Johan Molin
Encyclopedia
Johan Molin is a Swedish
professional ice hockey
player. This season (2009/10) he started out with the Nottingham Panthers
in the EIHL, before being picked up by the Norwegian eliteteam Sparta Warriors
. As he was no success, and by the fans rated the biggest mistake ever to play in the club, he was released from the Norwegians right after they were eliminated in the playoffs (went to semifinals). He produced 2 points in 8 playoff-games, and 3 points during the regular season (only played 8 games during series as well).
Molin began his career playing in the Elitserien
or Swedish Elite League for VIK Västerås HK
. In his debut season, aged just 21 he played in over 30 games for the club. Molin would become an important player for Västerås, and remained there for two further seasons, with his points return improving each season. In his final season with Västerås, Molin totalled 22 points in 48 games.
For the following season, Molin would move clubs to play for Brynäs IF
, again in the Elitserien. He performed to a solid if unspectacular standard, but was not re-signed by Brynas. He would take the opportunity to move to the U.K. and play for the ill-fated Ayr Scottish Eagles
organisation, then playing in the ISL
. In 15 games for the Eagles, Molin managed to net 12 points.
Due to limited opportunites despite his respectable scoring, Molin moved again and would play the 2002/03 season as a TWK Innsbruck
player. In 42 games in the Austrian Hockey League
, Molin scored an impressive 50 points with just 24 minutes of penalties against his name. His best season to date saw him snapped up in the off-season by the DEG Metro Stars
of the DEL. Molin played more than 50 times for the Metro Stars but failed to find his scoring touch, managing just 5 goals and 6 assists.
Despite this disappointment, Molin would find a new team and return home to Sweden to play for Hammarby IF
at Allsvenskan level. He again failed to produce points on a regular basis and would move to sign for his seventh club, SHC Fassa of the Italian Serie A
. Molin's output would improve significantly, and he scored 29 points in 42 games.
His potential was spotted by Tony Hand
, the player/coach of the Manchester Phoenix
who took the opportunity to bring Molin to Manchester in the summer of 2006. It was a move that ignited Molin, who provided the Phoenix with a reliable goalscorer - in 60 EIHL games, Molin totalled an impressive 83 points, with just 36 penalty minutes. His phenomenal first season led to Molin's signature being sought by several clubs during the off-season. Molin decided to remain in the U.K., and agreed to play for the Nottingham Panthers
in the 2007/08 season. He has again started well, and so far has managed a ratio in excess of one point per game for his new team. Molin resigned for the Nottingham Panthers for season 2008/09.
It was confirmed that Molin would not be returning to Nottingham
for a third season in 2009-2010 however, when Kevin Bergin failed a fitness test before a game against the Coventry Blaze
he was drafted in for a game under the new EIHL rules whereby a club could retain up to 15 players requiring ITC cards on its books providing it only iced its allotted number of imports in any one game (Molin had been visiting friends in England that week)
Later that year, in preparation for the EIHL's inaugural "Twenty20" Hockey tournament Molin came in to assist a weakened Nottingham Panthers
team in the tournament.
Over the weekend of 12 & 13 December 2009 Molin again turned out for the Nottingham Panthers
in games against the Newcastle Vipers
(at Whitley Bay Ice Rink
) and the Hull Stingrays
(at the National Ice Centre). Molin scored a goal in regulation time against the Stingrays and again found the net as the game went to penalty shots, scoring what proved to be the winning goal.
After the game against Edinburgh on 19 December 2009m it is announced that Johan will remain with the Panthers on a full-time basis until the end of the season, leaving the Panthers with two extra imports.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
professional 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...
player. This season (2009/10) he started out with the Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
in the EIHL, before being picked up by the Norwegian eliteteam Sparta Warriors
Sparta Warriors
The Sparta Warriors are an ice hockey team in Sarpsborg, Norway playing in the GET League. The official name of the club is Ishockeyklubben Sparta Sarpsborg. They play their home games in the Sparta Amfi arena...
. As he was no success, and by the fans rated the biggest mistake ever to play in the club, he was released from the Norwegians right after they were eliminated in the playoffs (went to semifinals). He produced 2 points in 8 playoff-games, and 3 points during the regular season (only played 8 games during series as well).
Molin began his career playing in the Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
or Swedish Elite League for VIK Västerås HK
VIK Västerås HK
VIK Västerås HK is an ice hockey club from Västerås, Sweden. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Västerås IK has played 12 seasons in the top Swedish league Elitserien .-History:Västerås IK was founded in 1913 and started playing ice hockey in...
. In his debut season, aged just 21 he played in over 30 games for the club. Molin would become an important player for Västerås, and remained there for two further seasons, with his points return improving each season. In his final season with Västerås, Molin totalled 22 points in 48 games.
For the following season, Molin would move clubs to play for Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF is a professional Swedish ice hockey team from Gävle. The club plays in the highest Swedish league , and has done so since 1960.-History:...
