Nelson Emerson
{{short description|Canadian ice hockey player}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| position = Right Wing
| shoots = Right
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 175
| ntl_team = Canada
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|8|17}}
| birth_place = Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| career_start = 1990
| career_end = 2002
| draft = 44th overall
| draft_year = 1985
| draft_team = St. Louis Blues
| played_for = St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets
Hartford Whalers
Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Blackhawks
Ottawa Senators
Atlanta Thrashers
Los Angeles Kings
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry | {{ih|CAN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | World Championships }}
{{MedalGold | 1994 Italy | }}
}}
Nelson Donald Emerson (born August 17, 1967){{cite book|title=The Canadian Hockey Atlas|url=https://archive.org/details/canadianhockeyat0000cole|url-access=registration|first=Stephen|last=Cole|publisher=Doubleday Canada|year=2006|isbn=978-0-385-66093-8}} is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for eight teams in the National Hockey League during his 12-year career, which lasted from 1990 to 2002. Following his retirement, Emerson has worked within the Kings organization since 2006 and has served as the team's assistant general manager since 2022.
Emerson is perhaps best remembered today for scoring a controversial overtime goal in 1993 whereby he grabbed the puck out of midair with his hand, skated towards the opposing team's net and dropped it in the goal, resulting in a 1–0 win for his Jets.
Playing career
Emerson grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Waterford, Ontario with the Waterford Wildcats of the OMHA. Emerson was selected in the 7th round (92nd overall) of the 1985 OHL Priority Selection by the Guelph Platers after spending the 1984-85 season with the Stratford Cullitons Jr.B. (OHA) club. Emerson, however, elected to pursue an NCAA scholarship and spent a second year playing with the Cullitons before attending Bowling Green State University (CCHA) in Ohio in 1986-87.
Emerson was drafted in the third round, 44th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.
After playing four seasons at the Bowling Green State University, where Emerson was a 3-time finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, Emerson made his professional debut with the Blues' IHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, at the end of the 1989–90 season. In his first and only full season with the Rivermen, 1990–91, he scored 36 goals and added 79 assists.
Emerson joined the Blues in the 1991–92 season, and scored 132 points in his two full seasons with them. He joined the Winnipeg Jets before the 1993–94 season, and had the most productive campaign of his NHL career that year (33 goals, 41 assists).
While playing with the Jets, Emerson scored a controversial overtime goal using his hand.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=5 controversial NHL goals that should not have counted |url=https://www.bardown.com/5-controversial-nhl-goals-that-should-not-have-counted-1.1477432 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=Bardown |publisher=Bell Media}} In an October 16, 1993 game against the Chicago Blackhawks, with the game tied 0–0 in overtime, the Jets dumped the puck into the Blackhawks zone, prompting Chicago netminder Ed Belfour to skate behind the goal to clear the puck. The forechecking Emerson skated behind the goal, grabbing the puck out of midair from Belfour's clearing attempt with his hand, and with the puck cupped in his glove, skated towards the unguarded Chicago net and dropped the puck in the crease. Referee Denis Morel signaled for a good goal.{{Cite web |date=October 17, 1993 |title=Disputed OT Goal has Hawks Fuming |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/10/17/disputed-ot-goal-has-hawks-fuming/ |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |publisher=Tribune Publishing}} Upon review of the play, the Jets' goal judge did not see the puck cross the line, and when video review proved inconclusive in determining a goal, Morel let his original call stand, resulting in a 1–0 victory for the Jets, despite intense protests from Blackhawks players and coach Darryl Sutter. In the years since his retirement, Emerson admits that the goal should not have counted and claims that following the play, the Jets team had faked a goal celebration to attempt and sell the erroneous call.{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Jason |date=March 18, 2019 |title=Everyone can use a hand now and then, especially in OT |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/2019/03/18/everyone-can-use-a-hand-now-and-then-especially-in-ot |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=Winnipeg Free Press |publisher=}}
He would play one more season with the Jets before leaving for the Hartford Whalers before the 1995–96 season. Emerson played two seasons in Hartford, then moved along with the franchise as it relocated to become the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1997–98 season. During the 1998–99 season, Emerson became a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. Later in the same season, the Blackhawks traded him to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Chris Murray.
