Mario Kempe

Mario Kempe (born on September 19, 1988 in Kramfors) is a Swedish professional ice hockey center/winger who plays with the CSKA Moskva of the KHL. He was selected 122nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

His brother Adrian also plays ice hockey.

Playing career
Kempe first started skating when he was five years-old on an outdoor rink in his hometown of Kramfors. He represented Ångermanland twice in TV-pucken while playing with the MODO Hockey junior teams.

In 2006, Kempe was drafted 31st overall in the 2006 CHL Import Draft by the St. John's Fog Devils of the QMJHL. Kempe made the trip to North America and cracked the St. John's Fog Devils lineup. He was named an assistant captain during his rookie season.

Kempe finished the season tied for 6th among QMJHL rookies in goals and 11th in points, and was voted "Fastest Skater in the Eastern Division".

Kempe was ranked 50th among North American prospects on Central Scouting's final report heading into the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

He also spent the 2007-08 season with the St. John's Fog Devils of the QMJHL.

Kempe returned to his native Sweden after completing two seasons in the QMJHL. He signed with the Rögle BK of theElitserien in the off-season and recorded two goals and eight assists in thirty games played. He also played one game with the Rögle BK junior team. After receiving limited ice time during the first half of the year he was traded to Mora IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan. He played there 17 regular season games and 3 qualification games. After the end of the European 2008-09 season, Kempe moved to United States to finish the season with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL. He played there 5 regular season games and 3 play-off games.

After his short appearance in the AHL, Kempe signed with the Rögle BK of the Elitserien for the 2009-10 season.

Then he signed a two-year contract with the Djurgårdens IF of the Elitserien on June 16, 2010.

In 2012 - 2014, Kempe played with the MODO Hockey of the Elitserien (later SHL).

In 2014, Kempe signed a contract with the Vityaz Podolsk of the KHL. He stayed there until the end of the 2016-17 season.

In 2017, Kempe signed with the Arizona Coyotes organisation. In his first season with the Arizona Coyotes organisation, Kempe played 18 games with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL and 47 regular season games and 9 play-off games with the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL.

Kempe continued with the Coyotes organisation in the next season and appeared in 52 games with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL and 10 games with the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL.

In 2019, Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings organisation and started the season with the Ontario Reign of the AHL. After 16 games played, the contract was terminated and Kempe moved back to Europe. Kempe signed with the CSKA Moskva of the KHL in the middle of the 2019-20 season and finished there the season with 28 regular season games and 4 play-off games played. Kempe then continued with the CSKA Moskva of the KHL in the 2020-21 season.

International career
Kempe played as a member of the Swedish National Team at the 2006 World U18 Championship, 2008 World Junior Championship (winning there silver medal) and at the 2019 World Championship.