Tweet

Ht/Wt: 5' 11"/165 lbs
Position: G
Team: Manglerud (Nor.)

Steffen Soberg's Player Profile

One of the best young goaltenders in his country, Steffen Kent Soberg is definitely the feel-good story of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He overcame a bout of childhood meningitis as a toddler that could have been fatal. Additionally, Soberg did not always want to be a goaltender; he initially started out as a forward. At ten years old, he changed his mind and he decided to become a goalie. It was the best decision he could have made. Playing through the system of Oslo's Manglerud Star Ishockey, Soberg became an elite netminder very quickly with his intense battling techniques, his quick reflexes and his ability to steal games from the opposition. By the time he was 17, Soberg made the jump to professional hockey after only one game in the Norwegian Under-17 league; he even got to play three regular-season and four playoff games for Manglerud's Get Ligaen team. He followed that up with a 27-game season with them in 2010-11 en route to being named the Get Ligaen's rookie of the year. Also in 2010-11, he made Norway's under-20 team for the World Juniors in Buffalo; he was named player of the game twice, once against the Czech Republic and once against Germany, a game in which he faced his now fellow future Washington Capitals creasemate Philipp Grubauer. Soberg definitely got himself noticed for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, as well as fellow goaltender Lars Volden. When he returned to Manglerud, Soberg had almost another career-threatening accident; he was hit in the eye with a stray puck while sitting on the bench. He came very close to being blinded. Happily, Soberg was well enough to play at the 2011 World Under-18s, where he was joined by his younger brother Markus, a highly-skilled 1995-born forward who is eligible for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. When the Washington Capitals chose Soberg 117th overall at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he became the first-ever Norwegian goaltender to ever be drafted to the National Hockey League. He is expected to join the WHL's Swift Current Broncos for the 2011-12 season after they made him the sixth overall pick in the 2011 CHL Import Draft. If he goes, it will help his development immensely, getting him ready for North American-style hockey, something he is not used to in Norway. He is highly respected and revered by young players across Norway, goaltenders and skaters alike.
Submitted by: Margann Laurissa

Would you like to write a player profile for any prospect that may be entering the 2011 NHL Draft? Email profiles of any player (even players not on our list) to our Webmaster. Credit will be given to the author of the profile.


Click here to return