, again in the Elitserien. He performed to a solid if unspectacular standard, but was not re-signed by Brynas. He would take the opportunity to move to the U.K. and play for the ill-fated Ayr Scottish Eagles
Ayr Scottish Eagles
The Ayr Scottish Eagles were a professional Scottish ice hockey club, from Ayr, Scotland. They were formed in 1996 and played their home games at the Centrum Arena. The team competed in the Ice Hockey Superleague and the club's main sponsor was Barr Construction...
organisation, then playing in the ISL
Ice Hockey Superleague
The Ice Hockey Superleague was a professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom between 1996 and 2003. Formed in 1995, it replaced the Premier Division of the British Hockey League, it was the highest level of ice hockey competition in the United Kingdom...
. In 15 games for the Eagles, Molin managed to net 12 points.
Due to limited opportunites despite his respectable scoring, Molin moved again and would play the 2002/03 season as a TWK Innsbruck
HC TWK Innsbruck
HC Tiroler Wasserkraft Innsbruck is an Austrian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian National League. They play their home games at Olympiahalle Innsbruck in Innsbruck.-External links:*...
player. In 42 games in the Austrian Hockey League
Austrian Hockey League
The Austrian Hockey League , called the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Austria.-History:...
, Molin scored an impressive 50 points with just 24 minutes of penalties against his name. His best season to date saw him snapped up in the off-season by the DEG Metro Stars
DEG Metro Stars
The DEG Metro Stars is a German professional ice hockey team in Düsseldorf. It was Germany's most successful hockey club for a long time and had many international players...
of the DEL. Molin played more than 50 times for the Metro Stars but failed to find his scoring touch, managing just 5 goals and 6 assists.
Despite this disappointment, Molin would find a new team and return home to Sweden to play for Hammarby IF
Hammarby IF Hockey
Hammarby IF Hockey was a professional ice hockey team from Stockholm, Sweden, and played at Hovet arena. The ice hockey association of Hammarby was founded in 1920...
at Allsvenskan level. He again failed to produce points on a regular basis and would move to sign for his seventh club, SHC Fassa of the Italian Serie A
Serie A (hockey)
Serie A is the name of the top tier of professional ice hockey in Italy, which first began play in 1924. They are conducted under the authority of the Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio...
. Molin's output would improve significantly, and he scored 29 points in 42 games.
His potential was spotted by Tony Hand
Tony Hand
Tony Hand MBE is a Scottish ice hockey player who became the first British-raised player to be drafted by an NHL team when he was picked by the Edmonton Oilers in 1986. He is currently player-coach of the Manchester Phoenix...
, the player/coach of the Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in...
who took the opportunity to bring Molin to Manchester in the summer of 2006. It was a move that ignited Molin, who provided the Phoenix with a reliable goalscorer - in 60 EIHL games, Molin totalled an impressive 83 points, with just 36 penalty minutes. His phenomenal first season led to Molin's signature being sought by several clubs during the off-season. Molin decided to remain in the U.K., and agreed to play for the Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
in the 2007/08 season. He has again started well, and so far has managed a ratio in excess of one point per game for his new team. Molin resigned for the Nottingham Panthers for season 2008/09.
It was confirmed that Molin would not be returning to Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
for a third season in 2009-2010 however, when Kevin Bergin failed a fitness test before a game against the Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:...
he was drafted in for a game under the new EIHL rules whereby a club could retain up to 15 players requiring ITC cards on its books providing it only iced its allotted number of imports in any one game (Molin had been visiting friends in England that week)
Later that year, in preparation for the EIHL's inaugural "Twenty20" Hockey tournament Molin came in to assist a weakened Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
team in the tournament.
Over the weekend of 12 & 13 December 2009 Molin again turned out for the Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
in games against the Newcastle Vipers
Newcastle Vipers
The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :...
(at Whitley Bay Ice Rink
Whitley Bay Ice Rink
The Whitley Bay Ice Rink is an ice rink in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, England and is the home of the Whitley Warriors ice hockey team. An additional team to played out of the ice rink,the Newcastle Vipers...
) and the Hull Stingrays
Hull Stingrays
Hull Stingrays are a British ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. They were formed in 2003 and play their home games at Hull Arena.The Stingrays replaced previous clubs Hull Thunder 1999–2002, Kingston Hawks 1996–1998, Humberside Hawks 1993–1995, and Humberside Seahawks 1988–1992...
(at the National Ice Centre). Molin scored a goal in regulation time against the Stingrays and again found the net as the game went to penalty shots, scoring what proved to be the winning goal.
After the game against Edinburgh on 19 December 2009m it is announced that Johan will remain with the Panthers on a full-time basis until the end of the season, leaving the Panthers with two extra imports.
External links
- Johan Molin Personal Profile, Manchester Phoenix Official Website.