Randy Velischek

Randolph John Velischek (born February 10, 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League from 1982–83 until 1991–92 for the Minnesota North Stars, New Jersey Devils, and Quebec Nordiques.[1] Randy Velischek was drafted 53rd overall by the North Stars in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.[1] He played 509 career NHL games, scoring 21 goals and 97 points.[1]

Randy Velischek
Born (1962-02-10) February 10, 1962
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Minnesota North Stars
New Jersey Devils
Quebec Nordiques
NHL Draft 53rd overall, 1980
Minnesota North Stars
Playing career 1983–1995

He was also the head coach of the Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League for the 2018–19 season.

Playing career

Velischek was born in Montreal, Quebec. As a youth, he played in the 1974 and 1975 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Mount Royal, Quebec.[2] He spent his junior hockey career with the Lac St-Louis Lions of the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association and the Verdun Éperviers of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.[1] After his junior career ended, Velischek played four years of college hockey for the Providence Friars from 1979 to 1983, where he majored in business and French, graduating with honors.[1][3]

In addition to playing in the NHL, Velischek played professionally in the American Hockey League for the Springfield Indians, Maine Mariners, Halifax Citadels, and Cornwall Aces, the International Hockey League for the Milwaukee Admirals, the Central Hockey League for the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, and the British Hockey League for the Durham Wasps.[1][4]

Life after hockey

From 1995 to 2006, Velischek served as a broadcaster for the New Jersey Devils on ABC Radio and WFAN-AM.[3]

Beginning in 2007–08 school year, Velischek taught at the Pingry School as a German and French teacher and coached middle school ice hockey.[3] On June 11, 2009, Velischeck was hired as the boy's high school ice hockey coach at Morristown-Beard School.[5] Along with coaching at Morristown-Beard School, Velischek was also the hockey director at Twin Oaks Ice Rink in Morristown, New Jersey, and runs RJV Hockey School.[6]

On September 20, 2018, nine days before the start of the season, he was named the head coach of the New Jersey Devils-associated Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League,[7] based in Newark, New Jersey, despite not having any previous experience in women's hockey.[8] He was not retained for the 2019–20 season after the Devils severed ties with the Riveters and the team performed disappointingly.[9][10]

Personal life

Following in his father's footsteps, Velischek's son Alex also played four years of college hockey for Providence.[11] Alex was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (123rd overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft.[12][11][13][14][15] Randy was named hockey director of the Ramapo Saints tier 1,2 & 3 hockey program. In addition to son Alex, Randy has a son Anders, stepsons Axel and Olin Witt and a daughter Abbey. Randy and his wife, Sharon reside in northern New Jersey and Quebec, Canada.

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1977–78 Lac-St-Louis Lions QMAAA 263252814 75386
1978–79 Lac-St-Louis Lions QMAAA 3913314447 9381110
1978–79 Verdun Eperviers QMJHL ————— 40110
1979–80 Providence College NCAA 31551020 —————
1980–81 Providence College NCAA 333121526 —————
1981–82 Providence College NCAA 331141538 —————
1982–83 Providence College NCAA 4118345250 —————
1982–83 Minnesota North Stars NHL 30002 90000
1983–84 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 437212854 50332
1983–84 Minnesota North Stars NHL 3322410 10000
1984–85 Springfield Indians AHL 2627922 —————
1984–85 Minnesota North Stars NHL 52491326 92358
1985–86 Maine Mariners AHL 210444 —————
1985–86 New Jersey Devils NHL 4727939 —————
1986–87 New Jersey Devils NHL 642161852 —————
1987–88 New Jersey Devils NHL 51391266 1902220
1988–89 New Jersey Devils NHL 804141870 —————
1989–90 New Jersey Devils NHL 6206672 60004
1990–91 Quebec Nordiques NHL 792101242 —————
1991–92 Halifax Citadels AHL 163690 —————
1991–92 Quebec Nordiques NHL 3823522 —————
1992–93 Halifax Citadels AHL 496162218 —————
1993–94 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 537111828 40002
1993–94 Cornwall Aces AHL 1816717 —————
1994–95 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 3533624 122246
NHL totals 509 21 76 97 401 44 2 5 7 32

Awards and honors
Award Year
All-ECAC Hockey All-Star Team of The 1980s Second Team 1979-83[1]
All-ECAC 1981–82[1]
ECAC Second All-Star Team 1981–82[1]
NCAA (All-East) Senior All-Stars 1982–83[1]
All-ECAC 1982–83[1]
ECAC First All-Star Team 1982–83[1]
ECAC Player of The Year 1982–83[1]
NCAA (New England)-All New England 1982–83[1]
AHCA East All-American 1982–83[16]

References
  1. "Randy Velischek". Eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  2. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
  3. "The Pingry Review" (PDF). Pingry School. Winter 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  4. "Randy John Velischek". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  5. "Randy Velischek Named Morristown-Beard Ice Hockey Coach (High School Boys Ice Hockey News)". NJ.com. June 11, 2009. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  6. "Randy Velischek". Twin Oaks Ice Rink. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  7. "The Riveters finally name a new coach". TheIceGarden.com. 20 September 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  8. "Will New Coach Randy Velischek Survive More Than One Season?". November 8, 2018.
  9. Murphy, Mike (July 3, 2019). "The Riveters' next coach needs to be chosen carefully". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  10. "Metropolitan Riveters: Reeling Rivs Relieved to See 2018 End". December 16, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  11. "Mavericks Sign Kyle Fletcher and Alex Velischek". OurSportsCentral.com. September 10, 2014. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  12. Chere, Rich (June 27, 2009). "Pittsburgh Penguins Draft Kinnelon's Alex Velischek, Son of Former New Jersey Devils Defenseman Randy". NJ.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  13. Genet, Mike (October 10, 2014). "A NEW ERA". The Examiner. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  14. "ECHL Transactions - Oct. 9". ECHL. October 9, 2014. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  15. "Cyclones Complete Trade with Missouri". OurSportsCentral.com. November 20, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  16. "1982-1983 AHCA TITAN ALL-AMERICAN TEAM". American Hockey Coaches Association. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
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