Chris Oddleifson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Oddleifson |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | September 7, 1950 Brandon, Manitoba, Canada |
||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Boston Bruins Vancouver Canucks |
||
| NHL Draft | 10th overall, 1970 California Golden Seals |
||
| Playing career | 1972–1981 | ||
Christopher Roy Oddleifson (born September 7, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a centre in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1972 to 1981. Chris is best known for his time with the Vancouver Canucks. He was one of their top players during the 1970s. He even served as the team captain in the 1976–77 season.
Contents
Chris Oddleifson's Hockey Journey
Starting His Career
Chris Oddleifson was chosen 10th overall in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. This happened after a fantastic season with the Winnipeg Jets. He played for them in the WCHL. That year, he scored 95 points, including 64 assists, which was the most in the league. He also had 243 penalty minutes.
The team that drafted him, the California Golden Seals, traded his draft pick to another team. This meant Chris never played an NHL game for the Seals. Instead, he was traded to the Boston Bruins during the 1971–72 season.
Becoming an NHL Player
Chris made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins in the 1972–73 season. He played in 6 games that year. In the 1973–74 season, he became a full-time player for the Bruins. He played very well.
On December 30, 1973, he scored four goals in one game. This was against the same Golden Seals team that had traded him away. On February 7, 1974, he was traded again. This time, he went to the Vancouver Canucks in a big player trade. He finished his first full NHL season with 13 goals and 29 points. These points were from games with both Boston and Vancouver.
Shining with the Canucks
The 1974–75 season was a huge year for Chris. He became a key leader on the young Canucks team. The team surprisingly won their division and made the playoffs for the first time ever! Chris showed he was a great all-around player. He was big, tough, and good at setting up goals. He could play both as a centre and on the wing.
He led the Canucks in scoring early in the season. However, a broken jaw made him miss 20 games. Still, he ended the season with a career-high 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in just 60 games.
In the 1975–76 season, Chris had his best year in the NHL. He scored 16 goals and led the team with 46 assists. This gave him a career-high 62 points. Even though his scoring went down a bit in the next few seasons, he stayed one of the team's top forwards. He was also one of the most liked players.
He was named team captain for the 1976–77 season. He scored a career-high 17 goals in the 1977–78 season.
Later Years and Retirement
By the 1979–80 season, many new young stars joined the Canucks. Players like Thomas Gradin and Stan Smyl emerged. This meant Chris took on more of a defensive role. He finished that season with 8 goals and 28 points. Early in the 1980–81 season, he was sent to the Dallas Black Hawks. This was the end of his NHL career.
Chris Oddleifson played two more seasons in Switzerland before he retired in 1983. He finished his NHL career with 95 goals and 191 assists. This gave him a total of 286 points in 524 games. He also had 464 penalty minutes.
After his hockey career, Chris returned to Vancouver. He became a successful real estate agent. He still plays with the Canucks oldtimers team.
Awards and Recognition
Chris Oddleifson received several awards during his hockey career:
- MJHL Second All-Star Team (1968)
- WCHL All-Star Team (1970)
- Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
