# Chris Wells (ice hockey)

Chris Wells (born November 12, 1975) is a Canadian former professional hockey player who played in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers.

## Playing career

Wells was playing with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL when he was drafted in the 1st round, 24th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. His large size (6'6" 223 lbs) along with a strong physical presence and scoring touch contributed to his high draft choice. For the 1994–1995 season Wells returned to the Thunderbirds and scored 108 points in 68 games while contributing 148 PIMs as well. The following year Wells made his debut in the NHL, appearing in 54 games with the Penguins. Wells began the 1996–97 year with the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the IHL when he was traded by the Penguins to the Florida Panthers for Stu Barnes and Jason Woolley. He played 4 years with the Panthers, having his best year during the 1997–98 campaign in which he scored 15 points and appeared in 61 games.
Wells also skated for the New York Rangers and was signed by the Dallas Stars in 2000 . Instead he was sent to the Utah Grizzlies. On November 20, 2002, Wells debuted in the Russian Superleague with the Khabarovsk Amur Tigers and played on a line with former NHL all-star Sergei Krivokrasov. He later played parts of three seasons in Italy, Russia and Denmark.
Wells retired from hockey in 2005.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1990–91 | Calgary Royals | AJHL | 35 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 64 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 80 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 1992–93 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 63 | 18 | 37 | 55 | 111 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 1993–94 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 69 | 30 | 44 | 74 | 150 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 23 |
| 1994–95 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 69 | 45 | 63 | 108 | 148 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1994–95 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 54 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 15 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 47 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997–98 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 61 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | Beast of New Haven | AHL | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Louisville Panthers | AHL | 31 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 38 |
| 2000–01 | Utah Grizzlies | IHL | 43 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | Wheeling Nailers | ECHL | 60 | 18 | 31 | 49 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | Portland Pirates | AHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Peoria Rivermen | ECHL | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Amur Khabarovsk | RSL | 22 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Milano Vipers | ITA | 23 | 17 | 10 | 27 | 59 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 30 |
| 2004–05 | Rødovre Mighty Bulls | DNK | 35 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 75 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 45 |
| IHL totals | IHL totals | IHL totals | 61 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 195 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 193 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 57 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 54 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 38 |

## Awards

* 1995: WHL West First All-Star Team
* 2000: Calder Cup winner AHL
* 2004: European championship Italy