Jan Popiel

Jan Popiel (born October 9, 1947) is a Danish-Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 296 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Chicago Cougars, Denver Spurs, Houston Aeros and Phoenix Roadrunners. He is the younger brother of former NHL player Poul Popiel.

Popiel was drafted 10th overall in the 1964 NHL entry draft by the Chicago Black Hawks making him the highest drafted Danish-born player in NHL history until Mikkel Bødker was drafted in 2008 as number 8. Popiel, however, was raised in Canada (his family moved to St. Catharines, Ontario in 1951 when he was a child ) and is a Canadian citizen. Popiel featured in the Avco World Trophy final with the Cougars in the 1974 WHA playoffs and the Aeros in the 1976 WHA playoffs, both resulting in losses.

Popiel also played professional lacrosse, scoring five goals in six games for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Lacrosse Association of 1968.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs