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Claimed:HOF Article: (S41 Class) Odin Tordahl [Final 6/6]

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RW - Odin Tordahl

Birthplace: Lillehammer, Norway
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 199 lbs
Jersey Number: 10
Drafted: S33 (3rd Overall) TOR
Username: Boom

 

If there were ever a surefire hall of famer, Odin Tordahl would be it. He quickly became an impact player in the VHL after being selected third overall in the Season 33 VHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Legion. Spending his VHL career with four different teams, success seemed to follow him wherever her went, winning three Continental Cups with the Helsinki Titans in Season 34, HC Davos Dynamo in Season 36, and the New York Americans in Season 39. Although he enjoyed tremendous team success throughout his career, missing the playoffs just once in eight seasons, he was also adorned with various individual accolades recognizing his dominance as a player. Looking back on his career, it should come as a surprise to nobody that he was a unanimously selected first ballot hall of famer.

 

Career Awards

S34 Victory Cup - Regular Season Champions (HEL)
S34 Terence Fong Trophy - European Playoff Champions (HEL)
S34 Continental Cup - Playoff Champions (HEL)
S35 European Conference All-Star
S35 Terence Fong Trophy - European Playoff Champions (HEL)
S36 European Conference All-Star
S36 Terence Fong Trophy - European Playoff Champions (DAV)
S36 Continental Cup - Playoff Champions (DAV)
S36 Scott Boulet Trophy - Best Two-Way Forward
S37 North American Conference All-Star
S37 Mike Szatkowski Trophy - Most Points
S38 North American Conference All-Star
S38 Victory Cup - Regular Season Champions (NYA)
S38 Kevin Brooks Trophy - Most Goals
S38 Alexander Beketov Trophy - Most Assists
S38 Mike Szatkowski Trophy - Most Points
S39 North American Conference All-Star
S39 Victory Cup - Regular Season Champions (NYA)
S39 Devon Marlow-Marta Trophy - North American Playoff Champions (NYA)
S39 Continental Cup - Playoff Champions (NYA)
S39 Grimm Jonsson Trophy - Top Leader
S39 Kevin Brooks Trophy - Most Goals
S39 Mike Szatkowski Trophy - Most Points
S39 Scotty Campbell Trophy - Regular Season MVP
S39 Brett Slobodzian Trophy - Regular Season MVP voted by Players

Season 32 Statistics (VHLM):

Regular Season:
S32 (OTT) – 72 GP | 43 G - 51 A - 94 P | +56 | 330 SHT | 9 GWG | 34 PIM | 135 HIT | 8 SB
Playoffs:
S32 (OTT) – 5 GP | 3 G - 3 A - 6 P | -4 | 25 SHT | 1 GWG | 6 PIM | 17 HIT | 0 SB

After falling to eleventh overall in the VHLM Dispersal Draft, the Ottawa Ice Dogs grabbed the Norwegian with their seventh pick of the draft and he certainly made more of an impact than anyone could have expected. His 94 points were fourth best on the team and were huge for the 58-win Ice Dogs, who finished the season with the VHLM's top record. After earning a first round bye, their first test was the third place Brampton Blades who, to everyone's surprise, disposed of the Ice Dogs in five games. Despite the disappointing end to the season, Tordahl's performance over the course of the season caught the attention of VHL scouts as he was one of the most highly sought-after prospects in the Season 33 VHL Entry Draft.

 

Season 33 Statistics (VHL):

Regular Season:
S33 (TOR) 71 GP | 23G - 23A -  46P | -12 | 265 SHT |  4 GWG |  26 PIM |  78 HIT |  4 SB
Playoffs:
S33 (TOR)  6 GP | 3G - 2A -  5P | -5 | 22 SHT | 0 GWG |  0 PIM |  6 HIT | 0 SB

The Toronto Legion used their third overall pick, obtained after finishing second to last in the VHL in Season 32, to acquire winger Odin Tordahl. He immediately made the jump to the VHL, logging heavy minutes for the rebuilding Legion. While neither Tordahl's nor Toronto's Season 33 performance was anything to write home about, finishing with a 30-31-11 record, they managed to overcome to Quebec City Meute and earn a playoff berth. In their round one series against the Calgary Wranglers, they managed to win two games and even take a 2-1 series lead but were ultimately sent packing after six games in a series in which Calgary's talent was simply too much.

