Erik Rasmussen (ice hockey)

Erik Wayne Rasmussen (born March 28, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey player.

Early life
Rasmussen was born in Minneapolis. He won the Minnesota Mr. Hockey award in 1995 as the best high school player in Minnesota. He played for the University of Minnesota for two years.

Career
Rasmussen was drafted in the first round, seventh overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He then played for the Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils. During the 2007–08 season he played for New Jersey's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lowell Devils, and then signed a contract for the 2008–09 season with Porin Ässät of the Finnish SM-liiga.

While with Porin Ässät organization, Rasmussen appeared in 31 regular season games recording one goal and eight assists. Ässät finished 12th in the league and competed in the play-out to decide which team goes into the relegation series against a Mestis, the second-tier league, club. Ässät lost the play-out and had to play against Vaasan Sport in the relegation series. In total Rasmussen played 13 games of play-outs and relegation putting up four goals and five assists for nine points. In the seventh game of the relegation series, Rasmussen scored Ässät's first goal, assisted on the third and Ässät got to keep their place in the SM-liiga.