R. J. Umberger

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R. J. Umberger
R J Umberger.jpg
Born (1982-05-03) May 3, 1982 (age 31)
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Center/left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Columbus Blue Jackets
Philadelphia Flyers
National team  United States
NHL Draft 16th overall, 2001
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2004–present

Richard Allen "R. J." Umberger, Jr. (born May 3, 1982) is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Contents

Playing career [edit]

Umberger, who plays both left wing and center, played his high school hockey in the PIHL for the Plum Mustangs. In his sophomore year and final season, he accumulated 116 points in just 26 games.[1] He capped off his season by scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime against Central Catholic [Pittsburgh] in front of a packed house at the Harmarville Bladerunners to win the WPIHL AAA League Championship. His efforts were recognized in 2006 when the Mustangs raised his number to the rafters of the Center Ice Arena in Delmont.[2] Umberger is recognized annually with the R.J. Umberger Award for the Pa Hockey Scholastic Showcase www.pahockey.net a scholastic tournament played in December each year and Umberger participated with the Plum Mustangs in 1997 and 1998. The Tournament has a Wall of Champions at Harmarille BladeRunners and Umberger was named to the All Tournament Team in the first two years.

Umberger began his career with the USA National Team Developmental Program after a successful developmental career with the Pittsburgh Hornets. He then started his college career with Ohio State University. He was drafted in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft 16th overall by the Vancouver Canucks. Umberger left Ohio State before his senior year, intending to turn pro with the Vancouver Canucks. He was unable to reach a deal however, and sat out the entire 2003-04 season. He was traded to the New York Rangers on March 9, 2004 along with Martin Grenier in exchange for Martin Ručinský, but was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers on June 16, 2004, just three months later. [3] He was called up to the Flyers roster in the 2005–06 NHL season.

Umberger is the second Western Pennsylvanian born hockey player to play in the NHL, along with Ryan Malone of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored his first career NHL goal on November 22, 2005 for the Flyers against the Lightning. On July 6, 2006, the Flyers announced that they had signed him to a two-year contract.

On June 20, 2008, Umberger was traded from the Flyers with their fourth round pick (Drew Olson) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the Blue Jackets' first round pick, via the Colorado Avalanche (Luca Sbisa) drafted 19th overall and a third round pick (Marc-André Bourdon) in the draft.

On April 16, 2009, Umberger scored the Blue Jackets' first ever playoff goal in a 4-1 loss at the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He also scored in Games 3 and 4 as Detroit swept the series.

On Wednesday, September 21, 2011, Umberger signed a five-year contract extension with his current team the Columbus Blue Jackets. His contract will expire in the 2016-2017 NHL season.

Off the ice [edit]

Umberger has appeared in a video supporting You Can Play, a campaign dedicated to fighting homophobia in sports.[4]

Awards [edit]

Career statistics [edit]

Regular season and playoffs [edit]

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 32 14 23 37 18 — — — — —
2001–02 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 37 18 21 39 31 — — — — —
2002–03 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 43 26 27 53 16 — — — — —
2003–04 Did not play — — — — — — — — — — —
2004–05 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 80 21 44 65 36 21 3 7 10 12
2005–06 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 8 3 7 10 8 — — — — —
2005–06 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 73 20 18 38 18 5 1 0 1 2
2006–07 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 81 16 12 28 41 — — — — —
2007–08 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 74 13 37 50 19 17 10 5 15 10
2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 26 20 46 53 4 3 0 3 0
2009–10 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 23 32 55 40 — — — — —
2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 25 32 57 38 — — — — —
2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 77 20 20 40 27 — — — — —
NHL totals 551 143 171 314 236 26 14 5 19 12

International [edit]

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
2000 United States WJ18 6 1 0 1 2
2001 United States WJ18 6 1 0 1 0
2001 United States WJC 7 2 2 4 2
2002 United States WJC 7 1 4 5 0
2006 United States WC-A 1 0 0 0 0
Senior int'l totals 1 0 0 0 0

References [edit]

  1. ^ Legends of Hockey - NHL Player Search - Player - R.J. Umberger
  2. ^ "Flyers star forward recalls memorable moments in Plum Mustangs uniform : YourPennHills.com". Retrieved 2008-05-03. 
  3. ^ TSN.ca R.J. Umberger Player Page
  4. ^ "Van Riemsdyk, Parros, Greene and more". You Can Play Project. Retrieved 2012-06-22. 

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: R. J. Umberger
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Nathan Smith		 Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick
2001		 Succeeded by
Ryan Kesler
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