Chris VandeVelde

Chris VandeVelde (born March 15, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL). VandeVelde was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 4th round (97th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

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. In 2004, VandeVelde began playing for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He played two seasons in Lincoln playing in 63 games, registering 41 points. 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. In the WCHA Final Five semifinal game against St. Cloud State, VandeVelde registered a career high three point game, including his first career game-winning goal in a 6–2 win. During his sophomore season he led UND in shooting percentage while finishing third in team scoring. The following season, VandeVelde notched first collegiate hat trick in a 6–2 win over University of Alaska Anchorage. The hat trick helped him set a collegiate career high for goals with 18. For his senor season VandeVelde was named an alternate captain. During the season he recorded a career high 41 points to lead UND in scoring. In the 2010 WCHA Final Five tournament he scored two goals and added three assists in three games as UND won the championship earning the Broadmoor Trophy. VandeVelde was named to the All-Tournament Team, and at season's end he also named WCHA Scholar Athlete, an All-WCHA Academic Team selection, named to Inside College Hockey's All-America third team, and was named UND's Glenn "Red" Jarrett Male Athlete of the Year.

Professional

Following his four-year career at UND, VandeVelde signed a contract with the Oilers and began playing with their then American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. He played in two games and registered his first professional assist. He began the 2010–11 season playing for the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons. After playing in 67 games and recording 12 goals and 16 points, he was called up to the Oilers. 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. Following the completion of the Oilers season, VandeVelde was assigned back to Oklahoma City for the AHL playoffs. He played in six playoff games for the Barons, scoring one goal.

VandeVelde scored his first NHL goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 6-3 victory.

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 could have delivered a legal shoulder check through the body. Instead, prior to impact, VandeVelde raised and extended his left elbow to deliver a direct hit to the head and jaw of Toews. 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 married Olivia Wagner on June 25, 2011 in Cancun, Mexico.