Chris Kunitz (born September 26, 1979 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) is a professional ice hockey left wing and alternate captain who currently plays for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League.
Playing career
Minors
Kunitz played NCAA hockey with the Ferris State Bulldogs and his Junior 'A' with the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
He was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2003, the same year the Ferris State Hockey Team made it to the Div I Regional Finals, just missing out on the Frozen Four. He was part of the only Ferris State team to have ever make a NCAA Tournament appearance.[1]
Professional
Kunitz was signed as an undrafted free agent by Anaheim on April 1, 2003. He started the 2005–06 NHL season on Anaheim's roster, but was claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers off waivers, playing two games for them. Two weeks later he was re-claimed off waivers back to the Ducks, and played 67 games with them, scoring 19 goals and adding 22 assists for 41 points, setting a club rookie point scoring record.
In the 2006–07 NHL season, Kunitz advanced to the playoffs with the Anaheim Ducks and helped defeat the Minnesota Wild, the Vancouver Canucks, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Ottawa Senators to win his first Stanley Cup Championship. Kunitz was injured during the series against the Red Wings, but returned late in the Stanley Cup Final against Ottawa to help clinch the championship in game 5.
For the 2007 season, Kunitz has been named one of the team's alternate captains, his first time with the Ducks and his professional career. Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle is quoted as saying, “Rob Niedermayer was an [alternate] last year and did a fine job, and we thought it was important to involve our younger players in the leadership role. Chris Kunitz fit that role.”
Kunitz made his international hockey debut for Team Canada at the 2008 World Hockey Championships.[2]
Career statistics
|
|
Regular Season |
|
Playoffs |
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
| 1999-00 |
Ferris State University |
NCAA |
38 |
20 |
9 |
29 |
70 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2000-01 |
Ferris State University |
NCAA |
37 |
16 |
13 |
29 |
81 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2001-02 |
Ferris State University |
NCAA |
35 |
28 |
10 |
38 |
68 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2002-03 |
Ferris State University |
NCAA |
42 |
35 |
44 |
79 |
56 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2003-04 |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
NHL |
21 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
12 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2003-04 |
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks |
AHL |
59 |
19 |
25 |
44 |
101 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
24 |
| 2004-05 |
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks |
AHL |
54 |
22 |
17 |
39 |
71 |
12 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
20 |
| 2005-06 |
Atlanta Thrashers |
NHL |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2005-06 |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
NHL |
67 |
19 |
22 |
41 |
69 |
16 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
| 2005-06 |
Portland Pirates |
AHL |
5 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2006-07 |
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
81 |
25 |
35 |
60 |
81 |
13 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
19 |
| 2007-08 |
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
82 |
21 |
29 |
50 |
80 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
| NHL Totals |
253 |
65 |
92 |
157 |
244 |
35 |
4 |
12 |
16 |
35 |
International play
Played for Canada in:
International statistics
| Year |
Event |
|
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
| 2008 |
WC |
9 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
| Senior Int'l Totals |
9 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
References
- ^ "Ferris State Press Release".
- ^ "Getzlaf, Kunitz Named to Team Canada".
External links
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