Christian Dahl-Andersen European Player of the Month

"I am very proud to win this award", says Christian Dahl-Andersen to Eurohockey.com.

Dahl-Andersen was the clear winner of the vote ahead of play Adam Svoboda, Erik Karlsson, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Pavel Datsyuk and John Tavares who were the other nominated players.

January 10 an incredible scoring streak of 27 games ended for Dahl-Andersen. He scored 20 goals and 38 assists in those games. He leads GET-Ligaen in scoring with 62 points in 35 games.

"I've played almost the entire season in a line with Juha-Pekka Loikas and Martin Strandfeldt and we have played really well together. Many injuries in our squad have led to additional responsibilities and we've really got it to work well", says Dahl-Andersen about the current season with Stavanger Oilers.

"I am in better physical shape than previously which have done that I have gotten more out of my potential this year than earlier", says the 32 years old forward.

Until 2009/10 the late-bloomer had never scored more than 33 points in a season but 2010/11 he scored 65 points, last season he reached 50 and this ongoing season he has already collected 62 points with ten games still to play.

"With age I have developed as a person and I am more able to analyze myself. It makes me perform more stable than before. I've also been lucky and avoided injuries. The physical form is better than in many years".

Many Norwegian hockey fans have been upset that we haven’t seen Dahl-Andersen in the national team but today he was added to the Norwegian roster for the 3-nation tournament in Stavanger February 7-9 during which Norway will play Switzerland and Slovakia.

"I'm very happy to represent Norway in Stavanger", he says. "My goal is obviously to earn a place for the World Championship team to Stockholm. If I can do that, the Olympics is a natural target for next year."

Dahl-Andersen has spent the entire career in Norway except for a half season in the Swedish second league.

"My career has not had the development I had hoped when I was younger and I never got myself to a level that made it natural to seek other opportunities", he says.

In 2008 Dahl-Andersen decided to retire:"After many bad seasons, I chose in the end to quit".

But he would return to the game:" After a season with my regular work, I got the desire and motivation back, and was lucky that I got a new opportunity in Stavanger Oilers. After the comeback, I've got the breakthrough I was hoping for, and I feel that I still develop even though I'm getting old."

Eurohockey.com wishes Christian Dahl-Andersen all the best and hopes to see him in the World Championship and the Olympics.

Tweets by @eurohockey