Randy Jones (ice hockey)

Playing career

Jones began his junior hockey career with the Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. He then played for Clarkson University in the NCAA from 2001 through 2003. On July 24, 2003, he signed a contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers. He spent most of his first season with the Flyers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, and played with the Phantoms through the 2004–05 NHL lockout. The following season, he split time between the Phantoms and the Flyers. He played 66 games in the 2006–07 NHL season and began the 2007–08 season with the Flyers. On October 27, 2007, he boarded Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, knocking Bergeron unconscious and sending him to the hospital on a stretcher. Jones received a five-minute boarding major and a game misconduct, and issued an apology during the second period. On October 29, he was suspended two games for the hit. NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell stated that Jones did not intend to injure Bergeron but delivered a hard check to a vulnerable player. Bergeron did not play for the remainder of the season. On July 2, 2008, the Flyers signed Jones to a two-year contract extension. On September 26, 2009, the Flyers placed him on waivers to clear salary cap space; he cleared waivers and was assigned to the Adirondack Phantoms on September 30. On October 29, 2009, the Los Angeles Kings claimed him off re-entry waivers. After becoming an unrestricted free agent, Jones signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on August 25, 2010. The following season, he signed a one-year contract worth $1.15 million with the Winnipeg Jets on July 2, 2011. He endured the NHL lockout as a free agent, and with a lack of NHL interest, he signed a try-out with the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL on February 3, 2013. On October 28, 2013, the Portland Pirates of the AHL signed him to a professional tryout contract.