Jeff Christian

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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

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

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

Christian is the son of longtime Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Gord Christian and was raised in Hamilton, OntarioScript error: No such module "Unsubst".

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

  • 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

    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

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External links

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