{{Short description|Norwegian ice hockey player (born 2005)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox ice hockey biography | image = Ducks scrimmage 2024 - Solberg, Stian (2) (cropped).jpg | caption = Solberg in 2024 | birth_date = {{birth date and age | 2005 | 12 | 29}} | birth_place = Oslo, Norway | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 205 | position = Defence | shoots = Left | league = NHL | team = Anaheim Ducks | prospect_team = San Diego Gulls | prospect_league = AHL | former_teams = Vålerenga Ishockey<br>Färjestad BK | ntl_team = Norway | draft = 23rd overall | draft_year = 2024 | draft_team = Anaheim Ducks | career_start = 2021 | career_end = }}
'''Stian Solberg''' (born December 29, 2005) is a Norwegian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 23rd overall by the Ducks in the 2024 NHL entry draft, becoming the second Norwegian ever selected in the first round, following Michael Brandsegg-Nygård eight picks earlier in the same draft.
== Playing career == Solberg grew up playing soccer, and began playing hockey at a rink adjacent to the soccer field. He began playing defence at 14, when a teammate urinated in the shower and the coach gave Solberg his roster spot as punishment.<ref name="TSN 6-14-24">{{cite web |last1=Masters |first1=Mark |title=Mark Masters: Hard-hitting Stian Solberg poised to make history for Norway at NHL draft |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/mark-masters-hard-hitting-stian-solberg-poised-to-make-history-for-norway-at-nhl-draft-1.2134605 |website=The Sports Network |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=June 14, 2024}}</ref> Playing his junior career with Vålerenga Ishockey, he made his debut with their senior club in the EliteHockey Ligaen (EHL) as a fifteen-year-old.<ref name="bodin 5-2024">{{cite web |last1=Bodin |first1=Uffe |title=Tio talanger att hålla ögonen på under hockey-VM |url=https://hockeysverige.se/2024/05/09/de-tio-storsta-talangerna-pa-hockey-vm-2024 |website=Hockeysverige |access-date=June 14, 2024 |language=sv |date=May 9, 2024}}</ref>
In the 2022–23 season, Solberg recorded a goal and three assists in 18 EHL games. He was selected 96th overall by the Regina Pats in the 2023 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) import draft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Caria |first1=Dante De |title=Pats Make Pair Of Selections In 2023 CHL Import Draft |url=https://chl.ca/whl-pats/pats-make-pair-of-selections-in-2023-chl-import-draft/ |website=Regina Pats |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=July 5, 2023}}</ref> Despite being drafted into the CHL and receiving offers from multiple Swedish clubs, Solberg chose to remain in Norway for the 2023–24 season, signing a one-year contract with Vålerenga.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jansson |first1=Martin |title=Jättetalangen nobbar Färjestad – stannar i Norge: "Blir kvar" |url=https://hockeysverige.se/2023/04/27/stian-solberg-nobbar-farjestad-stannar-i-norge-blir-kvar |website=Hockeysverige |access-date=June 14, 2024 |language=sv |date=April 27, 2023}}</ref>
In the regular season, he recorded 15 points in 42 games, adding nine points in 17 playoff games on a run to the league finals.<ref name="TSN 6-14-24" /> In April 2024, he signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).<ref>{{cite web |title=Välkommen till Färjestad BK, Stian Solberg |url=https://www.farjestadbk.se/article/0xbascg-23h01/view |website=Färjestad BK |access-date=June 14, 2024 |language=sv |date=April 24, 2024}}</ref> Entering the 2024 NHL entry draft, Solberg stood out for his elite physicality, fluid skating, and aggressive yet patient play.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baracchini |first1=Peter |title=Stian Solberg – 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/stian-solberg-2024-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/ |website=The Hockey Writers |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=May 16, 2024}}</ref> Initially seen as a fringe choice to be picked in the first round, his projection improved dramatically in the months leading up to the draft, and by the month of the draft he was seen as a potential top-15 pick.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stanovich |first1=Austin |title=Kings Should Target a Pair of Norwegians in Round One |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/los-angeles-kings-norwegians-stian-solberg-michael-brandsegg-nygardround-one |website=The Hockey News |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=June 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Surging Solberg on 'crazy' Habs question, extra attention from Leafs |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/surging-solberg-on-crazy-habs-question-extra-attention-from-leafs~2939886 |website=The Sports Network |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=June 13, 2024}}</ref> He would ultimately be selected 23rd overall by the Anaheim Ducks, becoming the second Norwegian ever selected in the first round, after former Vålerenga teammate Michael Brandsegg-Nygård was taken 15th overall that same day.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Sean |title=Norwegian history made as Stian Solberg and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård go in first round of 2024 NHL Draft |url=https://eprinkside.com/2024/06/29/norwegian-history-made-as-stian-solberg-and-michael-brandsegg-nygard-go-in-first-round-of-2024-nhl-draft |website=EP Rinkside |access-date=July 1, 2024 |date=June 29, 2024}}</ref> He signed an entry-level contract with the Ducks on July 5.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ducks sign Stian Solberg to three-year, entry-level contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ducks-sign-stian-solberg-to-three-year-entry-level-contract/ |website=Sportsnet |access-date=July 5, 2024 |date=July 5, 2024}}</ref>
