Chris VandeVelde Chris VandeVelde ( born March 15 , 1987 ) is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) with the Edmonton Oilers . He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 4th round ( 97th overall ) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft . Playing career . Amateur . VandeVelde played high school ice hockey for Moorhead High School ( MHS ) in Moorhead , Minnesota . He was a three year letterman while helping MHS reach three consecutive state tournaments . In his senior season he recorded 77 points and was named the team ' s Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) and also earned all - state and all - tournament honors . In 2004 , VandeVelde began playing for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) . He played two seasons in Lincoln playing in 63 games , registering 41 points . He was drafted in the fourth round , 97th overall , in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers . After playing for the Stars , VandeVelde began playing college hockey at the University of North Dakota ( UND ) . He scored his first career collegiate goal during his freshman year in a 3 – 3 tie against St . Cloud State University on March , 2 2007 . He struggled to score for most of the year , but in his final nine games he scored seven points helping him earn UND ' s Most Improved Player honors . In the WCHA Final Five semifinal game against St . Cloud State , VandeVelde registered a career high three point game , including his first career game - winning goal in a 6 – 2 win . During his sophomore season he led UND in shooting percentage while finishing third in team scoring . The following season , VandeVelde notched first collegiate hat trick in a 6 – 2 win over University of Alaska Anchorage . The hat trick helped him set a collegiate career high for goals with 18 . For his senor season VandeVelde was named an alternate captain . During the season he recorded a career high 41 points to lead UND in scoring . In the 2010 WCHA Final Five tournament he scored two goals and added three assists in three games as UND won the championship earning the Broadmoor Trophy . VandeVelde was named to the All - Tournament Team , and at seasons end he also named WCHA Scholar Athlete , an All - WCHA Academic Team selection , named to Inside College Hockey ' s All - America third team , and was named UND ' s Glenn " Red " Jarrett Male Athlete of the Year . Professional . Following his four year career at UND , VandeVelde signed a contract with the Oilers and began playing with their then American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliate , the Springfield Falcons . He played in two games and registered his first professional assist . He began the 2010 – 11 season playing for the AHL ' s Oklahoma City Barons . After playing in 67 games and recording 12 goals and 16 points , he was called up to the Oilers . VandeVelde made his NHL debut on March 17 , 2011 against the Phoenix Coyotes . On April 2 , 2011 , he registered his first NHL point , an assist , in a game against the Vancouver Canucks . He finished the year with two assists in twelve games at the NHL level . Following the completion of the Oilers season , VandeVelde was assigned back to Oklahoma City for the AHL playoffs . He played in six games for the Barons in the playoffs , scoring one goal .