Jeff Christian
Jeffrey Christian is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played 18 games in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Phoenix Coyotes, before playing professionally in the North American minor leagues and Europe for over two decades.
Playing career
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 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 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 season.
Unable to secure another NHL contract, Christian played in Europe, spending four seasons in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga with the Krefeld Pinguine, DEG Metro Stars and Hannover Scorpions, plus one season with the Sheffield Steelers of the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Christian returned to North America in 2005 joining the Central Hockey League's Youngstown Steelhounds and later, the Tulsa Oilers.
After two seasons with the Oilers, he became the first player signed by the expansion Missouri Mavericks for the 2009–10 season. He later served as an assistant coach for the Mavericks.
On September 11, 2010, Christian signed with the Mississippi RiverKings, based in Southaven, Mississippi. His decision to sign with the team was due to the community being in close proximity to Memphis, Tennessee, where his daughter was being treated for cancer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. On February 22, 2011, the RiverKings waived Christian, but he was claimed on waivers the next day by the Evansville IceMen. 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 to play over 1400 career professional games while scoring over 500 goals, 700 assists and having over 3300 penalty minutes.
Coaching and consulting career
Christian was hired as an assistant coach for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL in January 2016. 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. It was reported that he was harassing female fans.Christian was a consultant with Villach of the Austrian Hockey League.
Personal and philanthropic life
Born in Burlington, Ontario, Christian is the son of longtime Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Gord Christian and was raised in Hamilton, OntarioChristian 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.
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.
Awards and accolades
- 1990-91: Leading Rookie Scorer, Utica Devils
- 1990-91: Rookie Of The Year, Utica Devils
- 1994-95: Community Service Award, Cleveland Lumberjacks
- 1996-97: Team MVP, Cleveland Lumberjacks
- 1998-99: John Cullen Award, Houston Aeros
- 1998-99: Turner Cup Champion, Houston Aeros
- 1999-00: Community Service Award, Cleveland Lumberjacks
- 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
- 2006-07: First-Team All Star, Central Hockey League
- 2006-07: League MVP, Central Hockey League