Born	April 13, 1984(1984-04-13), Port Moody, BC, CAN
Height Weight	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team F. teams	New York Islanders Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft	27th overall, 2003 Los Angeles Kings
Pro career	2005 – present

Jeff Tambellini (born April 13, 1984 in Port Moody, British Columbia) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger, currently playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Originally drafted 27th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2003, Tambellini played Junior A in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and college hockey with the University of Michigan before beginning his NHL career with the Kings in 2005–06. He was traded to the Islanders in his rookie season.

[edit] Playing career

Tambellini played Junior A in the BCHL with the Chilliwack Chiefs for two seasons before joining the college ranks in 2002–03 with the University of Michigan, where he served as an alternate captain. After his freshman year, he was drafted in the first round, 27th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. Tambellini decided to forego his senior year with Michigan to turn pro in 2005–06, making his debut with the Kings, while spending time with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs.

During his rookie season, on March 8, 2006, Tambellini was traded, along with defenceman Denis Grebeshkov, to the New York Islanders, in exchange for forward Mark Parrish and defenceman Brent Sopel.^[1] He spent his first few years with the Islanders slitting time between the NHL and the AHL with their minor league affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. During the 2007–08 season, Tambellini set the a Sound Tigers single-season scoring record with 76 points in 57 games. The following season, in 2008–09, he earning a full-time roster spot with New York, scoring seven goals and adding eight assists in 65 games. He also scored three goals in three games in six games for the Sound Tigers.

In the 2009-10 NHL season, Tambellini recorded his first career NHL hat trick on October 31, 2009, against the Buffalo Sabres.^[2]

[edit] Personal life

His father, Steve Tambellini, also played in the NHL as a member of the Islanders and is currently the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers. He is the grandson of Addie Tambellini, who had helped the Trail Smoke Eaters win the 1961 World Ice Hockey Championships, the last Canadian amateur team to do so^[3].

[edit] Awards

• 2002–03 CCHA All-Rookie team
• 2002–03 CCHA Second All-Star team
• 2002–03 CCHA Rookie of the Year
• 2003–04 CCHA All-Tournament team
• 2003–04 CCHA First All-Star team
• 2003–04 CCHA Tournament MVP
• 2003–04 NCAA West Second All-American team

[edit] Career statistics

Tambellini, stretching before a game

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jeff Tambellini's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database