Kenny JONSSON

Defender Kenny Jönsson started his hockey career in 1991 with Rögle BK. Jönsson was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL in 1993 and joined the team in 1995 during the lockout shortened 1994-95 season. In 1995 he was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team, but in the middle of the next season he was traded to the New York Islanders, where he played until the 2004-05 NHL lockout. With the Islanders Jönsson was selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1999. During the NHL 2004-05 lockout, Jönsson returned to Europe and played with his old club Rögle, where he finished his career in 2009. With Rögle, Jönsson was awarded the Guldpucken award as the best player at the 2006 Swedish Championships, was named as the best defender and most sportsmanlike player at the 2008 Swedish Championships.

Internationally Jönsson was capped 136 times with the Swedish national team. He played at three Olympic Winter Games (1994, 2002 and 2006), seven World Championships (1994, 1996 and 2005-09) and at the 1996 World Cup. He won Olympic golds in 1994 and 2006, was a World Champion in 2006 and won bronzes at the 1994 and 2009 World Championships. He was named as the best defender at the 2006 Olympic Games and was selected to the all-star team at the 2009 World Championships.

After finishing his sporting career, Jönsson worked as an ice hockey coach. He was an assistant coach with Rögle BK from 2010-13 and in 2013 became assistant coach of Skånes IF. Jönsson was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #163 in ice hockey. His older brother Jörgen was also an ice hockey player, who won gold medals at the 1994 and 2006 Olympics.