Emerson joined the expansion Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999–2000 season, and played 58 games with them. He was traded late in the season, along with Kelly Buchberger, to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Donald Audette and Frantisek Kaberle. Emerson would remain with the Kings until retiring following the 2001–02 season.
Emerson appeared in 771 NHL games in his career, scoring 195 goals and adding 293 assists. He also appeared in 40 Stanley Cup playoff games, scoring seven goals and recording 15 assists.
Emerson was hired by the Los Angeles Kings as a video and player development consultant and, after 2 seasons, was promoted to assistant coach/development coordinator on August 4, 2008.{{cite web|title=Kings Announce Coaching Staff|url=http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=457324|work=LAKings.com|publisher=Los Angeles Kings|accessdate=3 January 2014|date=10 July 2006}}{{cite web|title=Kings Announce Coaching Changes|url=http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=455968|work=LAKings.com|publisher=Los Angeles Kings|accessdate=3 January 2014|date=4 August 2008}} He is currently Director of Player Personnel for the Kings.
Executive career
Following his retirement from playing, Emerson has worked within the Los Angeles Kings organization since 2006 and has served as the team's assistant general manager since 2022. Prior to serving as assistant general manager, he worked various roles including assistant coach and director of player personnel. As Director of Player Personnel, a role he served for the team from 2008 to 2019, he won two Stanley Cups for championship victories in 2012 and 2014.
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 1984–85
| MWJHL | 40 | 23 | 38 | 61 | 70
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1985–86 | Stratford Cullitons | MWJHL | 39 | 54 | 58 | 112 | 91
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87
| CCHA | 45 | 26 | 35 | 61 | 28
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1987–88 | Bowling Green Falcons | CCHA | 45 | 34 | 49 | 83 | 54
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1988–89
| Bowling Green Falcons | CCHA | 44 | 22 | 46 | 68 | 46
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1989–90 | Bowling Green Falcons | CCHA | 44 | 30 | 52 | 82 | 42
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1989–90
| IHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1990–91 | Peoria Rivermen | IHL | 73 | 36 | 79 | 115 | 91
| 17 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 16 |
| 1990–91
| NHL | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1991–92 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 79 | 23 | 36 | 59 | 66
| 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 21 |
| 1992–93
| St. Louis Blues | NHL | 82 | 22 | 51 | 73 | 62
| 11 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1993–94 | NHL | 83 | 33 | 41 | 74 | 80
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994–95
| Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 48 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 26
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1995–96 | NHL | 81 | 29 | 29 | 58 | 78
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97
| Hartford Whalers | NHL | 66 | 9 | 29 | 38 | 34
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1997–98 | NHL | 81 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 50
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99
| Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 35 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 36
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1998–99 | NHL | 27 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 13
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99
| NHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2
| 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| NHL | 58 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 47
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000
| NHL | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2000–01 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 78 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 54
| 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 2001–02
| Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 41 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 25
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 771 !! 195 !! 293 !! 488 !! 575 ! 40 !! 7 !! 15 !! 22 !! 33 |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" | ||||
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM | ||||
| 1992
| Canada | WC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1994 | Canada | WC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 1998
| Canada | WC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan=3 | Senior totals ! 17 ! 4 ! 4 ! 8 ! 8 |
Awards and honours
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! |
| All-CCHA First Team
| 1987–88 |
| AHCA West Second-Team All-American
| 1987–88 |
| All-CCHA Second Team
| 1988–89 |
| All-CCHA First Team
| 1989–90 |
| AHCA West First-Team All-American
| 1989–90 |
| IHL Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy (Most Outstanding Rookie)
| 1990–91 | |
| Stanley Cup (as executive)
| |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before = Joe Murphy | title = CCHA Rookie of the Year| years = 1986–87| after = John DePourcq}}
{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emerson, Nelson}}
Category:Atlanta Thrashers players
Category:Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey players
Category:Canadian ice hockey right wingers
Category:Carolina Hurricanes players
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Hartford Whalers players
Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen
Category:Los Angeles Kings coaches
Category:Los Angeles Kings players
Category:Ottawa Senators players
Category:Peoria Rivermen (IHL) players
Category:St. Louis Blues draft picks
Category:St. Louis Blues players
Category:Ice hockey people from Hamilton, Ontario
Category:Sportspeople from Norfolk County, Ontario
Category:Winnipeg Jets (1979–1996) players