Chris Pronger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Pronger
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2015
Pronger with Canada in 2010
Born	(1974-10-10) October 10, 1974 (age 50) Dryden, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Hartford Whalers St. Louis Blues Edmonton Oilers Anaheim Ducks Philadelphia Flyers
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1993 Hartford Whalers
Playing career	1993–2012

Chris Pronger (born October 10, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was a very strong player who won many awards during his career. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy in the 1999–2000 season, which means he was named the most valuable player in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Chris Pronger was chosen second overall in the 1993 NHL draft by the Hartford Whalers. He played for several teams, including the Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Philadelphia Flyers. He was even captain for the Blues, Ducks, and Flyers. Pronger played in the Stanley Cup Finals three times and won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. He also won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2002 and 2010. In 2015, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and in 2017, he was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" of all time.

Pronger's playing career ended in 2011 due to serious injuries, including concussions and an eye injury. After his playing days, he worked as an advisor for the Florida Panthers in the NHL. The St. Louis Blues honored him by retiring his jersey number, 44, on January 17, 2022.

Chris Pronger's Amazing Hockey Career

Early Life and Junior Hockey

Chris Pronger was born in Dryden, Ontario, Canada. His parents are Jim and Eila Pronger, and his mother came from Finland. Chris grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown. When he was 15, he joined the Stratford Cullitons junior team.

In 1991, Pronger was picked by the Peterborough Petes in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft. He played two excellent seasons with the Petes. People noticed him because he was big, fast, and skilled, especially when his team had a power play. Because of his talent, the Hartford Whalers chose him as the second overall pick in the 1993 NHL entry draft.

Playing in the NHL

Hartford Whalers (1993–1995)

Chris Pronger started his NHL career in the 1993–94 NHL season with the Hartford Whalers. He played 81 games and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. After two seasons with the Whalers, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 1995 for star player Brendan Shanahan.

St. Louis Blues (1995–2004)

In St. Louis, Pronger worked hard to improve his game. He became the team captain in his third season with the Blues. In 1998, he played for Team Canada in the Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics. During the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs, he had a scary moment when a puck hit him in the chest.

The 1999–2000 NHL season was amazing for Pronger. He scored 62 points and had a fantastic plus/minus rating of +52. These efforts helped him win the James Norris Memorial Trophy (for best defenceman) and the Hart Memorial Trophy (for most valuable player). He was the first defenceman to win the Hart Trophy since Bobby Orr in 1972. Pronger was also named to the First All-Star Team.

He continued to play well for the Blues, even though he had some injury problems. In 2002, he won a gold medal with Canada at the Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics. After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Blues traded Pronger to the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton Oilers (2005–2006)

Pronger was chosen to play for Canada at the Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics, which was his third time at the Olympics. In the same year, the Oilers made it all the way to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. In Game 1 of the Finals, Pronger made history by scoring the first-ever penalty shot goal in a Stanley Cup Finals game. The Oilers lost in Game 7, but Pronger had a great playoff run, leading his team with 21 points.

After the season, Pronger asked to be traded from the Oilers for personal reasons. On July 3, 2006, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks.

Anaheim Ducks (2006–2009)

Chris Pronger with the Anaheim Ducks in April 2007

In 2007, Chris Pronger was a key player for the Anaheim Ducks as they won the Stanley Cup. This was his second time in a row playing in the Stanley Cup Finals. With this victory, he became a member of the Triple Gold Club, meaning he had won an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup.

On September 28, 2007, Pronger was named captain of the Ducks. He played his 1,000th career game on February 20, 2009. The Ducks had a strong finish to the 2008–09 season, making the playoffs and winning their first series before being eliminated.

Philadelphia Flyers (2009–2012)

On June 27, 2009, Pronger was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He signed a new contract with them soon after. In December 2009, he was selected to play for Canada at the Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was one of the team's alternate captains, and Team Canada won the gold medal. Pronger became Canada's all-time leader in Winter Olympic Games played.

In the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Flyers made an incredible run. They qualified for the playoffs on the very last day of the season. They upset the New Jersey Devils, came back from being down 3-0 in a series against the Boston Bruins, and then beat the Montreal Canadiens. They reached the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Chicago Blackhawks. Pronger had a strong playoff performance, leading his third different team to the Finals.

Pronger faced more injuries in the following seasons. On September 16, 2011, he was named the 18th captain in Flyers history. However, a serious eye injury and concussions limited him to only 13 games in the 2011–12 NHL season. These injuries put his playing career at risk.

Although he could no longer play, Pronger did not officially retire from the NHL right away. This was due to rules about his contract. He continued to help the Flyers organization by scouting new players. On June 27, 2015, the Flyers traded Pronger's playing rights to the Arizona Coyotes. Just three days later, on June 30, 2015, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Post-Playing Career

After his contract officially ended in 2017, Chris Pronger retired from playing hockey. He then joined the Florida Panthers as a senior advisor for their hockey operations.

Personal Life

Pronger in 2007 after winning the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in June 2007

Chris Pronger married his wife Lauren in 1999, and they have three children. He lives in Chesterfield, Missouri, where he and his wife run a luxury travel agency.

Pronger appeared on the cover of the video games NHL 2000 and NHL Hitz 2003. His older brother, Sean Pronger, also played in the NHL.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
Winter Olympics
Gold	2002 Salt Lake City
Gold	2010 Vancouver
World Championships
Gold	1997 Finland
World Junior Championships
Gold	1993 Sweden

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993	Canada	WJC			7	1	3	4	6
1997	Canada	WC			9	0	2	2	4
1998	Canada	OG	4th		6	0	0	0	4
2002	Canada	OG			6	0	1	1	2
2006	Canada	OG	7th		6	1	2	3	16
2010	Canada	OG			7	0	5	5	2
Junior totals					7	1	3	4	6
Senior totals					34	1	10	11	36

Awards and Honours

See also

• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played