Luke Bradley Bombardir (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators in the NHL. He currently serves as the Minnesota Wild's Director of Player Development and Senior Director of Community Relations.
| Brad Bombardir | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
May 5, 1972 Powell River, British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
New Jersey Devils Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators | ||
| National team |
 Canada | ||
| NHL Draft |
56th overall, 1990 New Jersey Devils | ||
| Playing career | 1994–2005 | ||
Playing career edit
Amateur edit
Growing up in British Columbia, Bombardir played minor hockey with the Powell River Paper Kings in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League from 1988 until 1990.[1] As a result of his play, in which he recorded 10 goals and 25 assists in 60 games, Bombardir was selected in the third round, 56th overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He did not expect to be drafted and thus showed up at BC Place in a T-shirt and faded jeans instead of a suit and tie.[2] Prior to the draft, Bombardir was expected to enrol at the University of North Dakota but considered playing in the Western Hockey League for the Victoria Cougars.[3]
Professional edit
After graduating from the University of North Dakota with a degree in economic development, Bombardir began his professional career with the Albany River Rats in the American Hockey League (AHL).[4] In 1996, his second year with the team, Bombardir was selected for the American Hockey League All-Star team.[5] While entering his third professional season, an NHL lockout happened and Devils assistant coach Larry Robinson spent six weeks training the AHL team. When reflecting on the ordeal, Bombardir said: "I learned more from him in those six weeks than from any other coach."[4] However, Bombardir suffered a broken leg while chasing the puck and missed most of the 1996–1997 season.[4] He returned to the lineup for the 1997–98 season where he made his NHL during a 4–1 loss to the Washington Capitals. Coach Jacques Lemaire praised Bombardir after his debut, saying: "He played well. He was in control...We were confident when he was on the ice."[6] On April 15, 1998, Bombardir recorded his first career NHL goal in a 5–4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.[7]
During the 1999–2000 season, Bombardir made his NHL post-season debut while Scott Niedermayer was suspended.[8] The Devils eventually won the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals and he brought the Cup to Powell River.[9] His play during the 2000–01 season earned him a three-year contract extension with the Wild after he posted a career-high 15 assists.[10] As well, although the Wild had been rotating captains each month, Bombardir became the first to serve two consecutive months in January and February.[11] In October 2001, Bombardir fractured his right ankle and was expected to miss two months to recover. The injury occurred during a 3-3 tie with the Edmonton Oilers when he was smashed into the boards by Ethan Moreau.[12] At the time of the injury, Bombardir was playing 25 minutes a game, more than any Wild player.[13] Upon returning to the team's lineup, he recorded his first goal in 104 games during a 5–3 win over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on February 28, 2002.[10]
Bombardir returned to the Wild for the 2003–04 season where he was again named captain of the team in January.[14] In February, Bombardir and Sergei Zholtok were traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third and fourth-round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.[15]
Post-career edit
In September 2006, Bombardir accepted a full-time position as the director of community partnerships for the Minnesota Wild.[16][17] Following this, Bombardir was appointed Director of Player Development in 2010.[18]
Personal life edit
Bombardir and his wife Heather have three children together.[19]
Career statistics edit
Regular season and playoffs edit
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1988–89 | Powell River Paper Kings | BCJHL | 30 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1989–90 | Powell River Paper Kings | BCJHL | 60 | 10 | 35 | 45 | 93 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 1990–91 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 33 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 35 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 38 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 38 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 77 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1995–96 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 80 | 6 | 25 | 31 | 63 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1996–97 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 32 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 1997–98 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 43 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 56 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1999–2000 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 32 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 70 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 58 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 56 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| AHL totals | 195 | 11 | 55 | 66 | 91 | 33 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 18 | ||||
| NHL totals | 356 | 8 | 46 | 54 | 127 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
International edit
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Canada | WJC | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Brad Bombardir". eliteprospects.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ Yoos, Cameron (June 19, 1990). "Bombardir arrives dressed for success". Nanaimo Daily News. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Senick, Dave (June 20, 1990). "Cougars lay first bricks in WHL rebuilding job". Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Times Colonist. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Gallagher, Tony (November 6, 1998). "Pride of Powell River having Devil of a time". The Province. Retrieved March 6, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Three Rats named AHL All-Stars". The Post-Star. April 13, 1996. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Ross, Sherry (October 5, 1997). "Capitals' punch KOs Devils". Daily News. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Rose, Sherry (April 16, 1998). "Brodeur is shaky, Devs not". Daily News. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Beacon, Bill (June 9, 2000). "Spare Devil glad to be there". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Where his heart is". The Province. June 12, 2000. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "First goal helps career comeback". The Province. March 1, 2002. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Jones, Tom (February 6, 2001). "Bombardir will remain captain". Minneapolis, Minnesota: Star Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Jones, Tom (October 15, 2001). "Bombardir fractures right ankle". Minneapolis, Minnesota: Star Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bombardir likely to play this weekend". Star Tribune. December 22, 2001. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Back at captain". Star Tribune. January 2, 2004. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "From prey to Predators". The Province. March 7, 2004. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wild adds ex-defenseman Bombardir to staff". The Bismarck Tribune. September 7, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "CAREER CHANGE". The Vancouver Sun. December 20, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ Andresen, Glen (June 24, 2010). "Bombardir Named Director of Player Development". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ "Hockey Operations" (PDF). devilsmedia.com. 2016. p. 11. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
External links edit
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database