Brad Bombardir

Luke Bradley Bombardir (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators in the NHL. He currently serves as the Minnesota Wild's Director of Player Development and Senior Director of Community Relations.
==Playing career==
=== Amateur===
Growing up in British Columbia, Bombardir played minor hockey with the Powell River Paper Kings in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League from 1988 until 1990. As a result of his play, in which he recorded 10 goals and 25 assists in 60 games, Bombardir was selected in the third round, 56th overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He did not expect to be drafted and thus showed up at BC Place in a T-shirt and faded jeans instead of a suit and tie. Prior to the draft, Bombardir was expected to enrol at the University of North Dakota but considered playing in the Western Hockey League for the Victoria Cougars.
===Professional===
After graduating from the University of North Dakota with a degree in economic development, Bombardir began his professional career with the Albany River Rats in the American Hockey League (AHL). In 1996, his second year with the team, Bombardir was selected for the American Hockey League All-Star team. While entering his third professional season, an NHL lockout happened and Devils assistant coach Larry Robinson spent six weeks training the AHL team. When reflecting on the ordeal, Bombardir said: "I learned more from him in those six weeks than from any other coach." However, Bombardir suffered a broken leg while chasing the puck and missed most of the 1996–1997 season. He returned to the lineup for the 1997–98 season where he made his NHL during a 4–1 loss to the Washington Capitals. Coach Jacques Lemaire praised Bombardir after his debut, saying: "He played well. He was in control...We were confident when he was on the ice." On April 15, 1998, Bombardir recorded his first career NHL goal in a 5–4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. 
During the 1999–2000 season, Bombardir made his NHL post-season debut while Scott Niedermayer was suspended. The Devils eventually won the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals and he brought the Cup to Powell River. His play during the 2000–01 season earned him a three-year contract extension with the Wild after he posted a career-high 15 assists. As well, although the Wild had been rotating captains each month, Bombardir became the first to serve two consecutive months in January and February. In October 2001, Bombardir fractured his right ankle and was expected to miss two months to recover. The injury occurred during a 3-3 tie with the Edmonton Oilers when he was smashed into the boards by Ethan Moreau. At the time of the injury, Bombardir was playing 25 minutes a game, more than any Wild player. Upon returning to the team's lineup, he recorded his first goal in 104 games during a 5–3 win over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on February 28, 2002.
Bombardir returned to the Wild for the 2003–04 season where he was again named captain of the team in January. In February, Bombardir and Sergei Zholtok were traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third and fourth-round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
==Post-career==
In September 2006, Bombardir accepted a full-time position as the director of community partnerships for the Minnesota Wild. Following this, Bombardir was appointed Director of Player Development in 2010.
==Personal life==
Bombardir and his wife Heather have three children together.
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
  	  	  	 	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
1988–89 	Powell River Paper Kings 	BCJHL 	 	30 	6 	5 	11 	24 	 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
1989–90 	Powell River Paper Kings 	BCJHL 	 	60 	10 	35 	45 	93 	 	8 	2 	3 	5 	4
1990–91 	University of North Dakota	WCHA 	 	33 	3 	6 	9 	18 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1991–92 	University of North Dakota	WCHA 	 	35 	3 	14 	17 	54 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1992–93 	University of North Dakota	WCHA 	 	38 	8 	15 	23 	34 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1993–94 	University of North Dakota	WCHA 	 	38 	5 	17 	22 	38 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1994–95 	Albany River Rats 	AHL 	 	77 	5 	22 	27 	22 	 	14 	0 	3 	3 	6
1995–96 	Albany River Rats 	AHL 	 	80 	6 	25 	31 	63 	 	3 	0 	1 	1 	4
1996–97 	Albany River Rats 	AHL 	 	32 	0 	8 	8 	6 	 	16 	1 	3 	4 	8
1997–98 	Albany River Rats 	AHL 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	43 	1 	5 	6 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998–99 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	56 	1 	7 	8 	16 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0
1999–2000 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	32 	3 	1 	4 	6 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
2000–01 	Minnesota Wild 	NHL 	 	70 	0 	15 	15 	42 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	Minnesota Wild 	NHL 	 	28 	1 	2 	3 	14 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Minnesota Wild 	NHL 	 	58 	1 	14 	15 	16 	 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
2003–04 	Minnesota Wild 	NHL 	 	56 	1 	2 	3 	21 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2003–04 	Nashville Predators 	NHL 	 	13 	0 	0 	0 	4 	 	6 	0 	1 	1 	2
2005–06 	Springfield Falcons 	AHL 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
AHL totals	AHL totals 	AHL totals	 	195 	11 	55 	66 	91 	 	33 	1 	7 	8 	18
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	356 	8 	46 	54 	127 	 	16 	0 	1 	1 	2
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year	Team 	Event	 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992	Canada	WJC 	 	7 	0	3	3 	4
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==See also==
*Captain (ice hockey)
==References==
==External links==
*
 
Category:1972 births
Category:Albany River Rats players
Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen
Category:Ice hockey people from British Columbia
Category:Minnesota Wild executives
Category:Minnesota Wild players
Category:Nashville Predators players
Category:New Jersey Devils players
Category:Powell River Kings players
Category:Springfield Falcons players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey players
Category:New Jersey Devils draft picks
Category:Retired in 2005