Sandis Ozolinsh

Sandis Ozoliņš (born August 3, 1972) is a Latvian ice hockey player currently with Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League. He is a 7-time NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup champion, Norris Trophy finalist, the all-time highest scoring Latvian in the NHL and the second highest paid sportsman in Latvian history, after NBA basketball player Andris Biedriņš. He is often considered a prototype "offensive defenseman," in that he becomes heavily involved in his team's offense and scoring opportunities.
Ozoliņš was drafted in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, as the 8th pick of the 2nd round, 30th overall. He has skated for the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and New York Rangers.
Ozoliņš is also the owner of Vilki OP/LaRocca of the Riga Open Championship. Ozoliņš also owns other Latvian sports ventures, including Latvia's first 18-hole golf course.
==Playing career==
Ozoliņš was one of 3 finalists for the Norris Trophy (the NHL award given to the best defencemen in the NHL) in the 1996–97 season. He is also a 7-time NHL All-Star.
When on the Colorado Avalanche, he won his one and only Stanley Cup (1996). He was a part of Anaheim's run to the Finals in 2003. In December 2005, Ozoliņš missed a practice skate and failed to go on a short road trip with the team. Shortly after, he voluntarily entered the NHL's substance abuse program, and was placed indefinitely on the disabled list.
He was traded from the Ducks to the New York Rangers for a third-round draft pick (which the Rangers had obtained earlier in a trade with the San Jose Sharks) at the March 9, 2006 trade deadline. On December 18, 2006, on the heels of a 6–1 loss to New Jersey, the Rangers placed Ozoliņš on waivers. After clearing waivers, Ozoliņš was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), but a short while later he was put on the injured reserve instead.
He signed a one-year contract with the Sharks on November 2, 2007 and scored 3 goals and gave 13 assists in 38 games.
After a one year time-out, Sandis Ozoliņš returned to hockey in 2009 and will play in Dinamo Riga as a captain first time in his career.
==Transactions==
*October 26, 1995 - Traded by the San Jose Sharks to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Owen Nolan.
*June 24, 2000 - Traded by the Colorado Avalanche, along with Columbus' 2000 2nd round draft choice, to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Nolan Pratt, Carolina's 2000 1st round draft choice, Carolina's 2nd round draft choice and Philadelphia's 2000 2nd round draft choice.
*January 16, 2002 - Traded by the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Byron Ritchie, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Bret Hedican, Kevyn Adams and Tomáš Malec.
*January 30, 2003 - Traded by the Florida Panthers, along with Lance Ward to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in exchange for Pavel Trnka, Matt Cullen and Anaheim's 2003 4th round draft choice.
*March 9, 2006 - Traded by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to the New York Rangers in exchange for San Jose's 2006 3rd round draft choice.
*November 2, 2007 - Signed a one year deal for US $850,000 with the San Jose Sharks.
*July 13, 2009 - Signed a one year deal with the Dinamo Riga.
  	  	  	 	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
1990–91 	Dinamo Riga 	USSR 	 	44 	0 	3 	3 	51 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1991–92 	Stars Riga 	CIS 	 	30 	6 	0 	6 	42 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1991–92 	Kansas City Blades 	IHL 	 	34 	6 	9 	15 	20 	 	15 	2 	5 	7 	22
1992–93 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	37 	7 	16 	23 	40 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1993–94 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	81 	26 	38 	64 	24 	 	14 	0 	10 	10 	8
1994–95 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	48 	9 	16 	25 	30 	 	11 	3 	2 	5 	6
1995–96 	San Francisco Spiders 	IHL 	 	2 	1 	0 	1 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1995–96 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	7 	1 	3 	4 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1995–96 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	66 	13 	37 	50 	50 	 	22 	5 	14 	19 	16
1996–97 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	80 	23 	45 	68 	88 	 	17 	4 	13 	17 	24
1997–98 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	66 	13 	38 	51 	65 	 	7 	0 	7 	7 	14
1998–99 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	39 	7 	25 	32 	22 	 	19 	4 	8 	12 	22
1999–00 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	82 	16 	36 	52 	46 	 	17 	5 	5 	10 	20
2000–01 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	72 	12 	32 	44 	71 	 	6 	0 	2 	2 	5
2001–02 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	46 	4 	19 	23 	34 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	37 	10 	19 	29 	24 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	51 	7 	19 	26 	40 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL 	 	31 	5 	13 	18 	16 	 	21 	2 	6 	8 	10
2003–04 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL 	 	36 	5 	11 	16 	24 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2005–06 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL 	 	17 	3 	3 	6 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2005–06 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	14 	2 	10 	12 	12 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	6
2006–07 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	21 	0 	3 	3 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2007–08 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	39 	3 	13 	16 	24 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2009–10 	Dinamo Riga 	KHL 	 	43 	5 	20 	25 	109 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	875 	167 	397 	564 	638 	 	137 	23 	67 	90 	131
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==International play==
 	  	  	 	 	 	 	 	
Year 	Team 	League 	 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1991 	USSR 	World Junior Championship Div. A	 	7 	1	2	3 	6
1992 	USSR/CIS1	World Junior Championship Div. A	 	7 	1	5	6 	4
2001 	Latvia 	World Championship Div. A 	 	6 	0	5	5 	2
2002 	Latvia 	Olympic Games 	 	1 	0	4	4 	0
2002 	Latvia 	World Championship Div. A 	 	6 	2	1	3 	12
2005 	Latvia 	Olympic Qualification 	 	3 	0	1	1 	4
2006 	Latvia 	Olympic Games 	 	5 	1	3	4 	2
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1 - during the tournament, USSR broke up and team was recalled as CIS national team, but Ozolinsh and Sergei Zholtok were from Latvia, which wasn't member of CIS so some other teams protested, but the protest was denied.
==Awards==
*1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03 - Played in NHL All-Star Game.
*1996–97 - NHL First team All-Star
*1995–96 - Won Stanley Cup with Colorado Avalanche
==External links==
*
*Ozo Golf Club - In English and Latvian
*
*
*http://www.tvnet.lv/zinas/latvija/article.php?id=83247
Category:Born in 1972
Category:Carolina Hurricanes players
Category:Colorado Avalanche players
Category:Dinamo Riga players
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:2006 Olympian
Category:Kansas City Blades players
Category:Latvian ice hockey players
Category:Mighty Ducks of Anaheim players
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:Olympic ice hockey players of Latvia
Category:San Francisco Spiders players
Category:San Jose Sharks draft picks
Category:San Jose Sharks players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Worcester Sharks players
Category:2002 Olympian
Category:2010 Olympian
Category:Member of the Latvian National Team