Chris VandeVelde

Chris VandeVelde
VandeVelde with the Oklahoma City Barons in 2011
Born (1987-03-15) March 15, 1987 (age 37)
Moorhead, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for Edmonton Oilers
Philadelphia Flyers
Lukko
EC Red Bull Salzburg
NHL draft 97th overall, 2005
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2010–2019

Chris VandeVelde (born March 15, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He last played for EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL). VandeVelde was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 4th round (97th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and played in the National Hockey League for the Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers.

Playing career

[edit]

Amateur

[edit]

VandeVelde played high school ice hockey for Moorhead High School (MHS) in Moorhead, Minnesota. He was a three-year letterman while helping MHS reach three consecutive state tournaments.[1] In his senior season he recorded 77 points and was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and also earned all-state and all-tournament honors.[1] In 2004, VandeVelde began playing for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He played two seasons in Lincoln playing in 63 games, registering 41 points.[2] He was drafted in the fourth round, 97th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.[3]

After playing for the Stars, VandeVelde began playing college hockey at the University of North Dakota (UND). He scored his first career collegiate goal during his freshman year in a 3–3 tie against St. Cloud State University on March 2, 2007. He struggled to score for most of the year, but in his final nine games he scored seven points helping him earn UND's Most Improved Player honors.[1] In the WCHA Final Five semifinal game against St. Cloud State, VandeVelde registered a career high three point game, including his first career game-winning goal in a 6–2 win.[1] During his sophomore season he led UND in shooting percentage while finishing third in team scoring.[1] The following season, VandeVelde notched first collegiate hat trick in a 6–2 win over University of Alaska Anchorage.[1] The hat trick helped him set a collegiate career high for goals with 18.[2] For his senor season VandeVelde was named an alternate captain. During the season he recorded a career high 41 points to lead UND in scoring. In the 2010 WCHA Final Five tournament he scored two goals and added three assists in three games as UND won the championship earning the Broadmoor Trophy. VandeVelde was named to the All-Tournament Team,[1] and at season's end he also named WCHA Scholar Athlete, an All-WCHA Academic Team selection, named to Inside College Hockey's All-America third team, and was named UND's Glenn "Red" Jarrett Male Athlete of the Year.[1]

Professional

[edit]

Edmonton Oilers

[edit]

Following his four-year career at UND, VandeVelde signed a contract with the Oilers and began playing with their then American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.[3] He played in two games and registered his first professional assist.[1] He began the 2010–11 season playing for the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons. After playing in 67 games and recording 12 goals and 16 points, he was called up to the Oilers.[4] VandeVelde made his NHL debut on March 17, 2011, against the Phoenix Coyotes.[5] On April 2, 2011, he registered his first NHL point, an assist, in a game against the Vancouver Canucks.[6] He finished the year with two assists in twelve games at the NHL level.[2] Following the completion of the Oilers season, VandeVelde was assigned back to Oklahoma City for the AHL playoffs.[7] He played in six playoff games for the Barons, scoring one goal.[2]

Philadelphia Flyers

[edit]

VandeVelde attended the Philadelphia Flyers' training camp on a professional tryout agreement ahead of the 2013–14 season. VandeVelde did not earn a contract from the team, but rather signed with the team's AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms. On December 12, 2013, the Flyers signed VandeVelde to a one-year, two-way contract.[8]

The Flyers re-signed VandeVelde to a one-year, two-way contract on July 4, 2014.[9] VandeVelde spent majority of the 2014–15 season with the Flyers, playing in 72 games.

