Chris VandeVelde

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 Amateur 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. 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. He was drafted in the fourth round, 97th overall, in the 2005 NHL entry draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

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. VandeVelde made his NHL debut on March 17, 2011, against the Phoenix Coyotes. On April 2, 2011, he registered his first NHL point, an assist, in a game against the Vancouver Canucks. He finished the year with two assists in twelve games at the NHL level. He played in six playoff games for the Barons, scoring one goal.

The Flyers re-signed VandeVelde to a one-year, two-way contract on July 4, 2014. 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.

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. 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. On March 18, 2016, the league announced that VandeVelde had been suspended for two games for the elbow, forfeiting $7,661 US in salary.

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. He was released by the Senators on September 26, 2017.

Personal life

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

Career statistics 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 Award Year College WCHA All-Tournament Team 2010