Jeff Halpern

Jeff Halpern
Halpern with the Coyotes
Born	(1976-05-03) May 3, 1976 (age 48) Potomac, Maryland, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Right
Played for	Washington Capitals Dallas Stars Tampa Bay Lightning Los Angeles Kings Montreal Canadiens New York Rangers Phoenix Coyotes
National team	United States
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1999–2014
Medal record Representing   United States Ice hockey World Championships 2004 Prague

Jeffrey Craig Halpern (born May 3, 1976) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played for the Washington Capitals twice, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Phoenix Coyotes. In 14 NHL seasons, he had 152 goals and 221 assists (373 points) in 976 regular-season games. He also had seven goals and 14 points in 39 Stanley Cup playoff games. He was also captain of the United States national team for the 2008 World Championships.

He is currently an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL.

Early life

Halpern was born in Potomac, Maryland, to Gloria (née Klein) and Melvin Halpern. ^[1] As a youth, he played in the 1989 and 1990 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the Washington Capitals minor ice hockey team. ^[2] Halpern attended Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, which at the time did not have a hockey team. ^[3] In order to pursue his dreams as a hockey player, Halpern transferred to and later graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire where he was roommates with future The Bachelorette winner Ian McKee. He then attended and graduated from Princeton University. There, he played four seasons of varsity hockey for the Princeton Tigers men's ice hockey team, was named an ECAC second team All-Star in 1998 and 1999, and in 1999 he scored 22 goals to tie for the most goals in the ECAC and was co-winner of Princeton's Roper Trophy for athletic and academic achievement. ^[4]

Playing career

Undrafted, Halpern began his NHL career in the 1999–2000 NHL season for the Washington Capitals. He played in 79 games, scoring 18 goals with 11 assists, and was +21. He was the first member of the Capitals to be born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area.

The 2003–04 NHL season was his highest-scoring season to date as he finished with 19 goals and 27 assists in 79 games.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Halpern played for the Kloten Flyers and for HC Ajoie in Switzerland, and returned to the Capitals when the lockout ended. On September 23, 2005, the Washington Capitals named Halpern the twelfth team captain in franchise history. ^[5] In the 2005–06 NHL season, he scored 11 goals, and added a career-high 33 assists.

On July 5, 2006, Halpern left the Capitals as a free agent and signed a four-year deal with the Dallas Stars.

On February 26, 2008, Halpern was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning along with Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen, and a 2009 4th-round draft pick in exchange for Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist. Halpern scored a goal in his Lightning debut, and added an assist. After being acquired by the Lightning, Halpern went on a huge hot streak, scoring 10 goals and 18 points in 19 games. He also led the league during the 2007–08 NHL season in games played as one of only two players to appear in 83 games, or one more than a team's full schedule, as a result of his trade to Tampa Bay. The other was Brian Campbell. Playing in 52 games during the 2008-09 NHL Season, Halpern scored seven goals to go with nine assists.

Halpern during his tenure with the Rangers.

Halpern was named the captain of the United States national team for the 2008 World Championships in Canada. Playing in a 5–4 loss in the opening round against the Canadian team on May 6, 2008, he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and was expected to be out of action for 6–8 months. ^[6] This occurred in the same game where USA goaltender Tim Thomas was injured and had to leave the team. ^[7]

Halpern was traded from the Lightning to the Los Angeles Kings March 3, 2010, in exchange for Teddy Purcell and a 3rd round draft pick in 2010.

On September 7, 2010, Halpern signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens. He signed a one-year contract worth $825,000 to return to his original team the Washington Capitals on July 1, 2011.

On July 9, 2012, once again as a veteran free agent, Halpern was signed to a one-year deal with the New York Rangers. ^[8] With the 2012–13 season delayed due to the lockout, Halpern made his debut with the Rangers in the shortened season opener on the fourth line in a defeat against the Boston Bruins on January 19, 2013. ^[9] In 30 games with the Rangers as a checking line forward, Halpern produced one assist before he was claimed off waivers to return to the Montreal Canadiens on March 23, 2013. ^[10] For the season, he had a goal and two assists in 46 games for the Rangers and Canadiens. ^[11]

In 13 NHL seasons at that point he had 147 goals and 214 assists (361 points) in 907 regular-season games. ^{[11] [12]} He also had seven goals and 14 points in 39 Stanley Cup playoff games. ^[12]

On September 16, 2013, Halpern signed a one-year contract with Finnish Elite League team TPS, and was expected to make his SM-liiga debut in October. ^[13] His contract included an NHL-clause. ^[14] With the team, he scored four goals in eight games. ^[15]

On October 12, 2013. Halpern left the Finnish team and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. It would pay him $600,000 in the NHL, and $75,000 in the AHL. ^{[16] [17]}

Coaching career

On June 27, 2016, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that Halpern would serve as a full-time assistant coach for the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. ^[18]

On June 22, 2018, the Tampa Bay Lightning named Halpern as assistant coach after parting ways with Rick Bowness. As an assistant coach, he won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. On July 7, 2021, Halpern won his second Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Personal life

Halpern, who is Jewish, ^{[19] [20]} is a member of the Greater Washington (D.C.) Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. ^[21] Halpern sat out a game in 2005 to observe Yom Kippur. ^[22]

