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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 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|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. He 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. During these years, Christian played alongside the all time NHL greats like Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, Petr Nedved, Tomas Sandstrom, Luc Robitallie, Larry Murphy, Joe Mullen and John Cullen. Christian was the MVP of the [[Cleveland Lumberjacks]], scoring 40 goals and 40 assists in 66 games during the 1996–97 [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]] (IHL) season. Christian played one more game in the NHL for the [[Phoenix Coyotes]], then two more years in the IHL for the Las Vegas Thunder and [[Houston Aeros (1994–2013)|Houston Aeros]] before returning to the Lumberjacks. 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 CHL season|2009–10 season]].<ref name="Mavericks Sign Jeff Christian" /> He also served as an assistant coach for the Mavericks.<ref name="Mavericks Sign Jeff Christian" />
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He is one of only a few 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).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/12053/jeff-christian|title=Jeff Christian at eliteprospects.com|website=www.eliteprospects.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref>
==Coaching and Consulting Career==▼
Throughout his playing career, Christian held the role of player/assistant coach several times. In the summer of 2006 when the Youngstown Steelhounds (Central Hockey League) fired Head Coach Jean LaForest they turned to Christian to evaluate the hockey operations department, recruit and sign players. The Missouri Mavericks (Central Hockey League) signed Christian as the 1st player ever in their history. In the role of player/assistant coach, Christian helped build the inaugural Mavericks team along with Head Coach Scott Hillman. Christian took a break from hockey and coaching while fighting cancer with his daughter Ryan. After her passing, Christian became Head Coach of the AAA Ohio Jr BlueJackets for two and a half seasons. He coached the 2002 birth year and the 2003 birth year. He took the 2002 Pee Wee to the prestigious Quebec World Pee Wee Tournament. After a chance meeting with Pittsburgh Penguins Assistant General Manager Bill Guerin at a Cleveland area rink, Christian was hired as an assistant coach for the [[Wheeling Nailers]] of the [[ECHL]] in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nailers Name Jeff Christian as Assistant Coach|url=http://www.wheelingnailers.com/articles/nailers-name-jeff-christian-as-assistant-coach|website=Wheeling Nailers official website|access-date=2016-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011162559/http://www.wheelingnailers.com/articles/nailers-name-jeff-christian-as-assistant-coach|archive-date=2016-10-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> Took over as head coach of the Nailers during the second round of the [[2016 Kelly Cup playoffs]] when [[David Gove]] took a personal leave of absence to deal with his drug addiction. Christian guided the Nailers to the Kelly Cup finals, losing to the [[Allen Americans]] in six games. On July 12, 2016, Christian was named as the Nailers' head coach.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.echl.com/nailers-name-jeff-christian-as-head-coach-p202996 |title=NAILERS NAME JEFF CHRISTIAN AS HEAD COACH |website=ECHL |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713175629/http://www.echl.com/nailers-name-jeff-christian-as-head-coach-p202996 |archive-date=July 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theintelligencer.net/sports/top-sports/2018/04/nailers-part-with-coach/ |title=Nailers Part With Coach |work=[[The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register]] |date=April 11, 2018}}</ref> It was reported that he was harassing female fans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theintelligencer.net/sports/top-sports/2018/04/nailers-silence-is-deafening/|title=Nailers’ Silence Is Deafening {{!}} News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer|website=www.theintelligencer.net|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2018/04/10/wheeling-nailers-jeff-christian/|title=Wheeling Watch: Thoughts following the end of the Nailers' season|website=www.dkpittsburghsports.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-08}}</ref> Under his guidance the Nailers had a winning regular season record of 69-58-16-1. Also, Christian shares the All Time Nailers' playoff wins record with 10. Since parting ways with the Nailers, Christian became a skill coach in the Columbus, Ohio area working with individual players, their families and teams. Also, Christian was flown to Austria to consult with Villach in the top Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/eishockey/ersteliga/vsv/5541243/|title=Die Adler holen sich einen Experten aus Übersee an Bord|last=Uhr|first=06 00|last2=Dezember 2018|first2=05|date=2018-12-05|website=www.kleinezeitung.at|language=de|access-date=2019-01-25}}</ref> Since this consulting trip Christian has become a Hockey Consultant working closely with several North American and European teams. Amongst the many services he provides are player evaluations, player recruiting, agent/team relations, staff and systems evaluation.▼
While with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, Christian was Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations of their AA affiliate in Wheeling, WV. He was responsible for all aspects of the Hockey Operations Department including recruiting/signing players, arranging housing, planning the season schedule and coordinating road trips, public appearances include radio/TV and delivering Christmas gifts to the less fortunate. Christian also oversaw the Hockey
Turner Cup Champion Houston Aeros 2008-09▼
Christian attended the NHL Draft, Prospect, Development and Training Camps with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jeff was actively involved in these camps evaluating the players and went on the ice with Penguins players/
Central Hockey League MVP, Leading Scorer and 1st Team All Star, at age 36, for the 2006-07 season while playing with the Youngstown Steelhounds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jan/04/8217hounds-homecoming-for-mvp/|title=Jeff Christian Named CHL MVP|last=|first=|date=|website=Hockey Fights|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417183410/http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jan/04/8217hounds-homecoming-for-mvp/|archive-date=2019-04-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>▼
==Personal and philanthropic life==
Jeff and Dorie Christian were married July 21, 2001 at the Old Mill in Ancaster, Ontario. They have two daughters, Ryan Elise and Tyler Rachel. The Christian's lost Ryan Elise to an extremely rare cancer on January 24, 2013 after a three-year fight.
