Jeff Christian

Playing career

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Christian was drafted 23rd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft and played two games for New Jersey during the 1991–92 season, scoring no points. He played in the American Hockey League with the Utica Devils and the Albany River Rats and appeared in 15 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins over three seasons, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists during the 1996–97 season. Most of his career was spent with the Cleveland Lumberjacks where he posted huge numbers, including 40 goals and 40 assists in 66 games during the 1996-97 IHL season. Christian played one more game in the NHL for the Phoenix Coyotes then two more years in the IHL for the 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, 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 season. He also served as an assistant coach for the Mavericks.

On September 11, 2010, he signed for the CHL's Mississippi RiverKings, based in Southaven, Mississippi, twenty minutes away from Memphis, Tennessee, where his daughter, Ryan, was being treated for cancer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. On February 22, 2011, the RiverKings waived Christian, but he was picked up on waivers the next day by the Evansville IceMen, also of the CHL. In his final game, he scored the winning goal in a shoot-out.

Coaching career

Christian was hired as an assistant coach for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL in January 2016. Took over as Head Coach of the Nailers during the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs when David Gove took a personal leave of absence. Lead Nailers to Kelly Cup Finals losing to the Allen Americans in six games . On July 12, 2016, Christian was named as the Nailers head coach.

Personal life

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Jeff spent the first 7 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. Son of Hamilton Tiger-Cats Tight End Gord Christian, Jeff moved to the small village of Mount Hope and played Hockey year round with his five brothers. Three of these brothers, Gord, Brandon, and Michael, played professional hockey. Jeff started the Jeff Christian Charitable Foundation that benefited children in the Tulsa area.

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, Jeff's daughter Ryan was diagnosed with Pediatric Adrenal cortical Carcinoma, a rare cancer. Ryan was treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Christian retired after the 2010-2011 Central Hockey League season. After retiring, Christian and his family moved to the Columbus Ohio area. On January 24, 2012 Ryan lost her three-year battle with cancer. The Team Ryan Charitable Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Research has been established to honor Ryan, raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer research.