He has been married to former cheerleader Kelley Cornwell, a convert to Judaism, since June 2011. ^{[23] [24]} The couple have four children.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994–95	Stratford Cullitons	MWJHL		44	29	54	83	43		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Princeton University	ECAC		29	3	11	14	30		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Princeton University	ECAC		33	7	24	31	35		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Princeton University	ECAC		36	28	25	53	46		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Princeton University	ECAC		33	22	22	44	32		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Portland Pirates	AHL		6	2	1	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Washington Capitals	NHL		79	18	11	29	39		5	2	1	3	0
2000–01	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	21	21	42	60		6	2	3	5	17
2001–02	Washington Capitals	NHL		48	5	14	19	29		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Washington Capitals	NHL		82	13	21	34	88		6	0	1	1	2
2003–04	Washington Capitals	NHL		79	19	27	46	56		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	HC Ajoie	NLB		15	5	12	17	52		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Kloten Flyers	NLA		9	7	4	11	6		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Washington Capitals	NHL		70	11	33	44	79		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Dallas Stars	NHL		76	8	17	25	78		7	2	1	3	4
2007–08	Dallas Stars	NHL		64	10	14	24	40		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		19	10	8	18	14		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		52	7	9	16	32		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		55	9	8	17	27		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		16	0	2	2	12		6	0	0	0	4
2010–11	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		72	11	15	26	29		4	1	0	1	0
2011–12	Washington Capitals	NHL		69	4	12	16	24		2	0	0	0	4
2012–13	New York Rangers	NHL		30	0	1	1	8		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		16	1	1	2	2		3	0	1	1	0
2013–14	TPS	Liiga		8	4	0	4	30		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		69	5	7	12	24		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				976	152	221	373	641		39	7	7	14	31

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000	United States	WC	5th		7	1	1	2	4
2001	United States	WC	4th		9	1	1	2	8
2004	United States	WC			9	2	2	4	4
2004	United States	WCH	4th		4	0	0	0	7
2005	United States	WC	6th		7	1	0	1	6
2008	United States	WC	6th		3	0	1	1	4
Senior totals					39	5	5	10	33

See also

• List of select Jewish ice hockey players

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team	1997–98
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team	1998
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team	1998–99
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team	1999
NHL
Stanley Cup champion	2020, 2021

References

1. "4 Victims In Tanker Explosion Related". sun-sentinel.com. February 14, 2005. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
2. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
3. Bowen, Fred (March 9, 2001). "A Hometown Hero". The Washington Post. p. C11.
4. Jeff Halpern
5. Mike Vogel. "Hometown Hero". Archived from the original on June 20, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
6. TSN. "Lightning's Halpern expected to miss 6–8 months" . Retrieved May 8, 2008.
7. "USA Hockey". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
8. "Rangers sign Jeff Halpern to one-year deal". Washington Post . July 10, 2012. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
9. "Rask stops 20 shots as Bruins defeat Rangers". CBS Sports . January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
10. "Canadiens claim veteran F Halpern off waivers". The Sports Network. March 23, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
11. "Phoenix Coyotes sign forward Jeff Halpern". Msn.foxsports.com. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
12. "Phoenic Coyotes sign Jeff Halpern – NHL Free Agency 2013". Nhl.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
13. Eetu Ampuja, Turku (September 16, 2013). "TPS:n uusi vahvistus Jeff Halpern: "Minulla on edelleen kunnianhimoa NHL:ään" – SM-liiga – Ilta-Sanomat". Iltasanomat.fi. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
14. "TPS:lle 900 NHL-ottelun sentteri – SM-LIIGA – 15.09.2013 – Uutiset – Jatkoaika.com – Kaikki jääkiekosta" (in Finnish). Jatkoaika.com. September 15, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
15. "Phoenix Coyotes sign center Jeff Halpern". azcentral.com. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
16. "Coyotes sign forward Halpern to one-year contract". Tsn.ca. February 28, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
17. "Jeff Halpern NHL Salary Contract History". Capgeek.com. May 3, 1976. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
18. Tampa Bay, Lightning (June 27, 2016). "Lightning Hire Jeff Halpern as Syracuse Crunch Assistant Coach". Tampa Bay Lightning. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
19. "Jews (and Mel) on the big screen, Winter sports roundup". J. Jweekly. January 21, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
20. "Professional Hockey Review: 2010–11; National Hockey League". Jewish Sports Review. 8 (87): 7. September–October 2011.
21. Rodricks, Dan (April 10, 2001). "200,000 miles (320,000 km) not too far to chase an NHL dream". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2008.
22. "Capitals' Halpern Acts on Faith". washingtonpost.com. October 12, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
23. "Jeff Halpern married a former Redskins Cheerleader". Washington Post . July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
24. David Elfin. "Bnai Brith Magazine – Winter 2011: Mitzvah on Ice". Mydigimag.rrd.com. Retrieved January 14, 2013.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Jason Elliott	ECAC Hockey Most Outstanding Player in Tournament 1998	Succeeded by Willie Mitchell
Sporting positions
Preceded by Steve Konowalchuk	Washington Capitals captain 2005–06	Succeeded by Chris Clark