 

Season 34 Statistics (VHL):

Regular Season:
(HEL) 72 GP | 27 G - 34 A -  61 P | +31 | 313 SHT |  1 GWG |  68 PIM | 133 HIT |  7 SB
Playoffs:
(HEL) 14 GP | 6 G - 5 A - 11 P | -4 | 73 SHT | 1 GWG | 20 PIM | 56 HIT | 6 SB

Over the Season 33 off-season, the Helsinki Titans, owners of the league's best record before falling short in the playoffs, decided to make some changes. This included moving star forward Smooth Jive along with a second and third round selection in the Season 35 Entry Draft for Tordahl and a Toronto first round pick in Season 35, which was ultimately used to select Naomi Young. Tordahl continued to improve and began to show glimpses of his potential, picking up career highs in virtually every statistical category. After a season in which The Titans suffered a second round exit at the hands of Riga following a bye, Tordahl and Helsinki avenged their loss this time around en route to a Continental Cup as VHL champions.

 

Season 35 Statistics (VHL):

Regular Season:
(HEL) 72 GP | 36 G - 45 A -  81 P | +52 | 358 SHT |  6 GWG | 116 PIM | 215 HIT | 14 SB
Playoffs:
(HEL) 12 GP | 6 G - 1 A -  7 P | +2 | 60 SHT | 2 GWG | 12 PIM | 28 HIT | 5 SB

In his third season, Odin Tordahl managed to prove himself as a legitimate threat in the VHL, playing on Helsinki's top line and once again reaching career highs in a number of statistical categories. He was selected as a European Conference All-Star and the Titans would once again earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs. In the second round, they faced the Express and would advance to the finals, overcoming a 1-1 and then a 2-2 series tie. In the finals, they faced the Meute, owners of the VHL's top regular season record, but ended up falling short despite four points, including a game-winning goal, out of Tordahl.

 

Season 36 Statistics (VHL):

Regular Season:
(DAV) 72 GP | 49 G - 57 A - 106 P | +48 | 503 SHT |  4 GWG | 208 PIM | 353 HIT | 15 SB
Playoffs:
(DAV) 13 GP | 8 G - 7 A - 15 P | +2 | 82 SHT | 1 GWG | 23 PIM | 63 HIT | 7 SB

After the expiration of his rookie contract, Tordahl decided to explore his options and test free agency. Ultimately, he decided to sign with the young HC Davos Dynamo, unquestionably giving them a huge boost to their rebuilding process. After earning the third seed in the conference back in Season 35, Tordahl helped catapult the team to the top record in the conference and a first round bye. In addition, he eclipsed 100 points for the first time in his career and continued on his remarkable pace of improving his point totals by approximately twenty points per season. Tordahl's performance in Season 36 earned him his second straight nomination to the Eastern Conference All-Star team as well as the Scott Boulet Trophy as the league's top two-way forward. Holding down the team's top line with Sergey Brovalenko, the Dynamo defeated Tordahl's previous team in six games to face the Legion, the team which drafted him, in the finals. This was a hard-fought series that went the full seven games and appeared to be Toronto's after taking a 3-1 series lead after four games. But the Dynamo turned their play up to a new level that Toronto was simply unable to adjust to, winning the final three games and being crowned the Continental Cup Champions.

 

Season 37 Statistics (VHL):

Regular Season:
(NYA) 72 GP | 51 G - 64 A - 115 P | +40 | 601 SHT | 11 GWG | 148 PIM | 221 HIT | 43 SB

In an intriguing move, albeit one necessary to stay under the salary cap, the Dynamo decided to move Tordahl following Season 36. For the price of a Season 38 first round pick, he was sent off to the rebuilding Americans, giving them a much needed star to bring the team back to relevance. While the addition of Tordahl was not quite enough to make the playoffs, finishing just a single point behind the Meute, New York established a core of Tordahl, Conner Low, Tom Slaughter, Xin Xie Xiao, and Brick Wahl that would eventually make the Americans one of the most dominating teams the VHL has ever seen. Despite missing the playoffs, Tordahl's 115 points were the best in the VHL, making him an obvious member of the North American Conference All-Star team.

