Christopher Tanev

Did You Know?

• Tanev was compared to offensive defenceman Christian Ehrhoff when scouted out of college.
• Teammate Kevin Bieksa said Tanev 'could have played with a cigarette in his mouth' after Game 5 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.

Early life

Tanev was born in East York, Ontario, to Sophie Meredith and Mike "Misho" Tanev. He has two brothers, Brandon and Kyle, and is of Macedonian descent. He played minor hockey with the Toronto Red Wings in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. At age 16, after being cut from seven midget-level teams due to his small size, he played for his high school team and took up roller hockey. He graduated from East York Collegiate Institute and enrolled at the Rochester Institute of Technology as a finance major.

Playing career

Tanev played three seasons in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League. He began with the Durham Fury in 2006–07, recording nine assists in 40 games. The next season he split time between Durham, the Stouffville Spirit, and the Markham Waxers, totalling 17 points. In 2008–09 with Markham, he led team defencemen in scoring with 41 points in 50 games and was named the team's top defenceman.

He joined the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers in 2009–10, playing on the top defensive pairing with Dan Ringwald. He recorded 10 goals and 28 points in 41 games, led his team with a +33 plus-minus rating, and was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year and to the All-Rookie and Third All-Star Teams. He helped the Tigers win the conference championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team. During the NCAA tournament, Vancouver Canucks director of player development Dave Gagner scouted him; Tanev had grown six inches in his final junior year. On May 31, 2010, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Canucks, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

International play

Tanev played a major role for Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championships, winning gold against Finland. He was praised for his composure and defensive play by head coach Bill Peters and was named best player of the game in a 7–1 win over Hungary. In the semifinal against the United States, after breaking his stick, he raced back to intercept a pass and block a shot without using his stick, preventing a potential game-tying goal. In the final, he logged 21:38 of ice time, including a team-high 8:37 in the third period as Canada defended a one-goal lead. He and defence partner Morgan Rielly were not on the ice for a single even-strength goal against. Canada's penalty kill allowed only two goals in 29 opportunities. Tanev registered one assist in the tournament.

Personal life

Tanev is married to Kendra Shelters-Tanev, whom he met during his lone year at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The couple have two children: a son named Bobby, born in 2022, and a second child born in November 2024. During the COVID-19 pandemic, at his wife's suggestion, he returned to school after a 10-year hiatus to pursue a degree in finance. As of May 2025, he was near completion of that degree while continuing his playing career.