Ryan VandenBussche

Last updated
Ryan VandenBussche
Born (1973-02-28) February 28, 1973 (age 50)
Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Chicago Blackhawks
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft 173rd overall, 1992
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1993–2007

Ryan VandenBussche (born February 28, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played fourteen years of professional hockey, nine National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He is best known for his pugilistic skills.

Contents

Playing career

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, 8th round, 173rd overall, VandenBussche spent his first seasons playing for various OHL and AHL teams.

On August 22, 1995, he was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the New York Rangers. After two seasons in the AHL with the Rangers' farm team, the Binghamton Rangers, VandenBussche finally made his NHL debut for the 1996–97 season playing 11 games.

The very next season, 1997–98, VandenBussche was split between four different teams in three different leagues. He played three games for the Indianapolis Ice of the IHL, fifteen games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, sixteen games for the New York Rangers of the NHL, and since the Rangers traded him for Ryan Risidore on March 29, 1998, four games for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL.

VandenBussche remained a Blackhawk until the Pittsburgh Penguins signed him as an unrestricted free agent on July 12, 2004. On September 25, 2006, Jokerit of SM-liiga signed the forward for a try-out, which was terminated on November 5. After his tryout, VandenBussche signed with the New Mexico Scorpions as a player/coach, but retired in January for medical reasons. [1]

VandenBussche was not known as a goal scorer or play maker; in 310 NHL games, he scored 10 goals and 10 assists. VandenBussche's role was as an enforcer. He has the distinction of being pound for pound one of the toughest enforcers at the NHL level, and the man who ended the career of Nick Kypreos in a pre-season game in 1997. [2] [3]

Post career

In 2006 VandenBussche was charged with assault after he assaulted multiple officers and uttered death threats. He was cleared of the charges in 2008 due to a successful argument that his multiple concussions during his hockey career and a shove during the altercation rendered him a "non-insane automaton". [4] VandenBussche and his wife Lisa currently sell real estate with his father Ron as Team VandenBussche with ReMax Erie Shores in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Ryan is the founder of a charity called Stix n Pix which promotes the development of grass-roots hockey and music within the community and surrounding area. [5] He has also partnered with Canadian Tire First Shift Program, which is an initiative to help get youth involved in hockey. [6] VandenBussche is also the founder/President of New Leaf Canada Inc. which is a Nutraceutical Health and Wellness company. His role as an athlete ambassador advocates the benefits of plant based medicines.

VandenBussche was awarded the civilian Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service in 2017 for his multiple visits to overseas military bases, starting with a ball hockey game in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2010. [7]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1989–90 Norwich Merchants NDJHL 21121022146—————
1990–91 Cornwall Royals OHL 493811139—————
1991–92 Cornwall RoyalsOHL6113152823060229
1992–93 St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 10000—————
1992–93 Newmarket RoyalsOHL30151227161—————
1992–93 Guelph Storm OHL293141799513413
1993–94 St. John's Maple LeafsAHL4441014124—————
1993–94 Springfield Indians AHL912329500016
1994–95 St. John's Maple LeafsAHL5321315239300017
1995–96 Binghamton Rangers AHL683172024040009
1996–97 Binghamton RangersAHL3881119133—————
1996–97 New York Rangers NHL 1110130—————
1997–98 Indianapolis Ice IHL 31124—————
1997–98 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL1520245—————
1997–98 New York RangersNHL1610138—————
1997–98 Chicago Blackhawks NHL40115—————
1998–99 Portland Pirates AHL37415119—————
1998–99 Chicago BlackhawksNHL600017—————
1998–99 Indianapolis IceIHL3431013130—————
1999–00 Chicago BlackhawksNHL52011143—————
2000–01 Chicago BlackhawksNHL64257146—————
2001–02 Chicago BlackhawksNHL5012310310000
2002–03 Chicago BlackhawksNHL2200058—————
2002–03 Norfolk Admirals AHL40115—————
2003–04 Chicago BlackhawksNHL65415120—————
2004–05 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL234711771122411
2005–06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL2010142—————
2006–07 Jokerit SM-l 1500039—————
2006–07 New Mexico Scorpions CHL 903329—————
AHL totals29228629010112322453
NHL totals31010102070210000

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Olczyk</span> American ice hockey player and coach

Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. is an American former center in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994. Olczyk was also the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from June 2003 to December 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wade Brookbank</span> Ice hockey player

