Mark Olver

Mark Olver
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Born	(1988-01-01) January 1, 1988 Burnaby, BC, CAN
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
DEL team Former teams	Eisbären Berlin Colorado Avalanche HC Sochi Kloten Flyers
NHL Draft	144th overall, 2008 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	2010–present

Mark Olver (born January 1, 1988) is a Canadian-German professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Eisbären Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He previously played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche. Mark's plays alongside older brother Darin in Berlin.

Playing career

Amateur

Olver originally played Midget AAA hockey in Michigan with the Marquette Electricians. In two seasons with the Electricians, Olver led the team in scoring in each season and in 2004–05 was named the Teams Most Valuable player. With his father John, an assistant coach and his brother Darin, a Junior, at Northern Michigan University, he followed his family in committing as a recruit of the Wildcats in 2005. Before he was eligible to attend college, Olver initially joined the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League. However, on the eve of the season, Mark was controversially released by the Chiefs, under the advice of owner Morey Keith. Ultimately seen as an act of personal retribution by Keith against John Olver, Mark was then recruited to join the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League.

In his second season with the Lancers in 2006–07, Olver displayed offensive potential to lead the team with 29 goals 35 assists and 64 points to earn the honour as Omaha's Forward of the Year and Most Valuable Player. Graduating from Millard North High School, Olver then joined Northern Michigan Wildcats of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association as an undersized skilled forward. As a freshman in 2007–08, Mark returned from an early season concussion to lead all NCAA Rookies in goals (21) and the Wildcats in scoring with 38 points in 39 games to be selected to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. Passed over in the two previous draft years due to size concerns, Olver was selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round, 140th overall.

File:Mark Olver.jpg

Olver with Lake Erie Monsters (2013).

Olver consolidated his offensive potential the succeeding year as sophomore, winning CCHA player of the month in January as he again led the Wildcats in scoring with 35 points in 40 games. In the 2009–10 season, as player of the month in February he helped a re-emerging NMU advance to the NCAA finals for the first time since 1999 before suffering a 4-3 defeat to St Cloud State in the West Regional semi-finals. In the wake of leading the Wildcats for a third consecutive season in scoring he was named to the CCHA First All-Star team and the NCAA West First-All American team. Mark also led the CCHA with 49 points in 40 games as a junior earning selection as a top 10 finalist in the Hobey Baker Award.

Professional

On March 30, 2010, after a three-year collegiate career with the Wilcats, Olver was signed by the Avalanche to a two-year entry level contract. Continuing his 2009–10 season, he was immediately assigned to AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, on an amateur try-out contract. In his professional debut, Olver scored his first pro goal in a 3-1 victory over the Peoria Rivermen on April 1, 2010. In 6 games, Olver posted 2 goals to finish the year with the Monsters.

After four seasons within the Avalanche organization, as a restricted free agent, Olver opted to sign his first European contract, agreeing to a one-year deal with the HC Sochi for their inaugural 2014–15 season in the Kontinental Hockey League on May 27, 2014. Due to injury he played only one game for HC Sochi.

On July 17, 2015, Olver left Sochi as a free agent to sign a one-year contract with Swiss club, Kloten Flyers of the National League A. Olver began the 2015–16 season with the Flyers, appearing in just 8 games and contributing 3 points before opting to terminate his contract in order to play alongside older brother Darin in Germany with Eisbären Berlin of the DEL on October 28, 2015.

Personal info

Olver's maternal grandparents immigrated from Germany to Canada.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005–06	Omaha Lancers	USHL		59	5	20	25	72		2	0	0	0	0
2006–07	Omaha Lancers	USHL		57	29	35	64	84		5	3	3	6	18
2007–08	Northern Michigan University	CCHA		39	21	17	38	59		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Northern Michigan University	CCHA		40	16	19	35	84		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Northern Michigan University	CCHA		40	19	30	49	48		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		6	2	0	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		18	2	7	9	18		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		58	23	17	40	79		7	2	2	4	4
2011–12	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		15	2	7	9	8		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		24	4	3	7	15		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		36	6	16	22	34		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		32	4	2	6	6		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		65	15	34	49	82		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	HC Sochi	KHL		1	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Kloten Flyers	NLA		8	1	2	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Eisbären Berlin	DEL		36	7	9	16	75		7	1	3	4	18
NHL totals				74	10	12	22	39		—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honours

Award	Year
College
All-CCHA Rookie Team	2007-08
All-CCHA First Team	2009-10
AHCA West First-Team All-American	2009–10

External links

• Mark Olver's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Mark Olver's player profile at NHL.com