R. J. Umberger

Richard Allen " R. J. " Umberger Jr. ( May 3, 1982 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American professional ice hockey player. He currently plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League on the position of the center.

  • 3.1 International

Career

Umberger began his hockey career at Plum High School in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. After he had scored 116 points in his final season in 1997 /98, only 26 games, he joined in the summer of 1998, the youth development program of the U.S. Ice Hockey Federation USA Hockey. In the seasons 1998/99 and 1999/ 2000, he played for various youth teams. First, in the North American Hockey League, and later in the United States Hockey League. At the age of 18 years Umberger left the junior program and went to the Ohio State University, for their university team in the game he operation of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, a league game in the operation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, ran aground. Overall, he remained at the University for three years faithfully, in which he always finished as top scorer of the team this year. DC in his rookie season, he was elected to the All- Rookie team of the CCHA and honored as rookie of the year. In the subsequent year to the game NHL Entry Draft 2001, he was chosen for his achievements in the first round to 16th position of the Vancouver Canucks. After he had delivered similar offensive statistics in the CCHA in the following year, he increased in his final year in the college league its services even further. This resulted in the election to the CCHA First All -Star Team, NCAA West Second All-American Team and a nomination for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, but the won Peter Sejna from Colorado College this year.

Due to a contract dispute with the Vancouver Canucks put Umberger from the entire 2003/04 season. Towards the end of the season he was therefore transferred from the Canucks, together with Martin Grenier, to the New York Rangers, the charges in return Martin Ručínský. The Rangers made ​​it but also not to bring the striker to contract signature, whereupon it was considered as a free agent and with all interested teams could get in touch. Finally, he signed on 16 June 2004 a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. As the NHL season 2004/ 05 a lockout fell victim to the Americans spent the entire season in the Flyers farm team in the American Hockey League. With the Philadelphia Phantoms, he won in his first professional season the Calder Cup, the championship of the AHL. In the course of the season to Umberger recommended scorer with 65 points in 80 games of the regular season as well as ten points in 21 playoff games for a sustainable commitment in the NHL with the Flyers. He finally gave in the 2005/06 season his debut and completed 73 of 82 possible games. He also came in eight AHL games for the Phantoms used.

His 38 points for the Flyers, including 20 goals, earned him a place among the ten highest points scorer in the internal list of Philadelphia. However, the following playoff went not so successful. During the first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres, who lost six games in Philadelphia, Umberger was brought to the ground in an attack attempt with a tough but fair body check on the open ice from Buffalo defender Brian Campbell. With a slight concussion, the striker missed a game and was able to contribute a total of just one goal for Philadelphia. The following season was similar to the playoffs the previous season for Umberger, but this was also due to the overall performance of the team, which was by far the worst game of the entire year with just 56 points. In the 2007 /08 season, the situation eased back considerably, as reflected in the statistics of the center. He presented with 50 points and 37 assists on two new personal records and was in the Playoffs Philadelphia's most dangerous attacker with ten goals in 17 games. In the second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, he was responsible with eight goals in five games almost single-handedly for the next round.

On 20 June 2008, parted ways Umberger and the Philadelphia Flyers, when he was this, together with a draft pick of the fourth round in the NHL Entry Draft in 2008 in exchange for two electoral rights in the first and third rounds of the same year at the Columbus Blue Jackets charges. This had become necessary because the Flyers were trying to keep their striker Jeff Carter with a good contract offer. Umberger was no longer become financially because of resulting problems with the salary cap and his expiring contract. In Columbus, the versatile attacker met his former coach Ken Hitchcock under which he had given his NHL debut in 2005.

Internationally

At the international level Umberger represented the country five times, including four times at junior level. There are in addition to two appearances in the U18 area in the years 2000 and 2001, two appearances in the U20 region in the years 2001 and 2002 to book. Although he gained eleven points scorer in 26 games, but he won with the team a medal. His first senior world championship he graduated in 2006 at the World Championships in Latvia. However, he played only one game.

Awards and achievements

  • 2001 CCHA All- Rookie Team
  • 2001 CCHA Rookie of the Year
  • 2003 CCHA First All -Star Team
  • 2003 NCAA West Second All-American Team
  • 2005 Calder Cup win with the Philadelphia Phantoms

Career Stats

Internationally

Represented the U.S. at:

  • U18 Junior World Championship 2000
  • U18 Junior World Championship 2001
  • U20 Junior World Championship 2001
  • U20 Junior World Cup 2002
  • World Cup 2006

( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )

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