Former SteelHound Christian looks to ‘Conquer Cancer’

Staff report

TORONTO

Jeff Christian, the captain of the Youngstown SteelHounds for their first two seasons in the Central Hockey League, is preparing for one of his longest hockey days.

Saturday in Toronto, Christian will play in five road hockey games as part of the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer fundraiser.

Christian and his wife, Dorie, are connected to the Team Ryan Charitable Foundation that honors the memory of their daughter, Ryan, who died of cancer in January 2012 after a three-year battle.

Christian, whose NHL career included 15 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is seeking sponsors to raise $10,000. The dawn-to-dusk event will raise money for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

“I will be competing in five full games of road hockey, so it’s going to be a lot of hard work and a long day,” Christian wrote on his website. “However, knowing that I’ll be supporting The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

“I will be playing on a team with 8-12 other players, and we hope to make a significant contribution to this amazing cause.”

Christian said his goal is a bit intimidating but he took it on because “the work The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is doing is so crucial.”

To donate, visit the website http://rhcc1.akaraisin.com/toronto2015/jeffchristian?abcId=6304685&TV=1. Anyone donating more than $10 will receive a receipt for tax purposes.

Christian, 45, was a professional hockey player from 1999-2011. He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 1988. He joined the Penguins organization in 1994, spending most of three seasons with the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the old IHL.

In July 2005, Christian was named the first captain of the expansion SteelHounds. After two seasons here, Christian was traded to the Tulsa Oilers.

In 2010, Christian joined the CHL’s Mississippi RiverKings while Ryan was being treated at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. His career ended in 2011 with the CHL’s Evansville IceMen.