Chris Stewart (ice hockey, born 1987) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Stewart
Stewart with the St. Louis Blues in 2013
Born	(1987-10-30) October 30, 1987 (age 37) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	239 lb (108 kg; 17 st 1 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Colorado Avalanche St. Louis Blues HC Bílí Tygři Liberec Buffalo Sabres Minnesota Wild Anaheim Ducks Calgary Flames Nottingham Panthers Philadelphia Flyers
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	18th overall, 2006 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	2007–2020

Chris Stewart (born October 30, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a forward, specifically a right winger, in the National Hockey League (NHL) for many teams. These included the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, and Philadelphia Flyers.

Stewart was known for being a tough and skilled player. His older brother, Anthony Stewart, also played in the NHL.

Early Life

Chris Stewart was born in Toronto, Ontario. He was the second of seven children and grew up with five younger sisters. His family did not have a lot of money, but he and his brother Anthony loved playing hockey. A person from their local hockey team helped pay for their equipment and fees so they could play.

Besides hockey, Stewart also enjoyed playing football in high school. He grew up with Wayne Simmonds, who also became an NHL player.

Playing Career

Junior Hockey with the Kingston Frontenacs

Before the 2004–05 season, Stewart's older brother Anthony, who was the captain of the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), asked the team's manager to give Chris a tryout. Chris made the team and got to play with his brother.

In his first season, Stewart scored 18 goals and 30 points. The next year, he had a great season, scoring 37 goals and 87 points. His impressive performance helped him get drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He was chosen 18th overall in the first round.

For his final junior season in 2006–07, Stewart was named the captain of the Frontenacs. He continued to play well, scoring 36 goals and 82 points.

Professional Career

Colorado Avalanche

Stewart as a member of the Avalanche

Stewart started his professional career in 2007 with the Avalanche's minor league team. He was called up to the NHL to play for the Colorado Avalanche on December 5, 2008. Just a few days later, on December 9, he scored his first NHL goal against the Los Angeles Kings. He finished his first NHL season with 11 goals and 19 points.

The 2009–10 season was a breakout year for Stewart. He led the Avalanche with 28 goals and had 64 points. He even scored his first career hat trick (three goals in one game) against the St. Louis Blues. His strong play helped Colorado make it to the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

In early 2011, after scoring 13 goals in 36 games for Colorado, Stewart was traded to the St. Louis Blues.

St. Louis Blues

Stewart made a great first impression with the Blues. He scored two goals in his very first game with the team. He finished the season with 15 goals and 23 points in just 26 games for St. Louis.

Over the next few seasons, his role on the team changed. During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, when the NHL season was paused, he played hockey in Germany and the Czech Extraliga. He returned to the Blues when the NHL season started again and had a solid year, scoring 18 goals and 36 points.

Playing for Other NHL Teams

On February 28, 2014, the Blues traded Stewart to the Buffalo Sabres. He played for the Sabres for about a year before being traded again, this time to the Minnesota Wild in March 2015.

After the season, he became a free agent and signed a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks for the 2015–16 season. Following his time with the Ducks, he returned to the Minnesota Wild for two more years. In February 2018, he was claimed by the Calgary Flames and finished the season with them.

Final Years and Retirement

After his time in Calgary, Stewart briefly played in the United Kingdom for the Nottingham Panthers. He then returned to North America and signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2019–20 season.

On September 27, 2020, Stewart announced his retirement from professional hockey. After retiring as a player, he stayed with the Flyers organization as a player development coach, helping young players improve their skills.

In June 2020, he also helped create the Hockey Diversity Alliance. This group works to make hockey a more welcoming sport for everyone by fighting against racism and intolerance.

International Play

In 2011, Stewart represented his home country by playing for Team Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. He scored two goals and had four points in seven games. Canada finished in fifth place at the tournament.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International