Ryan VandenBussche

Canadian ice hockey player

Ryan VandenBussche (born February 28, 1973) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey right winger. He played a career total of 9 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He was known for his pugilistic skills.

Ryan VandenBussche
Born (1973-02-28) February 28, 1973 (age 51)
Simcoe, ON
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Right Wing
Played for New York Rangers
Chicago Blackhawks
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft 173rd overall, 1992
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1993–2006

Career change

Before playing in the NHL, VandenBussche played 2 seasons with the Cornwall Royals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

He was drafted with the 173rd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He spent most of his first seasons between the OHL and the American Hockey League (AHL) with the St. John's Maple Leafs, Springfield Indians, and Binghamton Rangers.

On August 22, 1995, he signed a contract with the New York Rangers after he became an unrestricted free agent.[1] After he spent two seasons in the AHL with the Rangers AHL-affiliate team, the Binghamton Rangers, VandenBussche made his NHL debut on December 13, 1996 in a 3-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres.[1][2]

After 27 games with the Rangers over 2 seasons, the Rangers traded VandenBussche to the Chicago Blackhawks for Ryan Risidore on March 24, 1998.[3] With the Blackhawks, VandenBussche played 263 games over 7 years with them.

On July 12, 2004, he signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an unrestricted free agent.[4]

He only played 20 games with the Penguins before he was signed for a try-out by Jokerit of the SM-liiga on September 25, 2006.[5]

He signed with the New Mexico Scorpions of the Central Hockey League (CHL) as a player/coach on November 5, 2006.[5] On January 17, 2007, he announced that he was retiring from playing professional hockey because of medical reasons.[5]

During his career, VandenBussche was mainly known as an enforcer. He is known for ending the career of Nick Kypreos during a fight in a pre-season game in September 1997.[6]

After retiring, he decided to sell real estate with his wife Lisa, and under the direction of his father Ron, in Norfolk County.[7]

On July 3, 2006, VandenBussche was charged with three counts of assaulting police and one count of uttering a death threat after a fight at a bar in Turkey Point. He was later cleared of the charges.[8]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Rangers - All Time Roster - Ryan VandenBussche". New York Rangers. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  2. "New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres 12/13/1996". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  3. "Trades by the Numbers". Los Angeles Kings. Retrieved September 8, 2014.[permanent dead link]
  4. "Penguins sign VandenBussche". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2015-10-24. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Ryan Vandenbussche - Notes". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  6. "Kypreos, VandenBussche on concussions". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  7. "NHL Alumni Interview with Ryan VandenBussche". The Voice of Sport. Retrieved September 8, 2014.[permanent dead link]
  8. "Former NHL enforcer Ryan VandenBussche cleared of assault charges". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2014.

Other websites change