Chris Kelly is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 14 seasons. He was born on November 11, 1980, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Kelly began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the London Knights in 1997. He played for the Knights for four seasons and was named the team captain in his final year.
In 1999, Kelly was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Senators in 2003 and played with the team for eight seasons. During his time with the Senators, Kelly was known for his defensive skills and his ability to play on both the penalty kill and power play units. He was also a key player in the team's run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007.
In 2011, Kelly was traded to the Boston Bruins, where he played for six seasons. He was a key player in the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship run in 2011, scoring five goals and adding eight assists in 25 playoff games. Kelly was known for his leadership and work ethic, and was named an alternate captain for the Bruins in 2013.
After his time with the Bruins, Kelly played one season with the Ottawa Senators before signing with the Anaheim Ducks in 2017. He played in only 12 games with the Ducks before suffering a season-ending injury. Kelly announced his retirement from professional hockey in May 2019.
Throughout his career, Kelly played in 845 NHL games, scoring 123 goals and adding 166 assists for a total of 289 points. He was known for his defensive skills and his ability to play in all situations. Kelly was also a leader on and off the ice, and was respected by his teammates and coaches for his work ethic and professionalism.
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