Chris Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Chris Nielsen is a retired Canadian
professional
ice hockey
centre
.
Nielsen was born in Tanzania while his Canadian father was stationed there working for the Canadian International Development Agency
. His family moved back to Canada when he was three, and he grew up on a farm near the small town of Goodlands, Manitoba
.
Nielsen was drafted in the 2nd round, 36th overall by the New York Islanders
in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft
. He played parts of two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets
.
of the Western Hockey League
. He was a member of the 1998–99 team that won the President's Cup
, and got within a game of winning the Memorial Cup
. He won the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy in 1999–2000 as the WHL's Humanitarian of the Year.
Nielsen turned pro in 2000, playing three seasons with the Syracuse Crunch
of the American Hockey League
, earning two callups to the Blue Jackets during that time. He then bounced around between the Chicago Wolves
, Manitoba Moose
and San Antonio Rampage
of the AHL and the Laredo Bucks
of the Central Hockey League
before heading to Europe to play in Germany
in 2005–06. Nielsen retired from professional hockey in 2006.
After retiring from hockey, Nielsen went back to school at the University of Manitoba and was the colour commentator for the Manitoba Moose at their home games.
Nielsen is now a second year medical student at the University of Calgary.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
.
Nielsen was born in Tanzania while his Canadian father was stationed there working for the Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
. His family moved back to Canada when he was three, and he grew up on a farm near the small town of Goodlands, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Nielsen was drafted in the 2nd round, 36th overall by the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft
1998 NHL Entry Draft
The 1998 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 27 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. A total of 258 players were drafted.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
. He played parts of two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Playing career
Nielsen played junior hockey with the Calgary HitmenCalgary Hitmen
The Calgary Hitmen are a major junior ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League . They play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a local-born professional wrestler, was a founding owner...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. He was a member of the 1998–99 team that won the President's Cup
President's Cup (WHL)
The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League . Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honour Ed Chynoweth's long service to junior hockey in Canada...
, and got within a game of winning the Memorial Cup
1999 Memorial Cup
The 1999 MasterCard Memorial Cup took place from May 15–23 at the Ottawa Civic Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. Participating teams were the host Ottawa 67's, the Belleville Bulls, winners of the Ontario Hockey League, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, winners of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the...
. He won the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy in 1999–2000 as the WHL's Humanitarian of the Year.
Nielsen turned pro in 2000, playing three seasons with the Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, earning two callups to the Blue Jackets during that time. He then bounced around between the Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
, Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
and San Antonio Rampage
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. They are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Their home arena is the AT&T Center.-History:...
of the AHL and the Laredo Bucks
Laredo Bucks
The Laredo Bucks are an ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League. They play in Laredo, Texas, USA at the Laredo Energy Arena.-History:Arena Ventures, made up of six businessmen, teamed up with the City of Laredo to build a state-of-the-art facility for the Laredo area and South Texas...
of the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
before heading to Europe to play in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 2005–06. Nielsen retired from professional hockey in 2006.
After retiring from hockey, Nielsen went back to school at the University of Manitoba and was the colour commentator for the Manitoba Moose at their home games.
Nielsen is now a second year medical student at the University of Calgary.
Awards
- 1999 - WHLWestern Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman TrophyDaryl K. (Doc) Seaman TrophyThe Daryl K. Seaman Trophy is presented annually to the top scholastic player in the Western Hockey League. It is named for Daryl K. Seaman, a native of Calgary who worked for years to promote the cause of higher education in junior hockey.... - 2000 - WHL Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy.
- 2000 - WHL Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Transactions
- June 27, 1998 - Drafted in the 2nd round, 36th overall by the New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft1998 NHL Entry DraftThe 1998 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 27 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. A total of 258 players were drafted.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
. - May 11, 2000 - Traded by the New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
to the Columbus Blue JacketsColumbus Blue JacketsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for the Blue Jackets' 4th round selection (Jonas RönnqvistJonas RönnqvistJonas Rönnqvist is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.-Playing career:...
) and 9th round selection (Dmitri AltarevDmitri AltarevDimitri Vladimirovich Altarev is a Russian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. He was selected by the New York Islanders in the 9th round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.-External links:...
) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft2000 NHL Entry DraftThe 2000 NHL Entry Draft was held from June 24 to 25 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, following the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft on June 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild...
. - December 2, 2002 - Traded by the Columbus Blue JacketsColumbus Blue JacketsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
with Petteri NummelinPetteri NummelinPetteri Nummelin is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman, and a former NHL defenceman for the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets. He currently plays for HC Lugano of the Swiss Nationalliga A. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets as their fifth-round pick, #133 overall, in the...
to the Atlanta ThrashersAtlanta ThrashersThe Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
for Tomi KallioTomi KallioTomi Kristian Kallio is a professional Finnish ice hockey player who plays right wing for Växjö Lakers Hockey in the Swedish Elitserien.-Playing career:...
and Pauli LevokariPauli LevokariPauli Levokari is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for SaiPa in the Finnish SM-liiga.Levokari began his career at Ässät his hometown team where he played from 1996 to 2001...
. - January 20, 2003 - Traded by the Atlanta ThrashersAtlanta ThrashersThe Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
with Chris HerpergerChris HerpergerChris Herperger is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Hannover Scorpions of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany.-Career:...
to the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
for Jeff FarkasJeff FarkasJeffrey Thomas Farkas is a retired American professional ice hockey center. He was drafted in the third round, 57th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft....
.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1995–96 | Calgary Hitmen Calgary Hitmen The Calgary Hitmen are a major junior ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League . They play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a local-born professional wrestler, was a founding owner... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 62 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 68 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 31 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 1998–99 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 70 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 45 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 28 | ||
| 1999–00 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 62 | 38 | 31 | 69 | 86 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 20 | ||
| 2000–01 2000–01 AHL season The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty... |
Syracuse Crunch Syracuse Crunch The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
47 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2000–01 | Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
29 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 47 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 23 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Chicago Wolves Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois... |
AHL | 18 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| Manitoba Moose Manitoba Moose The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St... |
AHL | 33 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 | |||
| 2003–04 2003–04 AHL season The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.... |
Manitoba Moose | AHL | 72 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Laredo Bucks Laredo Bucks The Laredo Bucks are an ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League. They play in Laredo, Texas, USA at the Laredo Energy Arena.-History:Arena Ventures, made up of six businessmen, teamed up with the City of Laredo to build a state-of-the-art facility for the Laredo area and South Texas... |
CHL Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs.... |
7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 AHL season The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
San Antonio Rampage San Antonio Rampage The San Antonio Rampage are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. They are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Their home arena is the AT&T Center.-History:... |
AHL | 54 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Kassel Huskies Kassel Huskies The Kassel Huskies were a professional ice hockey team based in Kassel, Hesse, Germany. They played the majority of their seasons in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.The club was founded as ESG Kassel in 1977 and was renamed into EC Kassel in 1987... |
DEL | 38 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| WHL totals | 268 | 93 | 103 | 196 | 201 | 52 | 27 | 18 | 45 | 58 | ||||
| AHL totals | 290 | 41 | 55 | 96 | 108 | 29 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 22 | ||||
| NHL totals | 52 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||