Jan Mertzig
January Mertzig ( born July 18, 1970 in Huddinge ) is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player who has played in its active period from 1989 to 2003, including for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League.
Career
January Mertzig began his career as a hockey player in his hometown at Huddinge IK, for the first team, he was active in the then still second-class Division 1 1989-1995. He subsequently received a contract with Luleå HF of the Elitserien. With this he immediately became Swedish Champion, with the defender in 51 games scored eleven goals and gave twelve templates. For this reason, was honored as the Rookie of the Year. In the 1996/97 season he failed with his team in the playoff final on Färjestad BK.
After Mertzig had been selected in the NHL Entry Draft in the ninth round in 1998 when a total of 235 players from the New York Rangers, he left the Luleå HF after three seasons. In the 1998/99 season, the Swede gave two assists in 23 games for the Rangers in the National Hockey League, most of the time spent, however, in their farm team, the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League and the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League. After only one year of the links Sagittarius returned to Europe, where he was obliged by the EC KAC. With the Austrians, he won the 2000 and 2001 national championship, and in 2000 also the Inter League.
In the season 2002/ 03 Mertig ran again into his native Sweden for Linköpings HC in the Elitserien. He then finished his career at the age of 33 years.
Internationally
For Sweden Mertzig participated in the 1998 World Cup, in which he became world champion with his team.