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R. J. Umberger

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R. J. Umberger
Umberger with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010
Born (1982-05-03) May 3, 1982 (age 42)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Columbus Blue Jackets
National team  United States
NHL draft 16th overall, 2001
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2004–2016

Richard Alan "R. J." Umberger, Jr. (born May 3, 1982) is a former American professional ice hockey center. Drafted in the first round, 16th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, Umberger has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Playing career

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Minor/College

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Umberger, who is both a left winger and center, played his high school hockey in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (WPIHL) for the Plum Mustangs in 1997 and 1998. In his sophomore year and final season, he accumulated 116 points in just 26 games.[1] He capped off that season by scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime against Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) to win the WPIHL AAA League Championship in front of a packed house at the BladeRunners Ice Complex in Harmarville. His efforts were recognized in 2006 when the Mustangs raised his number to the rafters of its home rink, the Center Ice Arena in Delmont.[2] He was inducted into the Plum High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.[3]

Umberger is recognized annually with the R. J. Umberger Award for the PA Hockey Scholastic Showcase, a scholastic tournament played in December each year. The Tournament has a Wall of Champions at Harmarille BladeRunners. During his short prep career, Umberger was named to the All Tournament Team both years.

Umberger began his career with the USA Hockey National Team Development 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 in the first round, 16th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks. Umberger left Ohio State before his senior year, intending to turn professional with the Canucks. He was unable to reach a deal, however, and sat out the entire 2003–04 season. He was then traded to the New York Rangers on March 9, 2004, along with Martin Grenier, in exchange for Martin Ručinský, but was later signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers on June 16, 2004, just three months later.[4] He was called up to the Flyers roster in the 2005–06 season.

Professional

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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 eventually swept the series, four games to none.

On September 21, 2011, Umberger signed a five-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets.

On June 23, 2014, Umberger was traded along with a 2015 fourth-round draft pick, back to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Scott Hartnell.[5]

After two largely unproductive and injury hampered seasons in his return to Philadelphia, on June 16, 2016, the Flyers bought out the final year of Umberger's contract.[6]

Upon sitting out the entirety of the 2016–17 season, Umberger attempted to resurrect his NHL career in signing a professional tryout agreement with the Dallas Stars on July 14, 2017.[7] He participated in the Stars training camp and pre-season before he was released from his try-out without a contract on September 27, 2017.[8]

International play

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Umberger has represented USA Hockey on multiple occasions. His first international effort came with the U.S. under-18 team at the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships in Switzerland, where the Americans placed eighth. He played in the same tournament the following year, 2001, where the U.S. improved to fifth-place.

That same year, 2001, Umberger also played with the U.S. junior team in the 2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Russia, as well as the 2002 edition in the Czech Republic; the U.S. placed fifth in both tournaments.

Umberger made his senior U.S. debut in the 2006 IIHF World Championship in Latvia.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997–98 Plum High School HS-PA 23 58 50 108 — — — — — —
1998–99 US NTDP Juniors USHL 5 2 2 4 0 — — — — —
1998–99 US NTDP U18 NAHL 50 21 21 42 32 — — — — —
1999–00 US NTDP Juniors USHL 57 33 35 68 20 — — — — —
2000–01 Ohio State University CCHA 32 14 23 37 18 — — — — —
2001–02 Ohio State University CCHA 37 18 21 39 31 — — — — —
2002–03 Ohio State University CCHA 43 26 27 53 16 — — — — —
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 — — — — —
2012–13 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 48 8 10 18 16 — — — — —
2013–14 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 74 18 16 34 26 4 0 1 1 2
2014–15 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 67 9 6 15 19 — — — — —
2015–16 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 39 2 9 11 15 — — — — —
NHL totals 779 180 212 392 312 30 14 6 20 14

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2000 United States WJC18 8th 6 1 0 1 2
2001 United States WJC 5th 7 2 2 4 2
2001 United States WJC18 6th 6 1 0 1 0
2002 United States WJC 5th 7 1 4 5 0
2006 United States WC 7th 1 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 26 5 6 11 4
Senior totals 1 0 0 0 0

Awards and achievements

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Award Year
All-CCHA Rookie Team 2000–01
CCHA Rookie of the Year 2000–01
All-CCHA First Team 2002–03
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2002–03
Calder Cup Philadelphia Phantoms 2004–05

References

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  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 May 3, 2008.
  3. ^ "Plum High Sports Hall of Fame". Plum Borough School District. February 3, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  4. ^ "R.J. Umberger player profile". The Sports Network. March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  5. ^ Ruby, Tyler. "Philadelphia Flyers Trade Scott Hartnell to Columbus Blue Jackets for R.J. Umberger." June 23, 2014. Sports Media 101. [1]
  6. ^ "Flyers have bought out Umberger's contract". Philadelphia Flyers. June 16, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  7. ^ Aaron Portzline (July 14, 2017). "Umberger signs PTO with Dallas Stars". Twitter. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  8. ^ "Stars reduce training camp by three players". Dallas Stars. September 27, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by CCHA Rookie of the Year
2000–01 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick
2001 		Succeeded by
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