Owen Nolan
A bruising power forward who announced his arrival with a famous 'called shot' goal in an NHL All-Star Game.
Born 1972 (age 54)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 12·Generation X
Biography
Owen Nolan’s journey from Belfast to the NHL’s first overall draft pick is a story of sheer, unadulterated force. Raised in Thorold, Ontario, he brought a rare blend of size, skill, and snarl to the ice, becoming the prototype of the modern power forward. His career was a tour of the hockey map, from Quebec to San Jose, where he became the Sharks' first true captain and franchise cornerstone. While a Stanley Cup eluded him, his legacy was cemented in moments of pure will, like his 2002 Olympic gold with Canada and that iconic All-Star moment where he pointed to the top corner and then blasted the puck exactly there. Nolan’s game wasn't pretty; it was effective, intimidating, and unforgettable.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Owen was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Owen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Owen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.
- Scored a 'called shot' goal for the Western Conference in the 1997 NHL All-Star Game.
- Captained the San Jose Sharks for five seasons, leading them to multiple playoff appearances.
- Won an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
- Recorded 422 goals and 463 assists over 1,200 regular-season NHL games.
Did You Know?
He is the only player born in Northern Ireland to be selected first overall in the NHL draft.
His jersey number 11 was retired by the San Jose Sharks in 2022.
He scored his 400th NHL goal while playing for the Calgary Flames against his former team, the San Jose Sharks.
He played professional hockey in Switzerland for one season with the ZSC Lions.
“I played hard, I played to win, and I let my actions talk.”