Community Service Award Cleveland LumberJacks IHL 94-95, 95-96, 96-97 and 99-00▼
Throughout his playing career, Jeff was award the Community Service Award for giving back to children and the community. The Jeff Christian Charitable Foundation was founded in 2005 in Youngstown, Ohio to benefit under privileged children in the area. The JCCF later benefited the children in the great Tulsa area as well.▼
After being signed with the Missouri Mavericks, he lived in the [[Kansas City]] suburb of [[Blue Springs, Missouri]], with his wife, Dorie and daughter, Ryan. While playing with the Mavericks, Ryan
▲==Coaching and Consulting Career==
▲Throughout his playing career, Christian held the role of player/assistant coach several times. In the summer of 2006 when the Youngstown Steelhounds (Central Hockey League) fired Head Coach Jean LaForest they turned to Christian to evaluate the hockey operations department, recruit and sign players. The Missouri Mavericks (Central Hockey League) signed Christian as the 1st player ever in their history. In the role of player/assistant coach, Christian helped build the inaugural Mavericks team along with Head Coach Scott Hillman. Christian took a break from hockey and coaching while fighting cancer with his daughter Ryan. After her passing, Christian became Head Coach of the AAA Ohio Jr BlueJackets for two and a half seasons. He coached the 2002 birth year and the 2003 birth year. He took the 2002 Pee Wee to the prestigious Quebec World Pee Wee Tournament. After a chance meeting with Pittsburgh Penguins Assistant General Manager Bill Guerin at a Cleveland area rink, Christian was hired as an assistant coach for the [[Wheeling Nailers]] of the [[ECHL]] in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nailers Name Jeff Christian as Assistant Coach|url=http://www.wheelingnailers.com/articles/nailers-name-jeff-christian-as-assistant-coach|website=Wheeling Nailers official website|access-date=2016-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011162559/http://www.wheelingnailers.com/articles/nailers-name-jeff-christian-as-assistant-coach|archive-date=2016-10-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> Took over as head coach of the Nailers during the second round of the [[2016 Kelly Cup playoffs]] when [[David Gove]] took a personal leave of absence to deal with his drug addiction. Christian guided the Nailers to the Kelly Cup finals, losing to the [[Allen Americans]] in six games. On July 12, 2016, Christian was named as the Nailers' head coach.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.echl.com/nailers-name-jeff-christian-as-head-coach-p202996 |title=NAILERS NAME JEFF CHRISTIAN AS HEAD COACH |website=ECHL |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713175629/http://www.echl.com/nailers-name-jeff-christian-as-head-coach-p202996 |archive-date=July 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theintelligencer.net/sports/top-sports/2018/04/nailers-part-with-coach/ |title=Nailers Part With Coach |work=[[The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register]] |date=April 11, 2018}}</ref> It was reported that he was harassing female fans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theintelligencer.net/sports/top-sports/2018/04/nailers-silence-is-deafening/|title=Nailers’ Silence Is Deafening {{!}} News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer|website=www.theintelligencer.net|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2018/04/10/wheeling-nailers-jeff-christian/|title=Wheeling Watch: Thoughts following the end of the Nailers' season|website=www.dkpittsburghsports.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-08}}</ref> Under his guidance the Nailers had a winning regular season record of 69-58-16-1. Also, Christian shares the All Time Nailers' playoff wins record with 10. Since parting ways with the Nailers, Christian became a skill coach in the Columbus, Ohio area working with individual players, their families and teams. Also, Christian was flown to Austria to consult with Villach in the top Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/eishockey/ersteliga/vsv/5541243/|title=Die Adler holen sich einen Experten aus Übersee an Bord|last=Uhr|first=06 00|last2=Dezember 2018|first2=05|date=2018-12-05|website=www.kleinezeitung.at|language=de|access-date=2019-01-25}}</ref> Since this consulting trip Christian has become a Hockey Consultant working closely with several North American and European teams. Amongst the many services he provides are player evaluations, player recruiting, agent/team relations, staff and systems evaluation.
