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 mostly spent his tenure in the American Hockey League with the Utica Devils and then the Albany River Rats. He then went on to play 15 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins over three seasons, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists during the 1996-97 season. He mostly played for 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 before spending two more years in the IHL for the Houston Aeros and again with 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. He then spent one season in the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom for the Sheffield Steelers. Christian moved back to North America, joining the Central Hockey League's Youngstown Steelhounds before joining the Tulsa Oilers, also of the CHL. After two very successful seasons with the Tulsa Oilers, Jeff signed with and became the first player in team history for the CHL expansion team the Missouri Mavericks for the 2009-10 season. He also served as an Assistant Coach for the Mavericks during his tenure with the team.

On September 11, 2010, he signed a deal to play for the Mississippi RiverKings of the CHL, as they played in Southaven, Mississippi, which is located twenty minutes away from Memphis, Tennessee, where his daughter Ryan, who had been fighting cancer, was being treated 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.

Coaching career

Christian is currently the assistant coach for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

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.

Career statistics

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1987-88	London Knights	OHL		64	15	29	44	154		9	1	5	6	27
1988-89	London Knights	OHL		60	27	31	58	216		20	3	4	7	56
1989-90	London Knights	OHL		18	14	7	21	64		—	—	—	—	—
1989-90	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		37	19	26	45	145		10	6	7	13	43
1990-91	Utica Devils	AHL		80	24	42	66	165		—	—	—	—	—
1991-92	Utica Devils	AHL		76	27	24	51	198		4	0	0	0	16
1991-92	New Jersey Devils	NHL		2	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1992-93	Cincinnati Cyclones	IHL		36	5	12	17	113		—	—	—	—	—
1992-93	Utica Devils	AHL		22	4	6	10	39		—	—	—	—	—
1992-93	Hamilton Canucks	AHL		11	2	5	7	35		—	—	—	—	—
1993-94	Albany River Rats	AHL		76	34	43	77	227		5	1	2	3	19
1994-95	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	Cleveland Lumberjacks	IHL		56	13	24	37	126		2	0	1	1	8
1995-96	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1995-96	Cleveland Lumberjacks	IHL		66	23	32	55	131		3	0	1	1	8
1996-97	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		11	2	2	4	13		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Cleveland Lumberjacks	IHL		69	40	40	80	262		12	6	8	14	44
1997-98	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	Las Vegas Thunder	IHL		30	12	15	27	90		4	2	2	4	20
1998-99	Houston Aeros	IHL		80	45	41	86	252		18	4	12	16	32
1999-00	Cleveland Lumberjacks	IHL		77	29	35	64	202		9	1	4	5	20
2000-01	Krefeld Penguins	DEL		51	17	22	39	205		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Krefeld Penguins	DEL		53	31	18	49	116		3	2	0	2	12
2002-03	DEG Metro Stars	DEL		42	12	15	27	93		5	1	3	4	16
2003-04	Hannover Scorpions	DEL		50	11	15	26	94		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	Sheffield Steelers	EIHL		52	19	30	49	139		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Youngstown Steelhounds	CHL		64	55	52	107	126		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Cleveland Barons	AHL		3	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Youngstown Steelhounds	CHL		61	38	78	116	125		6	5	5	10	17
2007-08	Tulsa Oilers	CHL		64	24	59	83	107		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Tulsa Oilers	CHL		56	27	49	76	92		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		5	1	0	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Missouri Mavericks	CHL		55	29	49	78	110		7	1	8	9	6
2010-11	Mississippi RiverKings	CHL		52	14	25	39	42		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Evansville IceMen	CHL		15	8	11	19	20		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				18	2	2	4	17		—	—	—	—	—

[ Source: Wikipedia ]