 

Season 38 Statistics (VHL):

Regular Season:
(NYA) 72 GP | 57 G - 71 A - 128 P | +46 | 545 SHT | 12 GWG | 101 PIM | 112 HIT | 47 SB
Playoffs:
(NYA)  6 GP | 2 G - 2 A -  4 P | -3 | 48 SHT | 0 GWG |  4 PIM |  7 HIT | 1 SB

Following what was, up to that point, Tordahls' most dominant season of his career, he managed to top his Season 37 performance. His 57 goals, 71 assists, and 128 points were all league highs as he guided the Americans to the top record in the VHL that was 15 points ahead of the number two Dynamo. Although the Americans earned a first round bye, they still had a very young team with the majority of their players making their first playoff appearances in their careers. Ultimately, this inexperience proved to be too much as Toronto made quick work of New York, heading off to their third straight finals appearance.

 

Season 39 Statistics (VHL):

Regular Season:
(NYA) 72 GP | 65G - 62A - 127P | +71 | 569 SHT | 13 GWG |  92 PIM | 201 HIT | 34 SB
Playoffs:
(NYA) 10 GP | 4G - 8A - 12P | +9 | 59 SHT | 0 GWG |  8 PIM | 32 HIT | 5 SB

After a season many believed would be impossible to match, Tordahl did that and more, once again leading the VHL in points en route to leading the Americans to the top record in the league and picking up numerous individual accolades. He won the Grimm Jonsson Trophy as the league's top leader as well as the Scotty Campbell Trophy as the league's MVP and the Brett Slobodzian Trophy as the players' choice MVP. More importantly, though, he helped the Americans glide through the playoffs, defeating the Bears with ease in the second round before beating the Dynamo is five games to win his third Continental Cup with as many teams.

 

Season 40 Statistics (VHL):

Regular Season:
(NYA) 72 GP | 57 G - 58 A - 115 P | +36 | 542 SHT | 12 GWG | 128 PIM | 293 HIT | 43 SB
Playoffs:
(NYA) 10 GP | 4 G - 9 A - 13 P | 0 | 67 SHT | 1 GWG | 19 PIM | 36 HIT | 12 SB

In his final season, Tordahl once again led the Americans to the top record in the league while leading the team in points. Although his statistics were noticeably decreased as he began to show signs of age, Odin Tordahl remained one of the very best players in the league, reaching the 100 point mark for his fifth consecutive season. After a first round playoff bye, New York easily beat the Wranglers in five games before the underdog Riga Reign managed to utterly embarrass Tordahl and the Americans, obliterating them in five games.

 

Career Totals

Regular Season:

575 GP | 365 G - 414 A - 779 P | +312 | 4026 SHT | 63 GWG | 887 PIM | 1606 HIT | 207 SB 

Playoffs:

76 GP | 36 G - 37 A - 73 P | -3 | 436 SHT | 6 GWG | 92 PIM | 245 HIT | 36 SB

Odin Tordahl retired as one of the most successful players the VHL has ever seen. Although his career started out slowly, he enjoyed tremendous team and individual success which is apparent by his three Continental Cups. With Tordahl's performance as a two-way player, never forgetting about the defensive side of hockey, he will long be remembered as the standard and very well could see the award for the top two-way forward renamed for his namesake. Tordahl's 365 goals are good for 12th all-time while his 779 points are 19th-best in VHL history. Despite playing for four different teams throughout his career, Odin Tordahl will long be associated with the New York Americans as his most dominant stretch of hockey coincided with the beginning of New York's impressive run which has included two Continental Cups in three seasons as of the end of Season 41. A unanimous selection as a first-ballot Hall of Famer is well-deserved and has solidified Tordahl's place as one of the VHL's true greats.

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