Jeff Christian
| Jeff Christian | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
July 30, 1970 Burlington, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
NHL New Jersey Devils Pittsburgh Penguins Phoenix Coyotes IHL Cincinnati Cyclones Cleveland Lumberjacks Las Vegas Thunder Houston Aeros AHL Utica Devils Albany River Rats Cleveland Barons Rockford IceHogs CHL Youngstown Steelhounds Tulsa Oilers Missouri Mavericks Mississippi RiverKings Evansville IceMen DEL Krefeld Pinguine DEG Metro Stars EIHL Sheffield Steelers | ||
| NHL draft |
23rd overall, 1988 New Jersey Devils | ||
| Playing career | 1990–2011 | ||
Jeffrey Christian (born July 30, 1970) is a Canadian-American former ice hockey forward who was drafted 23rd overall by the New Jersey Devils. He played 18 games in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Phoenix Coyotes and played professionally in North American and Europe for over two decades. After his playing career was completed, Christian joined the Columbus Jr. Blue Jackets as a head coach for parts of three seasons. Christian was hired by the Wheeling Nailers midway into the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach and was later named Head Coach, holding the position from July 2016 to the completion of the 2017–18 season.
Playing career
[edit]Born in Burlington, Ontario, Christian was drafted 23rd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft and attended six NHL training camps with the Devils. Christian played two games for New Jersey during the 1991–92 season, scoring no points.
Christian played in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Devils and the Albany River Rats. After four full seasons with the Devils organization, Christian signed a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He appeared in 15 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins over three seasons, scoring two goals and two assists during the 1996–97 season. Primarily playing with the Cleveland Lumberjacks, Christian scored 40 goals and 40 assists in 66 games during the 1996–97 International Hockey League (IHL) season.
Christian then moved to Europe, spending four seasons in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the Krefeld Pinguine, DEG Metro Stars, and Hannover Scorpions; and one season in the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom for the Sheffield Steelers.
Christian returned to North America in 2005 joining the Central Hockey League's Youngstown Steelhounds and Tulsa Oilers. After two successful seasons with the Oilers, Jeff was the first player signed by the CHL expansion team, the Missouri Mavericks, for the 2009–10 season.[1] He also served as an assistant coach for the Mavericks.[1]
On September 11, 2010, he signed for the CHL's Mississippi RiverKings, based in Southaven, Mississippi, twenty minutes away from Memphis, Tennessee, where his daughter was being treated for cancer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[2] On February 22, 2011, the RiverKings waived Christian, but he was picked up on waivers the next day by the Evansville IceMen, also of the CHL.[3][4] In his final game, Christian had an assist and scored the game-winning goal in a shoot-out.
Christian is among a handful of players in hockey history to play over 1400 professional games (1406) while scoring over 500 goals (574), over 700 assists (792) and having over 3300 penalty minutes (3370).[5]
Coaching and Consulting Career
[edit]Throughout his playing career, Christian held the role of player/assistant coach several times.
Christian was hired as an assistant coach for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL in January 2016.[6][7] After a two-year stint as the Nailers' head coach, his contract was not renewed after not making the Kelly Cup playoffs in either season.[8] It was reported that he was harassing female fans.[9][10]
Christian was flown to Austria to consult with Villach in the top Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).[11] Since this consulting trip Christian has become a Hockey Consultant working closely with several North American and European teams.
Personal and philanthropic life
[edit]Christian is the son of longtime Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Gord Christian and was raised in Hamilton, Ontario[citation needed]
Christian and his wife have two daughters, losing their oldest one to cancer on January 24, 2013, after a three-year fight, after being diagnosed with Pediatric Adrenal cortical Carcinoma.[2]
Christian and his family were the subject of a feature article in Sports Net Magazine, for their work with the Team Ryan Charitable Foundation, in order of their late daughter.[12][13]
Awards and accolades
[edit]- 1990-91: Leading Rookie Scorer, Utica Devils (AHL)
- 1990-91: Rookie Of The Year, Utica Devils (AHL)
- 1994-95: Community Service Award, Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL)
- 1996-97: Team MVP, Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL)
- 1998-99: John Cullen Award (Sportsmanship), Houston Aeros (IHL)
- 1998-99: Turner Cup Champion, Houston Aeros (IHL)
- 1999-00: Community Service Award, Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL)
- 2005-06: First Team All-Star, Central Hockey League
- 2005-06: Most Valuable Player runner-up, Central Hockey League
- 2005-06; 2006-07: Scored the game-winning goal in back-to-back CHL All-Star Games. Christian's sticks from those respective games are currently in the Hockey Hall Of Fame archives.
