Daniel Carl Tjärnqvist, born on October 14, 1976, in Vännäs, Sweden, is a former professional ice hockey defenseman whose career spanned multiple leagues and countries.
Known for his smart, safe play and ability to contribute both defensively and offensively, Tjärnqvist carved out a notable career in the National Hockey League (NHL), Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Finnish SM-liiga, and German Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Hailing from the small town of Vännäs, his hockey journey began at age five, playing on local rinks with makeshift boards.
Now retired, Tjärnqvist has transitioned into coaching, bringing his defensive expertise to teams like Östersunds IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan.
Siblings
Daniel’s younger brother, Mathias Tjärnqvist, born April 15, 1979, in Umeå, Sweden, is his only sibling and a former professional hockey player.
Like Daniel, Mathias emerged from Vännäs Hockeyklubb, their hometown club, and pursued a professional career that included stints in the NHL and SHL.
A forward, Mathias was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the third round, 96th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
He played for the Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes, appearing in 54 NHL games, and also competed in the SHL with clubs like Djurgårdens IF and HV71.
After retiring in 2017, Mathias transitioned into coaching and currently serves as an assistant coach for Malmö Redhawks in the SHL.
Career
Tjärnqvist’s professional career began with Rögle BK in the Swedish Elitserien in 1994, where he debuted as an 18-year-old under coach Christer Abris, who significantly shaped his early development.
Drafted by the Florida Panthers in the fourth round, 88th overall, in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Tjärnqvist never played for the Panthers but joined the Finnish SM-liiga’s Jokerit in 1996, becoming the first Swedish player to win the league title in 1997.
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He returned to Sweden with Djurgårdens IF, where he won Elitserien championships in 2000 and 2001, establishing himself as a top defenseman.
In 2001, Tjärnqvist moved to the NHL, spending three seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers, where he logged significant ice time, peaking at 27 minutes per game in 2002–03 and recording a career-high 20 points in 2003–04.
After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, during which he played for Djurgårdens, he joined the Minnesota Wild for the 2005–06 season.
A one-year stint with the Edmonton Oilers in 2006–07 was marred by a pubic bone injury, limiting him to 37 games.
Tjärnqvist then played in the Russian Super League and KHL with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, followed by a brief return to the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche in 2008–09, where injuries again curtailed his play.
He returned to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl for two seasons, though a concussion in 2010–11 restricted his appearances.
Back in Sweden, Tjärnqvist rejoined Djurgårdens in 2011 before concluding his playing career with Kölner Haie in the DEL from 2012 to 2015.
He retired in 2016 and later took up coaching, notably joining Östersunds IK as an assistant coach in 2024, where he focuses on defensive strategies.
Accolades
Tjärnqvist’s crowning moment came in 2006 when he won an Olympic gold medal with Sweden at the Turin Winter Games, scoring two goals in the tournament’s opening game against Kazakhstan.
He also earned four World Championship medals: bronze in 2001 and 2002, and silver in 2003 and 2004, with a standout performance in 2002 when he was named the tournament’s best defenseman.
Tjärnqvist’s junior international record includes a bronze medal at the 1994 U18 European Championship, a bronze in 1995, and a silver in 1996 at the World Junior Championships.
Domestically, he won the SM-liiga championship with Jokerit in 1997, becoming the first Swedish player to do so, and secured Elitserien playoff titles with Djurgårdens in 2000 and 2001.
In the SHL, he was selected to the All-Star Team in 2000–01, led defensemen in playoff points, and topped the league’s plus/minus statistics at the 2002 World Championships.
Over his career, Tjärnqvist played 352 NHL games, amassing 90 points (18 goals, 72 assists), and over 1,000 professional games across multiple leagues, a testament to his durability and skill.
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