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Jeff Christian, the leading scorer and all-star representative for the first-year Missouri Mavericks, will not be a part of the 2010-2011 team as a player or a coach.
Christian, 40, has requested that the details of his decision not be printed until he is announced as a member of his new Central Hockey League team, but the Mavericks did confirm Wednesday afternoon that Christian would not return this season.
Christian’s 8-year-old Ryan became a focal point of the Central Hockey League team’s first season when it was announced that she had cancer.
After being treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital, she was moved to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where she underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy.
Christian spent as much time in Memphis, with his wife Dorie and Ryan, as he could and would fly back to Independence or join the Mavericks on the road for their improbable journey to the playoffs.
“We were looking forward to bringing Jeff back as an assistant coach this season after he confirmed the Mavericks’ offer a couple months ago,” Mavericks coach Scott Hillman said, “although he has changed his decision, we support the move because we know it’s the best thing for his family which has always been our No. 1 priority.
“Jeff became a real fan favorite and I know our fans are going to miss him. The way this community supported Jeff and his family was amazing – really, one of the most amazing things I have been a part of.
“And we all know that Jeff made the decision to move on to another team because it will benefit his family, especially Ryan.”
Hillman said it is important to honor Christian’s request that all details of his move come from his new team, but added, “I talked with someone today who saw the moving van at Jeff’s (Blue Springs) home over the weekend and the questions are starting to come into our office. I think we need to address them because we owe that to our fans.”
Mavericks president and general manager Brent Thiessen backed his coach’s comments.
“We talked to teams around the league and in other leagues about getting Jeff a head coaching job, because we know he wants to be a head coach one day,” Thiessen said.
“And we know he wanted to continue to play and take care of his family. We wish him the best. He was an important part of this team, and was certainly an important part of our community.
“None of us will ever forget the love this community showed Jeff, Dorie and Ryan. I know this must have been a difficult decision for Jeff, and we wish him and his family the very best.”
The Mavericks hosted a Ryan Christian Love Fund event at the final regular-season home finale and auction items brought in more than $80,000 from fans who attended that game.
More details will be given on Christian’s future in the CHL in an upcoming edition of The Examiner.
Jeff Christian, the leading scorer and all-star representative for the first-year Missouri Mavericks, will not be a part of the 2010-2011 team as a player or a coach.
Christian, 40, has requested that the details of his decision not be printed until he is announced as a member of his new Central Hockey League team, but the Mavericks did confirm Wednesday afternoon that Christian would not return this season.
Christian’s 8-year-old Ryan became a focal point of the Central Hockey League team’s first season when it was announced that she had cancer.
After being treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital, she was moved to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where she underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy.
Christian spent as much time in Memphis, with his wife Dorie and Ryan, as he could and would fly back to Independence or join the Mavericks on the road for their improbable journey to the playoffs.
“We were looking forward to bringing Jeff back as an assistant coach this season after he confirmed the Mavericks’ offer a couple months ago,” Mavericks coach Scott Hillman said, “although he has changed his decision, we support the move because we know it’s the best thing for his family which has always been our No. 1 priority.
“Jeff became a real fan favorite and I know our fans are going to miss him. The way this community supported Jeff and his family was amazing – really, one of the most amazing things I have been a part of.
“And we all know that Jeff made the decision to move on to another team because it will benefit his family, especially Ryan.”
Hillman said it is important to honor Christian’s request that all details of his move come from his new team, but added, “I talked with someone today who saw the moving van at Jeff’s (Blue Springs) home over the weekend and the questions are starting to come into our office. I think we need to address them because we owe that to our fans.”
Mavericks president and general manager Brent Thiessen backed his coach’s comments.
“We talked to teams around the league and in other leagues about getting Jeff a head coaching job, because we know he wants to be a head coach one day,” Thiessen said.
“And we know he wanted to continue to play and take care of his family. We wish him the best. He was an important part of this team, and was certainly an important part of our community.
“None of us will ever forget the love this community showed Jeff, Dorie and Ryan. I know this must have been a difficult decision for Jeff, and we wish him and his family the very best.”
The Mavericks hosted a Ryan Christian Love Fund event at the final regular-season home finale and auction items brought in more than $80,000 from fans who attended that game.
More details will be given on Christian’s future in the CHL in an upcoming edition of The Examiner.