== International play == {{MedalTableTop|name=}} {{MedalSport|Men's ice hockey}} {{MedalCountry|{{ih|NOR}}}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalBronze|2026 Switzerland|}} {{MedalBottom}} Making his World Championship debut at the Norway at the 2024 World Championship,<ref name="bodin 5-2024" /> Solberg was the youngest player at the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Podnieks |first1=Andrew |title=Scoring streaks, and whatever else |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm/news/61322/scoring_streaks_and_whatever_else |website=International Ice Hockey Federation |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=May 22, 2024}}</ref> In a lopsided 4–1 preliminary round loss to Canada that saw the Norwegians held without a shot for nearly 42 minutes, Solberg scored the team's lone goal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jurewicz |first1=Chris |title=Canada cruises past Norway |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm/news/61080/can_nor |website=International Ice Hockey Federation |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=May 16, 2024}}</ref> He would finish the tournament with two goals and an assist and be named one of Norway's top three players at the event.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vickers |first1=Aaron |title=Solberg brings physical play, 'warrior soul' into 2024 NHL Draft |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/stian-solberg-brings-physical-play-to-2024-nhl-draft |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=June 26, 2024 |date=June 22, 2024}}</ref>
== Career statistics == ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="94" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="94" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season !! Team !! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2021–22 | Vålerenga | NOR U20 | 11 || 2 || 6 || 8 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2021–22 | Vålerenga | NOR | 11 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2022–23 | Vålerenga | NOR U20 | 2 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 0 | 3 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 0 |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2022–23 | Vålerenga | NOR | 18 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 10 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2023–24 | Vålerenga | NOR | 42 || 5 || 10 || 15 || 47 | 17 || 2 || 7 || 9 || 35 |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Färjestad BK | SHL | 47 || 3 || 9 || 12 || 16 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2024–25 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 10 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2025–26 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 71 || 12 || 12 || 24 || 102 | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |NOR totals ! 71 !! 6 !! 14 !! 20 !! 59 ! 17 || 2 || 7 || 9 || 35 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |SHL totals ! 47 !! 3 !! 9 !! 12 !! 16 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="104" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2022 | Norway | WJC <small>(Div IA)</small> | 13th | 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 6 |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2023 | Norway | U18 | 9th | 6 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 4 |- | 2024 | Norway | WJC | 10th | 5 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4 |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2024 | Norway | WC | 11th | 7 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 8 |- | 2024 | Norway | OGQ | DNQ | 3 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 4 |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2025 | Norway | WJC <small>(Div IA)</small> | 13th | 5 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 4 |- | 2025 | Norway | WC | 12th | 7 || 4 || 2 || 6 || 14 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan=4 | Junior totals ! 21 !! 2 !! 2 !! 4 !! 18 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan=4 | Senior totals ! 17 || 6 || 5 || 11 || 26 |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{ice hockey stats|elite=619175|nhl=8484859|euro=635873|hockeydb=272901}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Beckett Sennecke | title = Anaheim Ducks first-round draft pick | years = 2024 | after = Roger McQueen}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Solberg, Stian}} Category:2005 births Category:Living people Category:Anaheim Ducks draft picks Category:Färjestad BK players Category:Ice hockey people from Oslo Category:NHL first-round draft picks Category:Norwegian ice hockey defencemen Category:San Diego Gulls (AHL) players Category:Vålerenga Ishockey players Category:21st-century Norwegian sportsmen