Bert Robertsson
Encyclopedia
Bert Erik Johan Robertsson (born June 30, 1974, in Södertälje
, Sweden
) is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey
defenceman
. He was drafted in the tenth round, 254th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks
in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
. Most recently, he played in the Swedish elite league
for Södertälje SK
.
While his natural position was on the blueline, Robertsson spent much of his NHL career on the wing. While he was lacking in puck skills and offensive ability, his work ethic, in-your-face style of play, and solid defensive instincts made him a useful utility player at the NHL level.
Robertsson made his professional debut with the Canucks' AHL
affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
, in the 1995–96 season
. He made his NHL
debut in the 1997–98 season with the Canucks, appearing in 30 games and recording 2 goals along with 4 assists. He spent most of the 1998–99 season on the Canucks' roster, appearing in 39 games and recording 2 goals and 4 points.
He moved to the Edmonton Oilers
organization for the 1999–2000 season. With the Oilers, he appeared in a career-high 52 games - recording 4 assists - and also saw his first NHL playoff action, appearing in all 5 games of Edmonton's opening-round loss to the Dallas Stars
. The Oilers left him unprotected in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft
, in which he was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets
.
After leaving Edmonton, Robertsson would struggle to find a home in the NHL. In his final two seasons in North America, he moved through five NHL organizations (Columbus, the New York Rangers
, the Nashville Predators
, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and the Pittsburgh Penguins
) and six minor-pro teams. During this time he appeared in only two NHL games: in 2000–01 with the Rangers.
Robertsson would return to Europe for the 2002–03 season, joining Ilves
of Finland
's SM-liiga
. He then went home to Sweden, re-joining Södertälje SK of the Swedish Elite League in 2003. After two more seasons there, he retired in 2005.
He finished his NHL career with 4 goals and 10 assists in 123 career games, along with 75 penalty minutes.
Robertsson is currently coaching Swedish 2nd division team Almtuna IS
along with Jonas Rönnqvist
.
Södertälje
Södertälje is a city and the seat of Södertälje Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 86,069 inhabitants in 2010.The industrial city, about south of Stockholm, is the home to truck maker Scania AB and a top 10 pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
. He was drafted in the tenth round, 254th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
1993 NHL Entry Draft
The 1993 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26, 1993, at the Colisee de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise specified.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
. Most recently, he played in the Swedish elite league
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
for Södertälje SK
Södertälje SK
Södertälje Sportklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey club playing in HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje were charter members of Elitserien when the league was founded in 1975 and have since played 24 seasons in the league...
.
While his natural position was on the blueline, Robertsson spent much of his NHL career on the wing. While he was lacking in puck skills and offensive ability, his work ethic, in-your-face style of play, and solid defensive instincts made him a useful utility player at the NHL level.
Robertsson made his professional debut with the Canucks' AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
, in the 1995–96 season
1995–96 AHL season
The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions...
. He made his NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
debut in the 1997–98 season with the Canucks, appearing in 30 games and recording 2 goals along with 4 assists. He spent most of the 1998–99 season on the Canucks' roster, appearing in 39 games and recording 2 goals and 4 points.
He moved to the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
organization for the 1999–2000 season. With the Oilers, he appeared in a career-high 52 games - recording 4 assists - and also saw his first NHL playoff action, appearing in all 5 games of Edmonton's opening-round loss to the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
. The Oilers left him unprotected in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft
2000 NHL Expansion Draft
The 2000 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 23, 2000, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 2000–01 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild.-Rules:...
, in which he was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
After leaving Edmonton, Robertsson would struggle to find a home in the NHL. In his final two seasons in North America, he moved through five NHL organizations (Columbus, the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
) and six minor-pro teams. During this time he appeared in only two NHL games: in 2000–01 with the Rangers.
Robertsson would return to Europe for the 2002–03 season, joining Ilves
Ilves
Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä...
of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
's SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
. He then went home to Sweden, re-joining Södertälje SK of the Swedish Elite League in 2003. After two more seasons there, he retired in 2005.
He finished his NHL career with 4 goals and 10 assists in 123 career games, along with 75 penalty minutes.
Robertsson is currently coaching Swedish 2nd division team Almtuna IS
Almtuna IS
Almtuna IS is a Swedish ice hockey club based in Uppsala and is currently playing in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second highest league of ice hockey in Sweden. Almtuna IS fan club is called "Red Lions"....
along with Jonas Rönnqvist
Jonas Rönnqvist
Jonas Rönnqvist is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.-Playing career:...
.