Stanley Cup playoff games, he scored 72 goals and 60 assists for 132 points, with 275 penalty minutes.
, a rival team of HIFK, with whom Tikkanen had played earlier in his career. Jokerit finished in second place in the SM-Liiga. In 2000–01, Tikkanen moved to Germany
, where he played what was to be his last season in a recognized professional league for Moskitos Essen of the Deutsche Eishockey LigaDEL. He retired in 2001.
During the 2004–05 season, Tikkanen resurfaced again, this time as a player-coach for the Anyang Halla
, a South Korea
n team in the Asia League Ice Hockey
.http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=419077 Though he predicted that he and his two linemates would finish 1-2-3 in scoring http://mfeed.asahi.com/english/sports/TKY200411260123.html, he finished tied for fourth on his team, with 8 goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 30 games. He was 29th in the league in assists, and didn't crack the top 30 in goals or points. He did, however, lead Halla in penalty minutes with 58 (tied for 28th in the league). Halla finished fifth in the league and did not make the playoffs.
After one season in Korea, Tikkanen became the coach for Frisk Tigers
of the Norwegian
GET-ligaen
. Tikkanen was head coach only for the 2005–06 season.
Despite only playing one season (and scoring 11 goals in 54 games) for the club, his #5 shirt was controversially retired by the underachieving Jokerit
in a move that was seen as a marketing stunt http://www.jokerifanit.net/n/?m=forum&a=viewtopic&t=856.
On 27. December 2010 Jokipojat
from Joensuu
, Finland, announced that Tikkanen will be the head coach of the team for the rest of the 2010-2011 season. Jokipojat plays in Mestis
, which is the second-highest league in Finland.
Tikkanen participated in two Canada Cups, 5 World Championship tournaments and the 1998 Winter Olympics
.
retired his number, #5. Tikkanen also led the Edmonton Oilers with 69 points in the 1990-91 regular season. Tikkanen also holds the NHL record for scoring two shorthanded goals in the shortest time (10 seconds apart)
In the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & Sons
, 2009) by Russ Cohen, John Halligan, and Adam Raider, the authors ranked Tikkanen No. 85 on the all-time list of New York Rangers.
once commented, "He brings something special. I don't know what it is, but if you ask him, you couldn't understand his answer." Former Edmonton Oiler coach and teammate Craig MacTavish
said, "Esa talks twice as much as anybody else. That's because you can understand just half what he says."
Even fellow Finn Jari Kurri
was not immune from the confusing language. During their tenure with the Oilers, Tikkanen let go with a particularly colorful pronouncement, after which another player turned to Kurri and asked, "What did he just say?" Kurri simply shook his head; "I have no idea."
was won by Tikkanen
, a Thoroughbred
racehorse
named in Esa Tikkanen's honor by George W. Strawbridge, Jr.
, owner of Augustin Stable and an active director of the Buffalo Sabres
NHL
ice hockey
club and a member of the team's executive committee for more than thirty years. http://www.ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=1924 http://www.pedigreequery.com/tikkanen
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
. He played for the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
, and the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and won five Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s in 1985
1985 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1985 Stanley Cup Finals was played between the defending champion Edmonton Oilers in their third-straight Finals appearance and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Oilers would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their second Stanley Cup. It was also the sixth straight Finals of...
, 1987
1987 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1987 Stanley Cup Final was played between the Edmonton Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Oilers would win the series 4–3, for their third Stanley Cup victory.-Paths to the Final:...
, 1988
1988 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1988 Stanley Cup Finals was between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins. The Oilers would win the series 4–0 in five games; game four was abandoned due to a power failure at the Boston Garden with the score tied 3–3 and replayed.-Paths to the Final:...
, 1990
1990 Stanley Cup Finals
In the 1990 Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Boston Bruins four games to one. For the Oilers, it was their fifth Cup win in seven years, and the only one without Wayne Gretzky...
with the Oilers, and 1994
1994 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
with the Rangers.
Background and early career
Esa Tikkanen began his career in hockey as a little boy by being a mascot for JokeritJokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
, a team based in Helsinki, Finland, and playing for the Jokerit junior team. After spending a year in Canada in 1981–82 with the Regina Blues
Regina Blues
The Regina Blues were a Tier-II Junior "A" team based out of Regina, Saskatchewan. They used to play out of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.-History:...
of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in two divisions: the Bauer and Sherwood conferences...
and Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
, Tikkanen returned to Finland and signed with HJK and after a set of impressive performances signed a contract with Finland's leading team, HIFK
HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...