Christian retired after the [[2010–11 CHL season|2010–11 season]].<ref name="Ryan Christian Perseveres Through Cancer Fight (12-26-2011)" />
▲While with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, Christian was Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations of their AA affiliate in Wheeling, WV. He was responsible for all aspects of the Hockey Operations Department including recruiting/signing players, arranging housing, planning the season schedule and coordinating road trips, public appearances include radio/TV and delivering Christmas gifts to the less fortunate. Christian also oversaw the Hockey Ops budget and managed the salary cap.
Currently living in the Columbus, Ohio area with his family, he founded and runs the Team Ryan Charitable Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/jeff-christian-stays-strong-after-losing-daughter-to-cancer/c-283859556|title=Daughter's memory never far for Jeff Christian|website=NHL.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref> The [http://www.teamryanfoundation.org Team Ryan Charitable Foundation] for Pediatric Cancer Research has been established to honor Ryan, raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer research. As Founder and President, Jeff is directly responsible for organizing, planning, promoting and executing fundraisers that benefit leading pediatric cancer research institutes such as St Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Princess Margaret Cancer Center. Jeff often gives talks/speeches on numerous subjects ranging from his life in minor league hockey to what life after losing a child is like. ▼
▲Christian attended the NHL Draft, Prospect, Development and Training Camps with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jeff was actively involved in these camps evaluating the players and went on the ice with Penguins players/ prospects.<ref>{{Citation|last=Wheeling Nailers Hockey|title=Pens Development Camp - Jeff Christian and Mark Recchi Interviews|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3jllDjLtU8|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref>
▲Jeff and Dorie Christian were married July 21, 2001 at the Old Mill in Ancaster, Ontario. They have two daughters, Ryan Elise and Tyler Rachel. The Christian's lost Ryan Elise to an extremely rare cancer on January 24, 2013 after a three-year fight. Born in Burlington, Ontario, Jeff spent the first seven years of his life in the tough east end of Hamilton, Ontario, where he later trained at the famous McGory's boxing gym as a teen. Jeff is the son of two time Grey Cup Champion with the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]], tight end Gord Christian.<ref>{{Citation|title=60th Grey Cup|date=2018-11-24|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=60th_Grey_Cup&oldid=870325258|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref> The Christian family moved to the small village of Mount Hope where Gord, and mother Diane, raised seven children. Three of these brothers, Gord, Brandon, and Michael, played professional hockey. Jeff was a stand out athlete at Ancaster High School and enshrined on the Ancaster High School Wall of Fame. He played hockey, football and basketball. As Quarterback and Linebacker of the Ancaster Royals JV team, Christian won championships two out of three years. For hobbies, Jeff enjoys traveling, golfing, scuba diving, fishing, card collecting, playing tennis and playing poker.
▲Throughout his playing career, Jeff was award the Community Service Award for giving back to children and the community. The Jeff Christian Charitable Foundation was founded in 2005 in Youngstown, Ohio to benefit under privileged children in the area. The JCCF later benefited the children in the great Tulsa area as well.
Christian is also a certified Realtor and a hockey skills coach/consultant. He enjoys traveling, golfing, scuba diving, fishing, card collecting, playing tennis and playing poker.
▲After being signed with the Missouri Mavericks, he lived in the [[Kansas City]] suburb of [[Blue Springs, Missouri]], with his wife, Dorie and daughter, Ryan. While playing with the Mavericks, Ryan, age 8, was diagnosed with [[Adrenal carcinoma|Pediatric Adrenal cortical Carcinoma]], a rare cancer. Ryan was treated at [[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee]].<ref name="RiverKings Sign Jeff Christian (9-11-2010)" />
==Awards and accolades==
▲Christian retired after the [[2010–11 CHL season|2010–11 season]].<ref name="Ryan Christian Perseveres Through Cancer Fight (12-26-2011)" /> After retiring, Christian and his family moved back to the Kansas City / Independence Missouri area where Jeff became the first ever Director of Hockey at the Carriage Club. The Christian family's journey and Ryan's fight were the subject of a feature article in Sports Net Magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/magazine/jeff-christian-big-read/|title=Sportsnet magazine Big Read: Long road home - Sportsnet.ca|website=www.sportsnet.ca|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref> As Ryan's three year fight progressed the Christian Family moved to Columbus Ohio. On January 24, 2013 Ryan lost her three-year battle with cancer.
*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)
▲*1999-00: Community Service Award, Cleveland
*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: First-Team All Star, Central Hockey League<ref name="36season" />
*2006-07: League MVP, Central Hockey League<ref name="36season" />
Christian wore a Captain's letter on his jersey 11 seasons and played in 5 All Star Games.
▲The [http://www.teamryanfoundation.org Team Ryan Charitable Foundation] for Pediatric Cancer Research has been established to honor Ryan, raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer research. As Founder and President, Jeff is directly responsible for organizing, planning, promoting and executing fundraisers that benefit leading pediatric cancer research institutes such as St Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Princess Margaret Cancer Center.
==Career statistics==
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