R.J. Umberger is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on May 3, 1982, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up playing hockey in the Pittsburgh area. Umberger played college hockey at Ohio State University, where he was a standout player and helped lead the Buckeyes to the NCAA tournament in 2003.
After his college career, Umberger was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the first two seasons of his professional career playing for the Canucks' minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, before making his NHL debut in 2005. Umberger played one season with the Canucks before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006.
Umberger played six seasons with the Flyers, where he became a fan favorite for his hard work and physical play. He was a consistent scorer for the team, scoring at least 20 goals in four of his six seasons with the team. Umberger was also a key player for the Flyers in the playoffs, helping the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008 and the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010.
In 2014, Umberger was traded back to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team that originally drafted him in 2001. He played two seasons with the Blue Jackets before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers again in 2016. Umberger announced his retirement from professional hockey in 2017.
Throughout his career, Umberger was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. He finished his NHL career with 409 points (180 goals, 229 assists) in 779 games. Umberger was also a two-time member of the United States national team, representing his country at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.
Off the ice, Umberger was known for his charitable work. He was involved with the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among other organizations. Umberger was also a finalist for the NHL's King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2011, which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.
Overall, R.J. Umberger had a successful career in the NHL, playing for three different teams and earning the respect of his teammates and fans for his hard work and dedication to the game.
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