| Chris Nielsen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Nielsen with theSan Antonio Rampage in 2005 | |||
| Born | (1980-02-16)February 16, 1980 (age 45) Moshi,Tanzania | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Columbus Blue Jackets Kassel Huskies | ||
| NHL draft | 36th overall,1998 New York Islanders | ||
| Playing career | 2000–2006 | ||
Chris Nielsen (born February 16, 1980) is aTanzanian-bornCanadian former professionalice hockeycentre.[1] Nielsen was drafted in the 2nd round, 36th overall by theNew York Islanders in the1998 NHL Entry Draft. He played parts of two seasons with theColumbus Blue Jackets.
Nielsen was born in Tanzania while his Canadian father was stationed there working for theCanadian International Development Agency. His family moved back to Canada when he was three, and he grew up on a farm near the small town ofGoodlands, Manitoba.[2]
Nielsen played junior hockey with theCalgary Hitmen of theWestern Hockey League. He was a member of the1998–99 team that won thePresident's Cup, and got within a game of winning theMemorial Cup. He won theDoug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy in1999–2000 as the WHL's Humanitarian of the Year.
Nielsen turned pro in 2000, playing three seasons with theSyracuse Crunch of theAmerican Hockey League, earning two callups to the Blue Jackets during that time. He then bounced around between theChicago Wolves,Manitoba Moose andSan Antonio Rampage of the AHL and theLaredo Bucks of theCentral Hockey League before heading to Europe to play inGermany in 2005–06. Nielsen retired from professional hockey in 2006.
After retiring from hockey, Nielsen went back to school at the University of Manitoba and was thecolour commentator for the Manitoba Moose at their home games. He then completed undergraduate and postgraduate medical education at theUniversity of Calgary, graduating from theCumming School of Medicine in 2012 and completing his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery in 2017. Dr. Nielsen then moved to Toronto for fellowship, completing his training in complex spinal surgery atToronto Western Hospital in 2018, at which time he transitioned into the role of Clinical Associate. He is now an Attending Surgeon atUniversity Health Network and an Assistant Professor in theDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery with theTemerty Faculty of Medicine at theUniversity of Toronto.[3][4]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1995–96 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 62 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 68 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 31 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 1998–99 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 70 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 45 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 28 | ||
| 1999–00 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 62 | 38 | 31 | 69 | 86 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 20 | ||
| 2000–01 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 47 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2000–01 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 29 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 47 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 23 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 18 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 33 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 | ||
| 2003–04 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 72 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Laredo Bucks | CHL | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 54 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Kassel Huskies | DEL | 38 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 52 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Canada | WJC |  | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2000 | Canada | WJC |  | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | |
| Junior totals | 9 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 12 | ||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Winner of theWHLDaryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy 1999,2000 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theWHLHumanitarian of the Year Award 2000 | Succeeded by |