Anže Kopitar

Anže Kopitar (pronounced [anˈʒɛ kɔˈpiːtaɾ] ahn-ZHE ko-PEE-tahr) (born 24 August 1987), nicknamed Kopi, is a Slovenian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar became the first Slovenian to play in the NHL upon making his debut in 2006. Kopitar has spent his entire career with the Kings, and apart his debut season when he finished third, has led the team in scoring in each of the following seasons.

Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice before moving to Sweden at age 16 to play in a more competitive league. He spent one season with the junior teams of the Södertälje SK organization, and then with the senior team of the top-level Elitserien. He moved to North America to join the Kings in 2006, one year after he was drafted, and he finished fourth in the Calder Trophy voting his rookie year. Kopitar's dynamic offensive talent allowed him to immediately become Los Angeles' best offensive weapon, though in recent seasons, he has improved his defensive game and has also emerged as one of the NHL's premier two-way forwards. Praised as one of the best players in the League, Kopitar won the Stanley Cup championship with the Kings in 2012 and 2014, leading the League in post-season points on both occasions with 20 (tied with teammate Dustin Brown) and 26 points, respectively. Internationally, Kopitar has represented the Slovenian national team in several junior and senior tournaments, as well as at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.