The following summer, the Flyers re-signed VandeVelde to a two-year, $1.425 million contract.[10]

VandeVelde was summoned for a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety as a result of an elbow he delivered to the head of Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews in a game on March 16, 2016.[11] VandeVelde approached Toews with a lowered posture and back from a side angle, and attempted to deliver a legal shoulder check through the body. Prior to impact, Toews slowed his forward progress causing Vandevelde to miss time the hit. As a result, the main point of contact was between Vandeveldes elbow and Toews head.[12] On March 18, 2016, the league announced that VandeVelde had been suspended for two games for the elbow, forfeiting $7,661 US in salary.[13]

VandeVelde was not re-signed by the Flyers, making him an unrestricted free agent. On September 11, 2017, the Ottawa Senators signed VandeVelde to a professional tryout.[14] He was released by the Senators on September 26, 2017.

Personal life

[edit]

VandeVelde married Olivia Wagner on June 25, 2011, in Cancun, Mexico.[15]

Career statistics

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2003–04 Moorhead High MNHS 29 20 27 47 10
2004–05 Moorhead High MNHS 30 35 32 67 28
2004–05 Lincoln Stars USHL 7 1 4 5 0 4 0 2 2 0
2005–06 Lincoln Stars USHL 56 16 20 36 70 9 1 3 4 10
2006–07 University of North Dakota WCHA 38 3 6 9 37
2007–08 University of North Dakota WCHA 43 15 17 32 38
2008–09 University of North Dakota WCHA 43 18 17 35 69
2009–10 University of North Dakota WCHA 42 16 25 41 22
2009–10 Springfield Falcons AHL 2 0 1 1 0
2010–11 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 67 12 4 16 45 6 1 0 1 6
2010–11 Edmonton Oilers NHL 12 0 2 2 12
2011–12 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 68 7 16 23 33 14 6 0 6 10
2011–12 Edmonton Oilers NHL 5 1 0 1 2
2012–13 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 57 7 13 20 27 17 2 2 4 10
2012–13 Edmonton Oilers NHL 11 0 0 0 4
2013–14 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 41 10 14 24 27
2013–14 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 18 0 1 1 6
2014–15 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 1 2 0 2 0
2014–15 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 72 9 6 15 28
2015–16 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 79 2 12 14 27 6 1 0 1 0
2016–17 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 81 6 9 15 16
2017–18 Lukko Liiga 27 6 10 16 10
2018–19 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 54 11 31 42 34 13 3 5 8 12
AHL totals 236 38 48 86 132 37 9 2 11 26
NHL totals 278 18 30 48 95 6 1 0 1 0

Awards and honours

[edit]
Award Year
College
WCHA All-Tournament Team 2010 [16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Bio: #29 Chris VandeVelde". University of North Dakota. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d "Chris Vande Velde player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Chris VandeVelde agrees to contract with Edmonton Oilers". University of North Dakota. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Oilers recall trio". National Hockey League. March 17, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  5. ^ "USHL Alum Vande Velde Makes NHL Debut". United States Hockey League. March 18, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  6. ^ Matheson, Jim (April 4, 2011). "Oiler VandeVelde quick on the draw since NHL debut". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  7. ^ VanDiest, Derek (April 10, 2011). "Oilers assign five to AHL". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  8. ^ "VendeVelde Signs Two-way Contract with Flyers". July 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "2014 Flyers Off-Season Tracker".
  10. ^ "Flyers re-sign VandeVelde for two years". June 29, 2015.
  11. ^ VandeVelde to have hearing; evolving goalies; Hobey Baker finalists (Puck Headlines) https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/vandevelde-to-have-hearing--evolving-goalies--hobey-baker-finalists--puck-headlines-163225770.html
  12. ^ C'Mon Ref: VandeVelde deserves suspension https://www.tsn.ca/talent/c-mon-ref-vandevelde-deserves-suspension-1.454917
  13. ^ Chris VandeVelde, Flyers forward, suspended 2 games for Jonathan Toews elbow http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/chris-vandevelde-suspended-2-games-1.3498635
  14. ^ "Senators bring veteran Chris VandeVelde to training camp on tryout basis".
  15. ^ "Chris & Olivia VandeVelde - The Wedding - Cancun, Mexico" youtube.com accessed October 3, 2012
  16. ^ "WCHA Tourney History". WCHA. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
[edit]