. Tikkanen was drafted in the fourth round (80th overall) by the Oilers in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
. In 1984–85, he played 36 games for HIFK in the Finnish SM-liiga before joining the Oilers for their 1985 playoff run. He played briefly in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
for the Oilers' affiliate the Nova Scotia Oilers
Nova Scotia Oilers
The Nova Scotia Oilers were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 1984 to 1988. The Oilers played their home games at the Halifax Metro Centre, and were the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, whose logo theirs resembled.The Oilers...
in 1985–86
1985–86 AHL season
The 1985–86 AHL season was the 50th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears finished first overall in the regular season...
, before joining the team full time.
Start in Edmonton
Tikkanen made his NHL debut with the Edmonton OilersEdmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
during the second round of the 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs
1985 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League began on April 10, after the conclusion of the 1984–85 NHL season...
. By playing one game in the finals that year
1985 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1985 Stanley Cup Finals was played between the defending champion Edmonton Oilers in their third-straight Finals appearance and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Oilers would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their second Stanley Cup. It was also the sixth straight Finals of...
, he was eligible to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
even before playing his first regular-season game in the NHL. He soon became an important part of the Oilers, playing on the team's first line with Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
and Jari Kurri
Jari Kurri
Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....
. Kurri and Gretzky's roles were to score goals; Tikkanen was the line's defensive player. Oilers coach and general manager Glen Sather
Glen Sather
Glen Cameron "Slats" Sather is the President and general manager of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He has also served as the head coach of the Rangers, as well as General Manager and coach of the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and later NHL...
once suggested that Tikkanen should be awarded the Frank J. Selke trophy
Frank J. Selke Trophy
The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association following the regular season. It has been awarded 33 times to...
(the award for the best defensive forward in the NHL). He was a finalist several times in his career, but never won the award. Tikkanen excelled at distracting and confusing opponents with his Tiki-Talk. Between 1986 and 1990, Tikkanen scored 30 or more goals three times and was on three more Cup champions.
Time after Oilers
In March 1993, Tikkanen was traded to the New York RangersNew York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
for Doug Weight
Doug Weight
Douglas Daniel Weight is a retired American professional ice hockey player who is currently an Assistant Coach and Special Assistant to the General Manager for the New York Islanders. During his 19-year National Hockey League career, he played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina...
, and he was part of that team's 1994 Stanley Cup victory
1994 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
, scoring 22 goals and 54 points in 83 regular-season games. In July 1994, Tikkanen was traded with Doug Lidster
Doug Lidster
John Douglas Andrew Lidster is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL...
to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Petr Nedvěd
Petr Nedved
Petr Nedvěd is a Czech Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent 15 seasons in the National Hockey League. He currently plays centre for HC Bílí Tygři Liberec of the Czech Extraliga.- Biography :...
.
The start of the NHL's 1994-95 season was delayed by a lockout, during which Tikkanen returned to Finland to play for HIFK Helsinki
HIFK
Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna i Helsingfors is a sports club from Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 HIFK is the oldest IFK club in Finland. The club has activities in many sports, including football, ice hockey, bandy, floorball, handball, athletics and bowling. HIFK Soccer ry is part of the...
. After the lockout Tikkanen, played with the Blues during the shortened 1995 season, and appeared in 11 games in 1995-96 before a trade sent him to the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Three weeks later he was again dealt, this time to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
.
The 1996–97 season saw him involved in yet another midseason trade, back to the Rangers, in March. Although he contributed only one goal in 14 regular-season games with New York, he came alive in the playoffs, scoring 9 times in 15 games. Of the Rangers, only Gretzky, with 10, outscored Tikkanen. The Rangers eliminated the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
and New Jersey Devils before falling to the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the Eastern Conference finals.
The 32-year-old Tikkanen became a free agent in the summer of 1997, and he signed with the Panthers, but this would also prove to be a short stay. By March 1998 he had appeared in only 28 games, and Florida traded him to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
for Dwayne Hay
Dwayne Hay
Dwayne Hay is a Canadian ice hockey player who most recently played for the HC Alleghe of Serie A during the 2009-10 season.-NHL:...