Wade Brookbank is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 127 games in the National Hockey League with the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, and Carolina Hurricanes between 2003 and 2009. He is currently a pro scout for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Alexander Stojanov is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player of Macedonian descent who spent three seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is best known for his trade from Vancouver to Pittsburgh in exchange for Markus Näslund, in what is recognized as one of the most lopsided trades in the history of the NHL. Selected seventh overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, he is now widely regarded as a draft bust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Williams (ice hockey)</span> Canadian professional ice hockey winger

Jason Williams is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Kypreos</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Nikos "Nick" Kypreos is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He is a former hockey analyst on the Sportsnet cable television network in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Richardson</span> Canadian ice hockey player and current Chicago Blackhawks head coach

Luke Glen Richardson is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach who is the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to his coaching career, Richardson played as a defenceman in the NHL for 21 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michal Rozsíval</span> Czech extraleague league ice hockey player, ice hockey defender, ice hockey player and olympionic

Michal Rozsíval is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He joined the team in 2012, previously playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1999 until 2004, the New York Rangers from 2005 to 2011, and the Phoenix Coyotes in 2011–12. He is a two time Stanley Cup winner with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Malone</span> American ice hockey player

Ryan Gregory Malone nicknamed "Bugsy", is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers. In 2003, he became the first Pittsburgh-born and trained player to suit up for the Penguins in an NHL game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Johnson (ice hockey, born 1976)</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Ryan M. Johnson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He currently works as assistant to the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and as the general manager for their American Hockey League (AHL) development team, the Abbotsford Canucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Taffe</span> American professional ice hockey center (born 1981)

Jeffrey Charles Taffe is an American former professional ice hockey center. Taffe was drafted in the first round, 30th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Carcillo</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1985)

Daniel Carcillo is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He most recently played under contract to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). His on-ice reputation as an enforcer has led to him being nicknamed "Car Bomb". Carcillo won a Stanley Cup as a member of the 2013 and 2015 Blackhawks. After retiring from the NHL in 2015, Carcillo created a non-profit organization that assists former NHL-players who are suffering from post-concussion syndrome and mental health issues. Carcillo is the founder and CEO of Wesana Health, a life sciences company that leverages psilocybin-based medicine to treat traumatic brain injuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanner Glass</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1983)

Tanner Glass is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Known as a physical player, he played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Calgary Flames. During the 2012 NHL Lockout, he played for HC ’05 Banská Bystrica in the Slovak Extraliga and he also had a spell with Boxers de Bordeaux of the French Ligue Magnus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Erixon</span> American-born Swedish ice hockey player

Tim Carl Erixon is an American-born Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with Timrå IK in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Erixon was selected in the first round—23rd overall—by the Calgary Flames in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Erixon has previously played for Skellefteå AIK in the Elitserien, as well as various NHL teams. As the son of former NHL player Jan Erixon, he has represented Sweden at the World Junior Hockey Championships, winning a silver medal in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Beach</span> Canadian professional ice hockey player

Kyle Beach is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Considered a top National Hockey League (NHL) prospect, he was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Beach never played in the NHL, however, only spending time with minor league affiliates in the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2008 to 2014. In 2021, Beach came forward that he was sexually assaulted by a Blackhawks coach during their 2010 Stanley Cup championship season and filed legal action against the team for failing to intervene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Reaves</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Ryan Reaves is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, and New York Rangers. He is the son of former gridiron football player, Willard Reaves, who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Corrado</span> Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1993)

Frank Corrado is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round, 150th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Corrado made his NHL debut for the Canucks during the 2012-13 season. He also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Haggerty</span> American professional ice hockey forward (born 1993)

Ryan Haggerty is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played under contract with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Nylander</span> Swedish ice hockey player

Alexander Maximiliam Michael Junior Nylander Altelius is a Canadian-born Swedish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 8th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Friedman</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Mark Isaac Friedman is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the 3rd round the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, the 86th overall pick of the draft. Prior to turning professional, Friedman played for the Bowling Green Falcons for three seasons where he was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and First Team All-WCHA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Blackwell</span> American ice hockey player (born 1993)

Colin Blackwell is an American professional ice hockey center for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

References

  1. ↑ "VandenBussche retires". scorpionshockey.com. 2006-09-20. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  2. ↑ "Kypreos, VandenBussche on concussions". sportsnet.ca. March 25, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  3. ↑ Campbell, Morgan (March 10, 2011). "A history of violence". The Toronto Star. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  4. ↑ Oliveira, Michael (July 11, 2008). "Former NHL enforcer cleared of assault charges". The Toronto Star. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Simcoe real estate". youronlineagents.com. 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Jacob (January 30, 2018). "Local skaters on Cloud 9". simcoereformer.ca. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ Robinson, Jacob (24 January 2017). "VandenBussche honoured by Canadian Forces". Simcoe Reformer. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.