Chris Hellenkamp
Encyclopedia
Chris Hellenkamp is a retired American soccer midfielder
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
Hellenkamp attended Seattle Pacific University
where he played on the men's soccer team in 1979 and 1980. On December 17, 1980, the Portland Timbers
selected Hellenkamp in the first round (ninth overall) of the North American Soccer League
draft. He played for the Timbers for two years, including two outdoor and one indoor season. In 1982, he moved to the San Diego Sockers for the 1982-1983 Major Indoor Soccer League season. In the spring of 1983, Hellenkamp had an unsuccessful trial with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. He then signed with the Dallas Americans
of the United Soccer League
. He continued with the Americans in 1984, but the league folded six games into the season. In 1985, Hellenkamp joined the Louisville Thunder
in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing two seasons with the team. In 1987, he was First Team All League. In October 1987, Hellenkamp signed with the Fort Wayne Flames
of the AISA. He was a 1988 All League midfielder with the Fort Wayne Flames
. In the summer of 1988, Hellenkamp played for the Boston Bolts
of the American Soccer League
. In October 1989, he joined the Atlanta Attack of the AISA. He played the 1989-1990 season with the Attack, was released just before the 1990-1991 season in a payroll reduction effort before being signed again in December 1990 on a five day contract. He continued with the Attack through the end of the season. Hellenkamp retire at the end of the season, but returned in the fall of 1992 when he joined the Atlanta Magic
1992-1996 USISL. He also played for the Magic during the 1994 outdoor season. During his three years with the Magic, Hellenkamp won the 1993, 1994 and 1995 USISL indoor championships. In March 1995, the Milwaukee Wave
of the National Professional Soccer League signed Hellenkamp for the playoffs. That spring, he joined the expansion Atlanta Ruckus of the A-League
. The team did not bring him back for the 1996 or 1997 seasons, but in August 1997, the Ruckus signed Hellenkamp at the end of the season after several injuries decimated the team. He remained with the Ruckus through the 1997 and into the 1998 season. In 1998, he also served as an assistant coach. He briefly served as interim head coach after David Eristavi was fired in August 1998.
.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
Hellenkamp attended Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university of the liberal arts, sciences and professions, located on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1891 by the Oregon and Washington Conference of the Free Methodist Church as the Seattle Seminary...
where he played on the men's soccer team in 1979 and 1980. On December 17, 1980, the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (NASL)
The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January...
selected Hellenkamp in the first round (ninth overall) of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
draft. He played for the Timbers for two years, including two outdoor and one indoor season. In 1982, he moved to the San Diego Sockers for the 1982-1983 Major Indoor Soccer League season. In the spring of 1983, Hellenkamp had an unsuccessful trial with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. He then signed with the Dallas Americans
Dallas Americans
Dallas Americans was an American soccer club based in Dallas, Texas that was a member of the American Soccer League. It is also the name of a Indoor American Football team.After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League....
of the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. He continued with the Americans in 1984, but the league folded six games into the season. In 1985, Hellenkamp joined the Louisville Thunder
Louisville Thunder
Louisville Thunder was an indoor soccer club based in Louisville, Kentucky that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association. In their debut season of 1984-1985, goalkeeper Rick Schweizer won the 'Goalkeeper of the Year' award, and made it on to the All-Star team.-Players: Paul DiBernardo ...
in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing two seasons with the team. In 1987, he was First Team All League. In October 1987, Hellenkamp signed with the Fort Wayne Flames
Fort Wayne Flames
The Fort Wayne Flames were an indoor soccer club based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum from 1986-1989....
of the AISA. He was a 1988 All League midfielder with the Fort Wayne Flames
Fort Wayne Flames
The Fort Wayne Flames were an indoor soccer club based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum from 1986-1989....
. In the summer of 1988, Hellenkamp played for the Boston Bolts
Boston Bolts
The Boston Bolts were a short lived U.S. soccer team which came into existence in 1988 as a member of the third American Soccer League . They played in Boston, Massachusetts at Nickerson Field...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. In October 1989, he joined the Atlanta Attack of the AISA. He played the 1989-1990 season with the Attack, was released just before the 1990-1991 season in a payroll reduction effort before being signed again in December 1990 on a five day contract. He continued with the Attack through the end of the season. Hellenkamp retire at the end of the season, but returned in the fall of 1992 when he joined the Atlanta Magic
Atlanta Magic
The Atlanta Magic were a soccer club that competed in the USISL from 1991 to 1996. The club originally started in 1991/92 in the indoor USISL league. They played in the 1992 USISL outdoor season as the Atlanta Datagraphic Magic, and the 1993 USISL outdoor season as the Atlanta Lasers...
1992-1996 USISL. He also played for the Magic during the 1994 outdoor season. During his three years with the Magic, Hellenkamp won the 1993, 1994 and 1995 USISL indoor championships. In March 1995, the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the National Professional Soccer League signed Hellenkamp for the playoffs. That spring, he joined the expansion Atlanta Ruckus of the A-League
A-League (1995–2004)
The A-League was a professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. The A-League emerged out of the restructured American Professional Soccer League in 1995 and operated until 2004, after which it was re-branded the USL First Division...
. The team did not bring him back for the 1996 or 1997 seasons, but in August 1997, the Ruckus signed Hellenkamp at the end of the season after several injuries decimated the team. He remained with the Ruckus through the 1997 and into the 1998 season. In 1998, he also served as an assistant coach. He briefly served as interim head coach after David Eristavi was fired in August 1998.
National team
In 1986 and 1987, Hellenkamp played for the United States national futsal teamUnited States national futsal team
The United States national futsal team is the futsal team that represents that United States at international competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and affiliated with CONCACAF. The U.S. Futsal Federation was founded in 1981 and the first international futsal match...
.