. He appeared in all 21 of Washington's playoff games, as the Capitals went to the Stanley Cup finals, where they were swept in four straight games by the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. Tikkanen is remembered for missing a wide-open shot on goal that would have iced Game 2. Many thought this was the turning point of the Series. This was to be Tikkanen's last full season in the NHL. After becoming a free agent prior to the 1998–99 season, he signed for a third stint with the Rangers. However, he would only play in 32 games before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Before the start of the 1999–2000 season, Tikkanen attended the Edmonton Oilers' training camp and was offered a role of playing coach. Tikkanen declined the offer and returned to Finland, where he played a full season with Helsinki's second team, Jokerit
Jokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
. In 877 NHL games, he had scored 244 goals and 386 assists for 630 points, while racking up 1,077 minutes in penalties. In 186 Stanley Cup playoff games, he scored 72 goals and 60 assists for 132 points, with 275 penalty minutes.
Post NHL career
In 1999–2000, Tikkanen played a season with Helsinki's second team JokeritJokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
, a rival team of HIFK, with whom Tikkanen had played earlier in his career. Jokerit finished in second place in the SM-Liiga. In 2000–01, Tikkanen moved to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where he played what was to be his last season in a recognized professional league for Moskitos Essen of the Deutsche Eishockey LigaDEL. He retired in 2001.
During the 2004–05 season, Tikkanen resurfaced again, this time as a player-coach for the Anyang Halla
Anyang Halla
The Anyang Halla are a professional ice hockey team based in Anyang City in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. They are one of the founding and current members of the Asia League Ice Hockey . Formed in 1994, they are the oldest professional ice hockey team, and one of only two professional teams, in South...
, a South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n team in the Asia League Ice Hockey
Asia League Ice Hockey
Asia League Ice Hockey is an association which operates a professional ice hockey league based in East Asia, with seven teams from Japan, China, and South Korea. The league is headquartered in Japan...
.http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=419077 Though he predicted that he and his two linemates would finish 1-2-3 in scoring http://mfeed.asahi.com/english/sports/TKY200411260123.html, he finished tied for fourth on his team, with 8 goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 30 games. He was 29th in the league in assists, and didn't crack the top 30 in goals or points. He did, however, lead Halla in penalty minutes with 58 (tied for 28th in the league). Halla finished fifth in the league and did not make the playoffs.
After one season in Korea, Tikkanen became the coach for Frisk Tigers
Frisk Tigers
The Frisk Tigers are the ice hockey division of IF Frisk Asker, a Norwegian sports club whose members also participate in football. Officially, the hockey section is registered as IF Frisk Asker - Ishockey, but the club usually refers to itself as the Frisk Tigers or simply Frisk. They are based in...
of the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
GET-ligaen
GET-ligaen
GET-ligaen is the premier Norwegian ice hockey league, organised by the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation. The league was known as 1. divisjon until 1990, when it was reorganized and named Eliteserien . That name was held until 2004 when cable TV company UPC became main sponsor...
. Tikkanen was head coach only for the 2005–06 season.
Despite only playing one season (and scoring 11 goals in 54 games) for the club, his #5 shirt was controversially retired by the underachieving Jokerit
Jokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
in a move that was seen as a marketing stunt http://www.jokerifanit.net/n/?m=forum&a=viewtopic&t=856.
On 27. December 2010 Jokipojat
Jokipojat
Jokipojat is a Finnish semi-professional ice hockey team that plays in the Mestis. Full name of the club is Joensuun Kiekko ry. The club has spent three seasons in top flight of Finnish hockey, season 1971-72 in SM-sarja and seasons 1989-90 and 1991-92 in SM-liiga...
from Joensuu
Joensuu
Joensuu is a city and municipality in North Karelia in eastern Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of North Karelia region. It was founded in 1848...
, Finland, announced that Tikkanen will be the head coach of the team for the rest of the 2010-2011 season. Jokipojat plays in Mestis
Mestis
Mestis, , is the second-highest ice hockey league in Finland.The league was established in 2000 to replace the first division. Since 2000, Mestis has been the highest hockey league in Finland that can be reached with playing merits only; the SM-liiga was closed in 2000...
