# Stian Solberg

Stian Solberg (born December 29, 2005) is a Norwegian professional ice hockey defenceman for Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) as a prospect to the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 23rd overall by the Ducks in the 2024 NHL entry draft, becoming the second Norwegian ever selected in the first round, following Michael Brandsegg-Nygård eight picks earlier in the same draft.

## Playing career

Solberg grew up playing soccer, and began playing hockey at a rink adjacent to the soccer field. He began playing defence at 14, when a teammate urinated in the shower and the coach gave Solberg his roster spot as punishment. Playing his junior career with Vålerenga Ishockey, he made his debut with their senior club in the EliteHockey Ligaen (EHL) as a fifteen-year-old.
In the 2022–23 season, Solberg recorded a goal and three assists in 18 EHL games. He was selected 96th overall by the Regina Pats in the 2023 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) import draft. Despite being drafted into the CHL and receiving offers from multiple Swedish clubs, Solberg chose to remain in Norway for the 2023–24 season, signing a one-year contract with Vålerenga.
In the regular season, he recorded 15 points in 42 games, adding nine points in 17 playoff games on a run to the league finals. In April 2024, he signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Entering the 2024 NHL entry draft, Solberg stood out for his elite physicality, fluid skating, and aggressive yet patient play. Initially seen as a fringe choice to be picked in the first round, his projection improved dramatically in the months leading up to the draft, and by the month of the draft he was seen as a potential top-15 pick. He would ultimately be selected 23rd overall by the Anaheim Ducks, becoming the second Norwegian ever selected in the first round, after former Vålerenga teammate Michael Brandsegg-Nygård was taken 15th overall that same day. He signed an entry-level contract with the Ducks on July 5.

## International play

Making his World Championship debut at the Norway at the 2024 World Championship, Solberg was the youngest player at the tournament. In a lopsided 4–1 preliminary round loss to Canada that saw the Norwegians held without a shot for nearly 42 minutes, Solberg scored the team's lone goal. He would finish the tournament with two goals and an assist and be named one of Norway's top three players at the event.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2021–22 | Vålerenga | NOR U20 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Vålerenga | NOR | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | Vålerenga | NOR U20 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Vålerenga | NOR | 18 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Vålerenga | NOR | 42 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 47 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 35 |
| NOR totals | NOR totals | NOR totals | 71 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 59 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 35 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2022 | Norway | WJC (Div IA) | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2023 | Norway | U18 | 9th | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2024 | Norway | WJC | 10th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2024 | Norway | WC | 11th | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 |