Knelsen, in a press release from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said he was thrilled to be playing in the upcoming season for the Warriors of Sarpsborg, Norway.
“I know they’re an excellent organization, playing out of a passionate hockey town in a competitive league,’’ Knelsen said. “They are giving me a great opportunity early in my pro career, and I will do everything I can to help them win a championship.
“I am looking forward to learning the European game and having a very successful season with the Warriors.”
Knelsen’s professional career actually begin with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL following his senior season with the Nanooks. Knelsen contributed three assists in four games for the Anchorage-based team.
The 5-foot-9, 187-pound center from Three Hills, Alberta, compiled 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in his senior season to lead the Nanooks in scoring for the third straight season. His 45-75-120 career totals rank 17th on Alaska’s all-time scoring list.
In his final collegiate game, Knelsen and then-sophomore defenseman Joe Sova assisted on freshman right wing Andy Taranto’s power-play goal in the second period of a 3-1 loss to eventual national champion Boston College in a semifinal of the Northeast Regional on March 27 in Worcester, Mass.
Knelsen amassed several honors in his final season in a blue and gold Nanooks uniform, including Lowe’s Senior CLASS First-Team All-American; the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Mike and Marion Illitch Humanitarian Award, and he was a finalist for the Hockey Humanitarian Award.
He received UAF’s Nanooks Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor and was named the Joel Weigert Outstanding Graduating Senior Man. He was the recipient of six team awards, including Most Valuable Player, and gained MVP and all-tournament team honors last October at the Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage and the Brice Alaska Goal Rush at the Carlson Center.
Knelsen is scheduled to graduate today with a degree in business, and he will be joined by his older brother and Nanooks right wing, Brandon, at the commencement ceremony in the Carlson Center. The Knelsens played all four seasons together for the Nanooks.
Johnson holds his own in rout
Canada reserve goaltender Chad Johnson, an Alaska Nanook from 2005-09, stopped all seven shots he faced in the third period of Friday’s 12-1 win over Norway in a qualification game of the World Championship in Mannheim, Germany.
Johnson, a rookie this past season in the New York Rangers’ system, took over Friday for Chris Mason, a Columbus Blue Jackets netminder who had 11 straight saves after allowing the game’s first goal by Jonas Holosa at 1:35 into the contest.
It was Johnson’s second appearance for Canada, which faces Sweden today in a qualification game. He had 11 saves and allowed a goal in the third period of a 6-1 win over Latvia on Monday.
Contact staff writer Danny Martin at 459-7586.
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