- 2006-07: Leading Scorer, Central Hockey League[14]
- 2006-07: First-Team All Star, Central Hockey League[14]
- 2006-07: League MVP, Central Hockey League[14]
Christian wore a Captain's letter on his jersey 11 seasons and played in 5 All Star Games.
Career statistics
[edit]| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1987–88 | London Knights | OHL | 64 | 15 | 29 | 44 | 154 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 27 | ||
| 1988–89 | London Knights | OHL | 60 | 27 | 31 | 58 | 216 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 56 | ||
| 1989–90 | London Knights | OHL | 18 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Owen Sound Platers | OHL | 37 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 145 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 43 | ||
| 1990–91 | Utica Devils | AHL | 80 | 24 | 42 | 66 | 165 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Utica Devils | AHL | 76 | 27 | 24 | 51 | 198 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
| 1991–92 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Cincinnati Cyclones | IHL | 36 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 113 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Utica Devils | AHL | 22 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Hamilton Canucks | AHL | 11 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 76 | 34 | 43 | 77 | 227 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 19 | ||
| 1994–95 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 56 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 126 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 1995–96 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 66 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 131 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 1996–97 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 69 | 40 | 40 | 80 | 262 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 44 | ||
| 1997–98 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Las Vegas Thunder | IHL | 30 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 90 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 | ||
| 1998–99 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 80 | 45 | 41 | 86 | 252 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 32 | ||
| 1999–00 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 77 | 29 | 35 | 64 | 202 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 20 | ||
| 2000–01 | Krefeld Pinguine | DEL | 51 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 205 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Krefeld Pinguine | DEL | 53 | 31 | 18 | 49 | 116 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 2002–03 | DEG Metro Stars | DEL | 42 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 93 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | ||
| 2003–04 | Hannover Scorpions | DEL | 50 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Sheffield Steelers | EIHL | 52 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 139 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Youngstown Steelhounds | CHL | 64 | 55 | 52 | 107 | 126 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Youngstown Steelhounds | CHL | 61 | 38 | 78 | 116 | 125 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 17 | ||
| 2007–08 | Tulsa Oilers | CHL | 64 | 24 | 59 | 83 | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Tulsa Oilers | CHL | 56 | 27 | 49 | 76 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Missouri Mavericks | CHL | 55 | 29 | 49 | 78 | 110 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | Mississippi RiverKings | CHL | 52 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Evansville IceMen | CHL | 15 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 18 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Hillman Happy to Land Former MVP Christian". The Examiner. July 3, 2013. Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
- ^ a b "Mississippi Bound: Former All-Star Christian Signs with RiverKings". The Examiner. 2010-09-11. Archived from the original on 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
- ^ "RiverKings Waive Jeff Christian". OurSportsCentral.com. 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
- ^ "IceMen Obtain Star LW Jeff Christian". OurSportsCentral.com. 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
- ^ "Jeff Christian at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
- ^ "Nailers Name Jeff Christian as Assistant Coach". Wheeling Nailers official website. Archived from the original on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
- ^ "NAILERS NAME JEFF CHRISTIAN AS HEAD COACH". ECHL. July 12, 2016. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
- ^ "Nailers Part With Coach". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register. April 11, 2018.
- ^ "Nailers' Silence Is Deafening | News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer". www.theintelligencer.net. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
- ^ "Wheeling Watch: Thoughts following the end of the Nailers' season". www.dkpittsburghsports.com. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
- ^ "Die Adler holen sich einen Experten aus Übersee an Bord". www.kleinezeitung.at (in German). 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
- ^ "Sportsnet magazine Big Read: Long road home - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
- ^ "Daughter's memory never far for Jeff Christian". NHL.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
- ^ a b c "Jeff Christian Named CHL MVP". Hockey Fights. Archived from the original on 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- 1970 births
- Living people
- New Jersey Devils draft picks
- Albany River Rats players
- Canadian ice hockey left wingers
- Cleveland Barons (2001–2006) players
- Cleveland Lumberjacks players
- Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL) players
- Düsseldorfer EG players
- Evansville IceMen players
- Hamilton Canucks players
- Hannover Scorpions players
- Houston Aeros (1994–2013) players
- Krefeld Pinguine players
- Las Vegas Thunder players
- London Knights players
- Mississippi RiverKings (CHL) players
- Missouri Mavericks players
- New Jersey Devils players
- Owen Sound Platers players
- Pittsburgh Penguins players
- Phoenix Coyotes players
- Rockford IceHogs (AHL) players
- Sheffield Steelers players
- Ice hockey people from Burlington, Ontario
- Tulsa Oilers (1992–present) players
- Utica Devils players
- Youngstown Steelhounds players
- Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in England
- Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Germany
- Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States