Chris Stewart (ice hockey, born 1987)
Canadian forward known for power and scoring touch.
Chris Stewart (born October 30, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. Over his NHL career, he suited up for the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, and Philadelphia Flyers. Before turning pro, he played junior hockey for the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). His older brother, Anthony Stewart, also played in the NHL.
Growing up as the second of seven children—with five younger sisters—Stewart came from a modest background. His father, Norman, and mother, Sue, had Jamaican and Irish roots. Despite financial struggles, he loved hockey and was known for his gritty play even before he reached his full size. He and Anthony played for the North York Jr. Canadiens, and a team representative covered all his hockey costs. Stewart also had a serious interest in football and considered playing it through high school at West Hill Collegiate Institute. He became friends with fellow Toronto native Wayne Simmonds.
In junior hockey, Stewart’s older brother Anthony, then captain of the Kingston Frontenacs, asked general manager Larry Mavety to give Chris a tryout as an undrafted free agent. Mavety agreed, and Chris made the team in training camp, allowing the brothers to play together. Initially used as an energetic enforcer, Stewart grew into a larger role and posted 18 goals and 30 points in 64 games as a rookie. His first OHL game came on September 26, 2004, a 4–3 loss to the Brampton Battalion where he went pointless. He scored his first league goal on October 3, 2004, beating Sudbury Wolves goaltender Patrick Ehelechner in a 6–4 loss. The Frontenacs missed the playoffs, finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference.
The 2005–06 season was a breakout for Stewart. Named an assistant captain, he scored 37 goals and 87 points in 62 games, finishing second in team scoring and helping Kingston reach the playoffs. In six postseason games, he had two goals as the Frontenacs fell to the Sudbury Wolves in the first round. That summer, the Colorado Avalanche selected him 18th overall in the first round of the 2006 NHL entry draft.
On October 13, 2006, before a home game against the Guelph Storm, the Frontenacs named Stewart their new captain. He had another strong season, with 36 goals and 82 points in 61 games, again finishing second in team scoring.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1987-10-30
- Birth Place
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 239
- Position
- Right wing
- Shoots
- Right
- Played For
- Colorado Avalanche / St. Louis Blues / HC Bílí Tygři Liberec / Buffalo Sabres / Minnesota Wild / Anaheim Ducks / Calgary Flames / Nottingham Panthers / Philadelphia Flyers
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- 18th overall
- Draft Year
- 2006
- Draft Team
- Colorado Avalanche
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Stewart grew up in Toronto as the second of seven children, with a combined Jamaican and Irish background. His family was quite poor, but his hockey costs were covered entirely thanks to a representative of the North York Jr. Canadiens, where he played alongside his brother Anthony. He also seriously considered playing football throughout high school at West Hill Collegiate Institute and became friends with fellow Toronto native Wayne Simmonds. His older brother Anthony, then captain of the Kingston Frontenacs, asked the general manager to give Chris a tryout as an undrafted free agent; Chris made the team and played alongside his brother. Initially an energetic fighting role player, Stewart developed into a scorer, posting 37 goals and 87 points in 62 games in 2005–06, and was named captain of the Frontenacs for the 2006–07 season. He was drafted 18th overall by Colorado in 2006.
Reader's Guide
Stewart's NHL career began with the Colorado Avalanche, where he scored his first NHL goal (shorthanded) on December 9, 2008, and recorded his first Gordie Howe hat trick on January 21, 2009. In the 2009–10 season, he led the Avalanche with 28 goals and finished second in team scoring with 64 points, helping the club reach the 2010 playoffs, where he scored a goal in his first playoff game. He recorded his first career hat trick on March 6, 2010, against the St. Louis Blues. After signing a two-year contract, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues on February 19, 2011, along with Kevin Shattenkirk and a draft pick, for Erik Johnson, Jay McClement, and a first-round pick. With the Blues, he struggled to adapt to defensive tactics under coach Ken Hitchcock and was a healthy scratch during parts of the 2012 playoffs. During the 2012–13 lockout, he played in Germany for Eispiraten Crimmitschau and later in the Czech Extraliga for HC Bílí Tygři Liberec, before returning to Crimmitschau. He later played for Buffalo, Minnesota, Anaheim, Calgary, and Philadelphia. His legacy includes being a physical forward with scoring ability, notably his 28-goal season with Colorado and his Gordie Howe hat tricks.
Did You Know?
- Stewart scored his first NHL goal shorthanded against Jason LaBarbera of the Los Angeles Kings on December 9, 2008.
- He recorded two Gordie Howe hat tricks in his NHL career, both while with the Colorado Avalanche.
- During the 2012–13 lockout, he played for Eispiraten Crimmitschau in Germany alongside childhood friend Wayne Simmonds.
- Stewart's older brother Anthony asked the Kingston Frontenacs general manager to give Chris a tryout, leading to his junior career.
More in Colorado Avalanche Players 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced