Born	February 19, 1986 (1986-02-19) (age 23), Westlock, AB, CAN
Height Weight	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team (P) Cur. team	Montreal Canadiens Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)
Ntl. team	Canada
NHL Draft	18th overall, 2004 Montreal Canadiens
Pro career	2004 – present

Kyle Chipchura (born February 19, 1986) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 18th overall of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Canadiens.

Chipchura was born in Westlock, Alberta, and played minor league hockey in nearby Legal and Westlock, and attended high school at R. F. Staples Secondary School and Carlton Comprehensive High School during his stint with the Prince Albert Raiders. He currently plays with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League.

Chipchura in action.

Chipchura attended Team Canada's selection camp prior to the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championship and was expected to make the team despite being only 18 (players up to 20 years old are eligible for the tournament). During practice with the Raiders, he suffered a severed Achilles tendon and was not able to participate as a member of the gold-medal winning Canadian team. Chipchura was able to recover, however, and was invited to try out again for the 2006 tournament. After being selected for the Canadian team, Chipchura was named team captain by Head Coach Brent Sutter on December 16, 2005. Being named the captain of Team Canada at any level is a highly prestigious honour, and the World Juniors are closely watched in Canada.

When asked why he chose Chipchura, Sutter said: "He's a heart and soul guy and when you have a team that is perhaps lacking some experience at the national level, which obviously we are, you need a real strong character and real strong person mentally that's totally committed to the way we want to play. He's probably a huge reflection of myself."

The 2006 team went on to win the gold medal making Chipchura a national figure in Canadian hockey.

On March 25, 2006, Chipchura was signed to a three-year contract by the Montreal Canadiens. He played his first NHL game on October 10, 2007. He netted his first goal on October 20, 2007, against the Buffalo Sabres.

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] References

• World Junior Roster Finalized
• Kyle Chipchura's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database