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Blue Jackets ink Wheat King duo
Written by: Aaron Vickers on 06/06/2004 
Konsorada, the captain of the 2003-04 edition of the Brandon Wheat Kings, spent the opening five months of the Western Hockey League season on the injured reserve list with a separated shoulder, and injury discovered at the Columbus Blue Jackets developmental camp in September. Selected in the 6th round, 168th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Konsorada has dressed for 240 games since the 1999-00 season. Through those 240 games, Konsorada has recorded 52 goals, 110 assists, and 162 points, while adding 166 minutes in penalties. In 51 playoff games for the Wheat Kings, Konsorada has totaled 39 points, including 10 goals and 29 assists.
A native of Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Konsorada was signed to an entry level contract, and as per club policy, the terms were not disclosed. Defenseman and fellow Brandon Wheat King Ole-Kristian Tollefsen was also signed to a similar deal. Tollefsen, selected in the 3rd round, 65th overall, was signed just days before fellow teammate Konsorada.
Tollefsen, who has been mentioned by General Manager Doug MacLean several times in discussions of the future of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has already made an impact on the Columbus brass, fans, and future teammates. It was Tollefsen, in an intersquad game, that injured the shoulder of then Blue Jacket sniper Geoff Sanderson. Sanderson, now with the Vancouver Canucks, was forced to miss the season opener for the Jackets.
His physical nature and versatility at both ends of the ice make Tollefsen a threat to make a strong impact in the National Hockey League, says General Manager Doug MacLean.
"(Tollefsen) is a gritty kid who's shown a lot of character coming to the Western Hockey League and playing hard. (It) looks like he'll have a chance to play."
In fact, character is one aspect of Tollefsen's game that may very well be his strongest. A native of Oslo, Norway, Tollefsen has spent just two seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings, after spending two seasons with Lillehammer. After the Brandon Wheat Kings made Tollefsen the ninth overall selection in the Canadian Hockey League import draft, he joined the Wheat Kings in 2002-03, making an immediate impact in an injury riddled season.
The signings come on the heals of signing Seattle Thunderbirds forward and 255th overall selection in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft Steven Goertzen, an alternate captain with the club who spent the 2003-04 season playing at every position, except goaltender. Goertzen, a versatile forward who spent some time on defense covering injuries for the Thunderbirds, impressed Columbus brass with his size and speed, despite his lack of production.
Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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