, which is the second-highest league in Finland.
International play
Esa Tikkanen played 81 games for Finnish National team.Tikkanen participated in two Canada Cups, 5 World Championship tournaments and the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
.
Notable achievements
Tikkanen won the Stanley Cup four times as a member of the Oilers and once more as a member of the Rangers. His various acquisitions were by teams craving him for his playoff experience and success: in 877 regular season games he scored 244 goals, but in 186 playoff games he scored 72 goals. "Tik" was known for his ability to score clutch goals, but also for his general style of play—chippy and aggressive. He was nicknamed "The Grate One" (a pun on teammate Gretzky's moniker "The Great One") for his ability to irritate opposing players, often just by talking to them in his Finnish-English "Tikkanese" or "Tiki-Talk." His regular-season totals were 244 goals, 386 assists, and 1077 penalty minutes. In the playoffs he added 72 goals, 60 assists, and 275 penalty minutes. In September 2001, JokeritJokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
retired his number, #5. Tikkanen also led the Edmonton Oilers with 69 points in the 1990-91 regular season. Tikkanen also holds the NHL record for scoring two shorthanded goals in the shortest time (10 seconds apart)
In the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & Sons
John Wiley & Sons
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, 2009) by Russ Cohen, John Halligan, and Adam Raider, the authors ranked Tikkanen No. 85 on the all-time list of New York Rangers.
Tikkanese
Tikkanen is famous for his Finnish-English, sometimes referred to as "Tikkanese" or "Tiki-Talk." Even members of his team often did not understand what he was saying. Wayne GretzkyWayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
once commented, "He brings something special. I don't know what it is, but if you ask him, you couldn't understand his answer." Former Edmonton Oiler coach and teammate Craig MacTavish
Craig MacTavish
Craig "MacT" MacTavish is the current head coach of the American Hockey League Chicago Wolves and a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. He played centre for 19 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis...
said, "Esa talks twice as much as anybody else. That's because you can understand just half what he says."
Even fellow Finn Jari Kurri
Jari Kurri
Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....
was not immune from the confusing language. During their tenure with the Oilers, Tikkanen let go with a particularly colorful pronouncement, after which another player turned to Kurri and asked, "What did he just say?" Kurri simply shook his head; "I have no idea."
Awards and achievements
- 1984–85 – NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
– Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
(EdmontonEdmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
) - 1986–87 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
- 1987–88 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
- 1989–90 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
- 1993-94 – NHL – Stanley Cup (New York)
- Matti Keinonen trophyMatti Keinonen trophyThe Matti Keinonen trophy is an ice-hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the "most effective player" of the season .-Trophy winners:...
for best plus/minus in the SM-liigaSM-liigaThe SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
– 1985 - Tikkanen's number was controversially retired by JokeritJokeritJokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
after the end of his career. The controversy stems from the fact that despite Tikkanen's extensive background in Jokerit juniors he only ever spent one season, his last in Finland, playing for Jokerit in the SM-liiga in comparison with two and a half seasons at Jokerit's local rivals HIFKHIFK (ice hockey)HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...
. The number retired was 5, although Tikkanen used number 10 during the most of his NHL career. - Tikkanen had finished as runner-up for the Frank J. Selke TrophyFrank J. Selke TrophyThe Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association following the regular season. It has been awarded 33 times to...
three times
Tikkanen, the racehorse
The 1994 Breeders' Cup TurfBreeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
was won by Tikkanen
Tikkanen
Tikkanen was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who competed internationally.-Background:He was owned and bred by American George W. Strawbridge, Jr., an avid ice hockey fan and a shareholder and Director of the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres who named the foal for the Finnish player, Esa...
, a Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
named in Esa Tikkanen's honor by George W. Strawbridge, Jr.
George W. Strawbridge, Jr.
George W. Strawbridge, Jr. is an American educator, historian, investor, sportsman, and philanthropist.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he was the son of Margaret Dorrance and stockbroker George W. Strawbridge, Sr.. He studied at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where he...
, owner of Augustin Stable and an active director of the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
club and a member of the team's executive committee for more than thirty years. http://www.ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=1924 http://www.pedigreequery.com/tikkanen
Transactions
- March 17, 1993 – Traded by the Edmonton OilersEdmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
to the New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in exchange for Doug WeightDoug WeightDouglas Daniel Weight is a retired American professional ice hockey player who is currently an Assistant Coach and Special Assistant to the General Manager for the New York Islanders. During his 19-year National Hockey League career, he played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina...
