Norwegian ice hockey player Jan Erik Adolfsen began his career with Hasle AIL in the 1948–49 season. Adolfsen soon found a place on the national team and won bronze at the 1951 European Ice Hockey Championships in Paris. The following year he was part of the Norwegian squad that competed at the 1952 Oslo Olympics where the team finished ninth. His final season was in 1953-54 where he played at the World Championships in Sweden. Adolfsen also played alongside his younger brother, Svein, for club and country including the 1954 World Championships.