R. J. Umberger
Encyclopedia
Richard Allen "R. J." Umberger, Jr. (born May 3, 1982) is an American
professional ice hockey
center
and an alternate captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
. In his sophomore year and final season, he accumulated 116 points in just 26 games. He capped off his season by scoring the game winning goal in double overtime in front of a packed house at the Harmarville Bladerunners to win the Penguins Cup
. His efforts were recognized in 2006 when the Mustangs raised his number to the rafters of the Center Ice Arena
in Delmont.
Umberger played his college career with Ohio State University
. He was drafted in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
16th overall by the Vancouver Canucks
. Umberger left Ohio State before his senior year, intending to turn pro with the Vancouver Canucks
. He was unable to reach a deal however, and sat out the entire 2003-04 season. He was traded to the New York Rangers
on March 9, 2004 along with Martin Grenier
in exchange for Martin Ručinský
, but was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers
on June 16, 2004, just three months later.
He was called up to the Flyers roster in the 2005–06 NHL season.
Umberger is the second Western Pennsylvanian born hockey player to play in the NHL, along with Ryan Malone
of the Tampa Bay Lightning
. He scored his first career NHL goal on November 22, 2005 for the Flyers against the Lightning. Umberger began his career with the USA National Team Developmental Program after a successful developmental career with the Pittsburgh Hornets. On July 6, 2006, the Flyers announced that they had signed him to a two year contract.
On June 20, 2008, Umberger was traded from the Flyers with their fourth round pick (Drew Olson) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
to the Columbus Blue Jackets
for the Blue Jackets' first round pick, via the Colorado Avalanche
(Luca Sbisa
) drafted 19th overall and a third round pick (Marc-André Bourdon
) in the draft.
On April 16, 2009, Umberger scored the Blue Jackets' first ever playoff goal in a 4-1 loss at the Detroit Red Wings
in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
. He also scored in Games 3 and 4 as Detroit swept the series.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2011, Umberger signed a five year contract extension with his current team the Columbus Blue Jackets
. His contract will expire in the 2016-2017 NHL season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
center
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
and an alternate captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
Playing career
Umberger, who plays both left wing and center, played his high school hockey in the PIHL for the Plum MustangsPlum High School
Plum High School is a public high school and the only high school in Plum Borough School District located at 900 Elicker Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15239. It has approximately 1,478 students enrolled for the 2007-2008 school year and serves grades nine through twelve. The current principal is Ryan...
. In his sophomore year and final season, he accumulated 116 points in just 26 games. He capped off his season by scoring the game winning goal in double overtime in front of a packed house at the Harmarville Bladerunners to win the Penguins Cup
Penguins Cup
The Penguins Cup is a high school ice hockey tournament of over 70 high school ice hockey teams from western Pennsylvania. The tournament is run by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League with the finals administered by the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins franchise...
. His efforts were recognized in 2006 when the Mustangs raised his number to the rafters of the Center Ice Arena
Center Ice Arena
Center Ice Arena is an ice rink located in Delmont, Pennsylvania. The rink, opened in 1997 houses three ice rinks and is home to eight high school teams, one college team, and one amateur team...
in Delmont.
Umberger played his college career with Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. He was drafted in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
2001 NHL Entry Draft
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...
16th overall by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. Umberger left Ohio State before his senior year, intending to turn pro with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. He was unable to reach a deal however, and sat out the entire 2003-04 season. He was traded to the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
on March 9, 2004 along with Martin Grenier
Martin Grenier
Martin Grenier is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently a member of the Saguenay Marquis. Grenier resumed his career in June 2011 after taking a year off from professional hockey...
in exchange for Martin Ručinský
Martin Rucinsky
Martin Ručinský is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga. Ručínský was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round as the 20th overall selection in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft on June 22, 1991. Ručinský led the Montreal Canadiens in...
, but was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on June 16, 2004, just three months later.
He was called up to the Flyers roster in the 2005–06 NHL season.
Umberger is the second Western Pennsylvanian born hockey player to play in the NHL, along with Ryan Malone
Ryan Malone
Ryan Malone is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
. He scored his first career NHL goal on November 22, 2005 for the Flyers against the Lightning. Umberger began his career with the USA National Team Developmental Program after a successful developmental career with the Pittsburgh Hornets. On July 6, 2006, the Flyers announced that they had signed him to a two year contract.
On June 20, 2008, Umberger was traded from the Flyers with their fourth round pick (Drew Olson) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
2008 NHL Entry Draft
The 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on June 20–21, 2008...
to the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for the Blue Jackets' first round pick, via the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
(Luca Sbisa
Luca Sbisa
Luca Sbisa is an Italian-born Swiss ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League .-Early life:...
) drafted 19th overall and a third round pick (Marc-André Bourdon
Marc-Andre Bourdon
Marc-André Bourdon is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
) in the draft.
On April 16, 2009, Umberger scored the Blue Jackets' first ever playoff goal in a 4-1 loss at the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
. He also scored in Games 3 and 4 as Detroit swept the series.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2011, Umberger signed a five year contract extension with his current team the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. His contract will expire in the 2016-2017 NHL season.
Awards
- 2000–01: All-Rookie Team (CCHACentral Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
) - 2000–01: Rookie of the Year (CCHA)
- 2002–03: First All-Star Team (CCHA)
- 2002–03: West Second All-American Team (NCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
) - 2004–052004–05 AHL seasonThe 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season...
: Calder CupCalder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
Philadelphia PhantomsPhiladelphia PhantomsThe Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were...
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2000–01 | Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States... |
CCHA Central Collegiate Hockey Association The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship... |
32 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Ohio State Buckeyes | CCHA | 37 | 18 | 21 | 39 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Ohio State Buckeyes | CCHA | 43 | 26 | 27 | 53 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Did not play | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 AHL season The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Philadelphia Phantoms Philadelphia Phantoms The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
80 | 21 | 44 | 65 | 36 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 12 | ||
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals.... |
Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 8 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 73 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 81 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 74 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 10 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 82 | 26 | 20 | 46 | 53 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 82 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 82 | 25 | 32 | 57 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 474 | 123 | 151 | 274 | 209 | 26 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 12 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | United States | WJ18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2001 | United States | WJ18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2001 | United States | WJC 2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships -Group B:All times local .-Relegation round: was relegated to Division I for the 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.-Final round:† Overtime victory.-Quarterfinals:January 2-Consolation round:... |
7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2002 | United States | WJC 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2002 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred as the 2002 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 26th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships... |
7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2006 | United States | WC-A 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 70th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 45 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2007 competition... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Senior int'l totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||