Jesper Damgaard

{{short description|Danish ice hockey player}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Jesper Damgaard 1.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Damgaard in 2007

| position = Defenceman

| ntl_team = Denmark

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|05|06}}

| birth_place = Holstebro, Denmark

| shoots = Right

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 207

| career_start = 1991

| career_end = 2011

| draft = undrafted

| played_for = Herning Blue Fox
Malmö Redhawks
Revierlöwen Oberhausen
MODO Hockey
Augsburger Panther
HC Lugano
Rødovre Mighty Bulls

}}

Jesper Damgaard (born May 6, 1975) is a Danish retired ice hockey player who last participated at the 2010 IIHF World Championship as a member of the Denmark men's national ice hockey team.{{cite book |last=IIHF|title=IIHF Media Guide & Record Book 2011|year=2010 |publisher=Moydart Press |page= 181|isbn= 978-0-9867964-0-1}}

He was the first and so far only Danish player to have his number, (#7), retired by the Denmark men's national ice hockey team. He has represented Denmark at a record 17 consecutive World Championships, of which the last 8 were in the top division.{{cite web|url=http://politiken.dk/sport/ishockey/ECE1237992/damgaards-karrierestop-koster-en-verdensrekord/|title=Damgaards karrierestop koster en verdensrekord|website=politiken.dk}} He is the all-time most capped player for Denmark, having played for his country a record 256 times scoring 45 goals and 69 assists for a total of 114 points.{{cite web|url=http://politiken.dk/sport/ECE1238667/dansk-ishockey-sender-troeje-nummer-7-paa-pension/|title=Dansk ishockey sender trøje nummer 7 på pension|website=politiken.dk}}{{cite web|url=http://sporten-dyn.tv2.dk/ishockey/article.php/id-38523654:landsholdsanf%C3%B8rer-stopper-f%C3%B8r-vm.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717100252/http://sporten-dyn.tv2.dk/ishockey/article.php/id-38523654:landsholdsanf%C3%B8rer-stopper-f%C3%B8r-vm.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2012|title=Landsholdsanfører stopper før VM|date=28 March 2011|website=sporten-dyn.tv2.dk}}

Damgaard was forced to retire following the 2010–11 season due to the aftermath of a concussion suffered while playing for the Malmö Redhawks. He attempted to return to the ice for the 2011 IIHF World Championship but was unable to shake the effects of the concussion.[http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/article/damgaard-announces-retirement/damgaard.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=187&cHash=010573e5b0 Damgaard announces retirement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021075512/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/article/damgaard-announces-retirement/damgaard.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=187&cHash=010573e5b0|date=2012-10-21}}

In 2018, Damgaard was awarded the Torriani Award by the International Ice Hockey Federation for his contributions to Denmark's hockey, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2018/wm/news/3292/iihf-hall-of-fame-inducts-new-members|title=IIHF Hall of Fame inducts new members|last=Sanful|first=John|date=20 May 2018|website=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=24 August 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeymagasinet.dk/stort-tillykke-til-danish-legend-jesper-damgaard/|title=Stort tillykke til danish legend, Jesper Damgaard|date=20 May 2018|website=Hockey Magasinet|language=da|access-date=16 June 2023}}