Linus Omark | |||
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Born |
Övertorneå, Sweden |
February 5, 1987 ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
Weight | 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb) | ||
Position | Left Wing | ||
Shoots | Left | ||
KHL team Former teams |
Salavat Yulaev Ufa Luleå HF Dynamo Moscow Edmonton Oilers EV Zug Buffalo Sabres Jokerit |
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National team | Sweden | ||
NHL Draft | 97th overall, 2007 Edmonton Oilers |
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Playing career | 2005–present |
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Medal record | ||
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Representing Sweden | ||
Men's ice hockey | ||
World Championships | ||
2010 Germany | ||
2009 Switzerland |
Linus Karl Heimer Omark (born February 5, 1987) is a Swedish professional ice hockey left winger currently with the Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) . Prior to that, he has played for the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round, 97th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Omark began his professional hockey career in his native Sweden, playing for Luleå HF of the Elitserien. In 2008–09, Omark led Luleå in scoring with 23 goals and 55 points, good for third in the league. Following that successful campaign, Omark played one season with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. He scored 20 goals and 36 points in 56 games. Omark became known as a "YouTube sensation" for his creative scoring attempts, which included a shootout goal where he flipped the puck over a sprawling Swiss goaltender Marco Bührer in a March 2009 international exhibition, a between-the-legs goal in a game against Timrå IK and a behind-the-net, lacrosse-style attempt versus Brynäs IF.
Omark moved to North America for the 2010–11 season and, following his first training camp with the Oilers, during which he recorded three points in two exhibition matches, was assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons, the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Omark drew attention when he blamed the demotion on "politics." However, he had a successful start to the season, recording 13 goals and 26 points through his first 26 games with the Barons to lead the team in scoring. Five of those goals came in one game on November 7, 2010, when Omark scored five times against the Toronto Marlies and added another goal in a shootout to help the Barons to a 7–6 victory. Omark admitted that although he was initially angry with the demotion, he took it as a learning experience and an opportunity to prove himself, channeling his emotions to work at improving his game.