. - July 24, 1994 – Traded by the New York Rangers, along with Doug LidsterDoug LidsterJohn Douglas Andrew Lidster is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL...
to the St Louis Blues in exchange for Petr NedvědPetr NedvedPetr Nedvěd is a Czech Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent 15 seasons in the National Hockey League. He currently plays centre for HC Bílí Tygři Liberec of the Czech Extraliga.- Biography :...
. - November 1, 1995 – Traded by the St. Louis Blues to the New Jersey DevilsNew Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in exchange for New Jersey's 1997 3rd round draft choice. - November 23, 1995 – Traded by the New Jersey Devils to the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in exchange for Vancouver's 1996 2nd round draft choice. - March 8, 1997 – Traded by the Vancouver Canucks, along with Russ CourtnallRuss CourtnallRuss Courtnall is a former NHL player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings...
, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Sergei NemchinovSergei NemchinovSergei Lvovich Nemchinov is a retired Russian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils for twelve seasons, bookended by ten seasons in the Soviet Championship League with PHC Krylya Sovetov...
and Brian NoonanBrian NoonanBrian Noonan is a retired American ice hockey right-winger. He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, St...
. - September 17, 1997 – Signed as a free agent with the Florida PanthersFlorida PanthersThe Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
. - March 9, 1998 – Traded by the Florida Panthers to the Washington CapitalsWashington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
in exchange for Dwayne HayDwayne HayDwayne Hay is a Canadian ice hockey player who most recently played for the HC Alleghe of Serie A during the 2009-10 season.-NHL:...
and future considerations. - October 9, 1998 – Signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1982–83 | HIFK HIFK (ice hockey) HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897... |
SM-liiga SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1983–84 | HIFK | SM-liiga | 36 | 19 | 11 | 30 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1983–84 | Olympic Team Finnish national men's ice hockey team The Finnish men's national ice hockey team, or Leijonat / Lejonen , as it is called in Finland, is governed by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association... |
SM-liiga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | HIFK | SM-liiga | 36 | 21 | 33 | 54 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
— | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1985–86 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 35 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 28 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | ||
| 1986–87 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 76 | 34 | 44 | 78 | 120 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 22 | ||
| 1987–88 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 80 | 23 | 51 | 74 | 153 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 72 | ||
| 1988–89 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 67 | 31 | 47 | 78 | 92 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 1989–90 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 79 | 30 | 33 | 63 | 161 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 26 | ||
| 1990–91 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 79 | 27 | 42 | 69 | 85 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 24 | ||
| 1991–92 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 40 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 44 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 | ||
| 1992–93 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 66 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
NHL | 15 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | New York Rangers | NHL | 83 | 22 | 32 | 54 | 114 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 34 | ||
| 1994–95 | HIFK | SM-liiga | 19 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 43 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 | ||
| 1995–96 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL | 38 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1996–97 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 62 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | New York Rangers | NHL | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 26 | ||
| 1997–98 | Florida Panthers Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the... |
NHL | 28 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL | 20 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 20 | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 32 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Jokerit Jokerit Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships... |
SM-Liiga | 43 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 85 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 10 | ||
| 2000–01 | Moskitos Essen | DEL | 46 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Anyang Halla Winia Anyang Halla The Anyang Halla are a professional ice hockey team based in Anyang City in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. They are one of the founding and current members of the Asia League Ice Hockey . Formed in 1994, they are the oldest professional ice hockey team, and one of only two professional teams, in South... |
AL Asia League Ice Hockey Asia League Ice Hockey is an association which operates a professional ice hockey league based in East Asia, with seven teams from Japan, China, and South Korea. The league is headquartered in Japan... |
30 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 877 | 244 | 386 | 630 | 1077 | 186 | 72 | 60 | 132 | 275 | ||||
| SM-Liiga totals | 135 | 52 | 69 | 121 | 173 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 12 | ||||
| DEL totals | 46 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
External links
- Esa Tikkanen on nhlfinns.com
- "New-look Anyang Halla adds western flavor" nhl.com, July 31, 2008