Dave Christian

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Christian was born in Warroad, Minnesota, and grew up playing hockey, gridiron football, and baseball, as well as competing on the track and field team, for Warroad High School. He later attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where he played for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey team and played in the 1979 national championship, but North Dakota lost the final to the University of Minnesota and Christian's future Olympic teammate, Neal Broten.

In Their Own Story

During his time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Christian continued a career defined by international success and NHL longevity. Before arriving in Chicago, he had already represented the United States at the 1981 Canada Cup and the 1981 Ice Hockey World Championships as an NHL rookie. His international resume expanded to include the 1984 Canada Cup, the 1989 Ice Hockey World Championships, and the 1991 Canada Cup. While in Chicago, he maintained his status as a key contributor on a team that saw him accumulate significant career totals. His time in the NHL culminated with him reaching 340 goals and 433 assists. In 1991, Christian played in the NHL All-Star Game, further cementing his standing among the league's top players before concluding his career in 1994.

Reader's Guide

Christian was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that won the gold medal in an event known as the Miracle on Ice during the 1980 Winter Olympics. He also played for the U.S. national team at the 1981 Canada Cup, as well as the 1981 Ice Hockey World Championships tournaments as an NHL rookie. His international career continued in the 1984 Canada Cup, 1989 Ice Hockey World Championships and 1991 Canada Cup tournaments. Christian's professional hockey career started one week after the Miracle on Ice when he joined the Winnipeg Jets, who drafted him 40th overall in the 1979 NHL entry draft. Christian set the record for the fastest goal by a player in his first NHL game, scoring seven seconds into his first shift. After a career in Winnipeg, where he scored 70 or more points in both seasons following the 1980 Olympics, he went on to play with the Washington Capitals, where he led the team in assists his first season there, with 52. He also added 29 goals, and after the Capitals he would go on to play with the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and St. Louis Blues, ending his NHL career with 340 goals and 433 assists in 1,009 NHL regular season games. He also made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals as a member of the Boston Bruins in 1990, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in five games.

Did You Know?

• Christian scored a goal seven seconds into his first NHL game, which may be the fastest by a U.S.-born player, though not the overall NHL record.
• Christian's uncle Roger was a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team that won the gold medal, while his father Bill played on the 1964 U.S. Olympic team.
• Christian was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.