| Jeff Christian | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1970-07-30)July 30, 1970 (age 55) 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 formerice hockey forward who was drafted 23rd overall by theNew Jersey Devils. He played 18 games in theNational Hockey League for theNew Jersey Devils,Pittsburgh Penguins, and thePhoenix 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 theWheeling 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.
Born inBurlington,Ontario, Christian was drafted 23rd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the1988 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 theAmerican Hockey League (AHL) with theUtica Devils and theAlbany 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 theCleveland Lumberjacks, Christian scored 40 goals and 40 assists in 66 games during the 1996–97International Hockey League (IHL) season.
Christian then moved to Europe, spending four seasons in theDeutsche Eishockey Liga for theKrefeld Pinguine,DEG Metro Stars, andHannover Scorpions; and one season in theElite Ice Hockey League in theUnited Kingdom for theSheffield Steelers.
Christian returned to North America in 2005 joining theCentral Hockey League'sYoungstown Steelhounds andTulsa Oilers. After two successful seasons with the Oilers, Jeff was the first player signed by the CHL expansion team, theMissouri Mavericks, for the2009–10 season.[1] He also served as an assistant coach for the Mavericks.[1]
On September 11, 2010, he signed for the CHL'sMississippi RiverKings, based inSouthaven, Mississippi, twenty minutes away fromMemphis, Tennessee, where his daughter was being treated for cancer atSt. 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 theEvansville 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]
Throughout his playing career, Christian held the role of player/assistant coach several times.
Christian was hired as an assistant coach for theWheeling Nailers of theECHL 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.
Christian is the son of longtimeHamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Gord Christian and was raised inHamilton, 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 withPediatric 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]
Christian wore a Captain's letter on his jersey 11 seasons and played in 5 All Star Games.
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||