Ryan VandenBussche
Born (1973-02-28) February 28, 1973
Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Chicago Blackhawks
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft 173rd overall, 1992
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 19932007

Ryan VandenBussche (born February 28, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played fourteen years of professional hockey, nine National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He is best known for his pugilistic skills.

Playing career

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, 8th round, 173rd overall, VandenBussche spent his first seasons playing for various OHL and AHL teams.

On August 22, 1995, he was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the New York Rangers. After two seasons in the AHL with the Rangers' farm team, the Binghamton Rangers, VandenBussche finally made his NHL debut for the 1996–97 season playing 11 games.

The very next season, 1997–98, VandenBussche was split between four different teams in three different leagues. He played three games for the Indianapolis Ice of the IHL, fifteen games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, sixteen games for the New York Rangers of the NHL, and since the Rangers traded him for Ryan Risidore on March 29, 1998, four games for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL.

VandenBussche remained a Blackhawk until the Pittsburgh Penguins signed him as an unrestricted free agent on July 12, 2004. On September 25, 2006, Jokerit of SM-liiga signed the forward for a try-out, which was terminated on November 5. After his tryout, VandenBussche signed with the New Mexico Scorpions as a player/coach, but retired in January for medical reasons.[1]

VandenBussche was not known as a goal scorer or play maker; in 310 NHL games, he scored 10 goals and 10 assists. VandenBussche's role was as an enforcer. He has the distinction of being pound for pound one of the toughest enforcers at the NHL level, and the man who ended the career of Nick Kypreos in a pre-season game in 1997.[2][3]

Post career

In 2006 VandenBussche was charged with assault after he assaulted multiple officers and uttered death threats. He was cleared of the charges in 2008 due to a successful argument that his multiple concussions during his hockey career and a shove during the altercation rendered him a "non-insane automaton".[4] VandenBussche and his wife Lisa currently sell real estate with his father Ron as Team VandenBussche with ReMax Erie Shores in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Ryan is the founder of a charity called Stix n Pix which promotes the development of grass-roots hockey and music within the community and surrounding area.[5] He has also partnered with Canadian Tire First Shift Program, which is an initiative to help get youth involved in hockey.[6] VandenBussche is also the founder/President of New Leaf Canada Inc. which is a Nutraceutical Health and Wellness company. His role as an athlete ambassador advocates the benefits of plant based medicines.

VandenBussche was awarded the civilian Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service in 2017 for his multiple visits to overseas military bases, starting with a ball hockey game in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2010.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1989–90 Norwich Merchants NDJHL 21121022146
1990–91 Cornwall Royals OHL 493811139
1991–92 Cornwall Royals OHL 61131528230 60229
1992–93 St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 10000
1992–93 Newmarket Royals OHL 30151227161
1992–93 Guelph Storm OHL 293141799 513413
1993–94 St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 4441014124
1993–94 Springfield Indians AHL 912329 500016
1994–95 St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 5321315239 300017
1995–96 Binghamton Rangers AHL 6831720240 40009
1996–97 Binghamton Rangers AHL 3881119133
1996–97 New York Rangers NHL 1110130
1997–98 Indianapolis Ice IHL 31124
1997–98 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 1520245
1997–98 New York Rangers NHL 1610138
1997–98 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 40115
1998–99 Portland Pirates AHL 37415119
1998–99 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 600017
1998–99 Indianapolis Ice IHL 3431013130
1999–00 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 52011143
2000–01 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 64257146
2001–02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 50123103 10000
2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 2200058
2002–03 Norfolk Admirals AHL 40115
2003–04 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 65415120
2004–05 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 23471177 1122411
2005–06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 2010142
2006–07 Jokerit SM-l 1500039
2006–07 New Mexico Scorpions CHL 903329
AHL totals 2922862901011 2322453
NHL totals 310101020702 10000

References

  1. "VandenBussche retires". scorpionshockey.com. 2006-09-20. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  2. "Kypreos, VandenBussche on concussions". sportsnet.ca. March 25, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  3. Campbell, Morgan (March 10, 2011). "A history of violence". The Toronto Star. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  4. Oliveira, Michael (July 11, 2008). "Former NHL enforcer cleared of assault charges". The Toronto Star. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  5. "Simcoe real estate". youronlineagents.com. 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  6. Robinson, Jacob (January 30, 2018). "Local skaters on Cloud 9". simcoereformer.ca. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  7. Robinson, Jacob (24 January 2017). "VandenBussche honoured by Canadian Forces". Simcoe Reformer. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
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