09-10+9ELA+Olympic+Athlete+Essays

Teemu Selanne: Hockey’s Superstar By Cole March 15, 2010

Teemu Selanne, it’s a name known around the world. Born and raised in Finland, Selanne was destined for greatness. He was drafted in 1988, and 22 years later, he is still playing in the N.H.L. He has a tremendous amount of accolades to his name. He has encountered success in all three major levels of hockey; junior, professional, and international.

From 1988-1992, Selanne played in the Finnish Elite League, with the club Jokerit. In the 1988-1989 season, which was his rookie year, Selanne played only 11 games, but managed to rack up 12 points. At the end of that season, he was drafted 10th overall by the Winnipeg Jets. Selanne, however, did not play with the Jets in the next few years. He stayed in Finland, continuing to play with Jokerit. It’s a good thing he stayed. In the following season, he managed 58 points in just 44 games. In the 1991-1992 season, Jokerit won the SM-Liiga championship, with Selanne being the top playoff point scorer. This would be his last season in Jokerit, or so he thought.

Selanne started his N.H.L. career in Winnipeg. During his rookie season, Selanne scored a record 76 goals, which still stands today. Selanne continued to play professionally, but sadly, the 1994-1995 season was cancelled, and he was forced to return to Jokerit. The N.H.L. resumed play the following year, with Selanne being traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He played 6 seasons with Anaheim, then was shifted to San Jose, and then to Colorado, and finally back to the Ducks, where he won the 2006-2007 Stanley Cup. He won the Conn Smythe trophy that year, but that does not compare to his greatest accomplishment, which came in international play.

Although Selanne does excel in the N.H.L. today, that does not compare to how he plays representing his country, Finland. Selanne has competed in 5 Olympics, 5 IIHF World Hockey Championships, the 1991 Canada Cup, and 2 World Cups of Hockey. Finland’s accomplishments with Selanne include a 1991 and 2008 World Championship bronze, a 1999 World Championship silver, a 1998 bronze at the Olympics, a 2006 Olympic silver, and a 2010 Olympic bronze. During the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Selanne accomplished what he describes as his greatest accomplishment. Selanne’s assist in Finland’s second game of the tournament put him ahead of Valeri Kharlamov, Vlastimil Bubnik, and Harry Watson, for the all time points lead for Olympic play. By the end of the tournament, he had 38 points, putting an exclamation point on his illustrious career.

All in all, Selanne is one of the greatest players of all time. This future Hall of Famer has accomplished almost everything there is to accomplish in hockey. He has World Championships and Olympic medals, a Conn Smythe trophy, and a Calder trophy to his name. Plus, Teemu has an endless amount of records, including the all time International point record. The “Finnish Flash” will never be forgotten in the world of hockey.

Bibliography "Teemu Selanne." //Wikipedia//. N.p., 24 mar 2010. Web. 26 Mar 2010. .

"Teemu Selanne." //CTV Olympics//. Microsoft, 2 mar 2010. Web. 26 mar 2010. [].

The amazing 23 year old Shaun white is a professional snowboarding and skateboarding champion. He was born in San Diego, California. Shaun followed his older brother’s foot steps when he switched from skiing to snowboarding at the age of six. As a snow boarder he over came his heart condition to win a gold metal, two time in a row

Shaun Roger White was born with tetra logy of Fallout in San Diego, California. When Shaun was six he changed from skiing to snowboarding. By the age of seven he was receiving sponsors. Shaun competed in two winter Olympics, he won gold ever since 2002. His medal count is 15 totals (10 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) that includes the winter X games. Besides many medals to many sponsors Shaun got sponsors by when his mom called Burton and asked if they had any snowboards for a six year old boy. White has been competing at the winter X games since 2002. Shaun also has a career in skate boarding by working with an the all time legended of skateboarding Toney Hawk. When they met each other when Shaun was nine. in 2006 Shaun won a gold metal at the winter Olympics by out scoring Danny Kiss with a score of 46.8 out of 50.in 2008 Shaun white had an amazing run which won him a money prize of $100,000 and brand new corvette. In 2009 Shuan won the winter X games with Kevin Pearce in second. In 2010 Shaun won the winter Olympics in van cover with an outstanding second run.Shaun tried to pull a 1080 but has yet to land it in his skateboarding career.

Shaun is also is a professional skate boarder. He started skateboarding at the age of nine when he met the world’s best skateboarder Tony Hawk. As Shaun grew to the age of 16 his skateboarding career changed to pro after the Drew action Tour in 2003. In 2007 he won his first summer X game gold medal. Shaun yet has to succeed to land a 1080. Shaun white is a skilled snowboarder and skate boarder professional. He has being snowboarding since the age of six and went pro at the age of 13 and skateboarding sine the age of nine and went pro at the age of 16 after the summer Drew Action tour. ** Bibliography ** "Shaun white ." n. pag. Web. 26 Mar 2010. .