39 Ville Nieminen
2000-2001 Sixth Season
CCM/KOHO Airknit. Set 4. Neck tagging 56.
Stanley Cup Winning Season
MeiGray No. 111948
The jersey is from the set 4 playoff set, and contains the Avalanche set tag sewn in the rear hem. The cuffs show some alterations and possibly repairs on the seams. The 2001 All-Star patch is attached to the right chest. The jersey shows moderate game wear. Both sleeves sport a number of marks. There is a very nice black mark through the rear numbers. The crest sports a couple of smaller black marks. Both cuffs have been altered and show possible repairs. The jersey is accompanied by the Avalanche LOA and MGG documents.
[ click on individual thumbnails to see larger images ]
Neck tagging
Hem tagging
Set patch
All-Star patch
Branding
Marks on back numbers
Body marks
Sleeve numbers
Shoulder wear
Sleeve marks
Born in Tampere, Finland, Ville Nieminen played with the local Tappara club for several years and was taken 78th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
A member of Finland's 1997 World Junior team, Nieminen came to North America in 1997-98 and spent most of the next three years apprenticing with Colorado's AHL affiliate in Hershey. The hard working forward scored 14 goals in 2000-01 and contributed ten points in 23 post-season contests as Colorado won the second Stanley Cup in franchise history. Late in the 2001-02 season he was sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the package for veteran defenceman Darius Kasparaitis. A member of Finland's Olympic in 2002, Nieminen, known as a tireless worker, spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins before being acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks in the summer of 2003.
Nieminen's stay in the Windy City was short lived as he was dealt to the Calgary Flames in the latter stages of the 2003-04 season. Upon his arrival with the Flames, the gritty Nieminen was a key contributor in the club's run to the 2004 Stanley Cup final. Despite Nieminen's strong play, the Flames lost a hard-fought seven game series to the eventual Cup champions from Tampa Bay.
Coming off a heartbreaking loss in the Stanley Cup final, Nieminen was a member of Finland's World Cup of Hockey team in the summer of 2004 and in the summer of 2005 was acquired by the New York Rangers. Upon his arrival with the Rangers, Nieminen continued to be a tenacious forward and went on to represent his homeland at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, helping the club capture a silver medal.
Despite his strong play for the Rangers, Nieminen was dealt to the San Jose Sharks just prior to the NHL trading deadline. Nieminen would see action in 30 games and continue to aggravate his opponents with the Sharks before being dealt to the St. Louis Blues alongside Jay Barriball and two draft picks for Bill Guerin.
Left Wing - Shoots left
Born: April 6, 1977 - Tampere, Finland
6-1, 200 lbs.
Colorado's fourth choice (78th overall) in the 1997 entry draft. Traded to Pittsburgh by Colorado with Rick Berry for Darius Kasparaitis, March 19, 2002. Signed as a free agent by Chicago, July 29, 2003. Traded to Calgary by Chicago for Jason Morgan and Calgary's 6th round choice (Joseph Fallon) in 2005 Entry Draft, February 24, 2004. Signed as a free agent by Tappara Tampere (Finland), July 22, 2004. Signed as a free agent by NY Rangers, August 4, 2005. Traded to San Jose by NY Rangers for San Jose's 3rd round choice (later traded to Anaheim - Anaheim selected John DeGray) in 2006 Entry Draft, March 8, 2006. Traded to St. Louis by San Jose with Jay Barriball and New Jersey's 1st round choice (previously acquired, St. Louis selected David Perron) in 2007 Entry Draft for Bill Guerin, February 27, 2007.