Martin Sonnenberg
Martin Lee Sonnenberg ( born January 23, 1978 in Wetaskiwin, Alberta ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played during his active career, among others, for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League as well as for Timrå IK in the Elitserien.
Career
Martin Sonnenberg went during his junior period 1995 to 1998 for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League on the ice. In October 1998, he signed as a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In his rookie season, he came to 44 missions in the National Hockey League during the regular season, in which he scored two points and seven point-less playoff games. In the same season he also completed some games for the Syracuse Crunch in the American Hockey League. He spent the following season mainly at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the new farm team of the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he avanvierte within a short time first-team regular, scoring at least 50 points in two of three seasons. In the 2000 /01 season with the team he reached the finals for the first time to the Calder Cup. The series was lost in six games against the Saint John Flames. Sonnenberg still played one more season in Wilkes -Barre before the Penguins his contract at end of season not extended. In July 2002, he was taken as a free agent by the Calgary Flames under contract. He spent the entire season, however, at the Saint John Flames of the American Hockey League before he made his debut for the Calgary Flames in the NHL for the following season.
However, the breakthrough was the Canadians refused, so he went after Lowell Lock Monsters for on the ice. In September 2004, he was again obliged as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes. For the franchise from the U.S. state of Arizona, he never completed a game, instead Sonnenberg was for the Utah Grizzlies and San Antonio Rampage of the AHL in use. In January 2006, he was released in a swap deal for Jeff Taffe to the New York Rangers. A few months later the winger signed a contract with KalPa Kuopio in the Finnish SM- liiga. There his power curve showed up again, so Sonnenberg has been committed by the HC Ambri -Piotta from the National League A after his contract expired in December 2007. Despite good performances and a points average of about one point per game his contract was terminated in January 2009 with immediate effect. The Canadians decided his career with Timrå IK of the Elitserien continue. In the 2009/10 season, he was the second best scorer of the team. In the quarter-finals of the playoffs, he failed with Timrå IK on later masterpieces HV 71 Jönköping. Following the management did not extend his contract. After he had been out of contract for over a year, Sonnenberg stated in March 2011 his playing career ended.