Christopher Minard (born November 18, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers before finishing his career in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Minard began his professional career in 2002 with the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL. His brother, Mike Minard, also played briefly in the NHL, as a goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers.
Playing career During the 2004–05 season he played with the Alaska Aces, and made his AHL debut, playing one game with the Milwaukee Admirals. During the NHL lockout, Minard played on a line with Scott Gomez, who had returned to his hometown of Anchorage to play for the season. During the season, Minard posted career highs in goals scored. This led to Gomez influencing New Jersey Devils management to give Minard a training camp slot, where he would earn a spot for the 2005–06 AHL season with the Albany River Rats, and the 2006–07 season with the Lowell Devils.
Minard was signed by the Penguins on July 12, 2007. He made his NHL debut on January 21, 2008 against the Washington Capitals. On February 26, Minard recorded his first NHL point, with an assist against the New York Islanders. Minard scored his first NHL goal on March 12, 2008, beating Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.
On July 13, 2009 he signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers, one month after the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup. Minard was included on team picture, and awarded a Stanley Cup Ring. He did not play enough games to get his name stamped on the Stanley Cup.
After three seasons in the German DEL, with Kölner Haie and failing the qualify for the playoffs in the 2014–15 season, Minard opted to leave the club and sign a two-year contract with rivals Düsseldorfer EG on March 4, 2015. At the conclusion of his second year with Düsseldorfer in the 2016–17 season, having contributed with just 9 points in 49 games, Minard opted to end his professional career after 15 seasons.
Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1997–98Owen Sound PlatersOHL9011010002 1998–99Owen Sound PlatersOHL43691518————— 1999–00Owen Sound PlatersOHL3812142639————— 1999–00Toronto St. Michael's MajorsOHL28514196————— 2000–01Toronto St. Michael's MajorsOHL401181928————— 2000–01Oshawa GeneralsOHL2812122418————— 2001–02Oshawa GeneralsOHL673635712052356 2002–03Pensacola Ice PilotsECHL721517327140006 2003–04San Angelo SaintsCHL643936755151122 2004–05Alaska AcesECHL69492978541544812 2004–05Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL10000————— 2005–06Alaska AcesECHL3326164238221451954 2005–06Albany River RatsAHL377121926————— 2006–07Lowell DevilsAHL6532174930————— 2007–08Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL5625174233231161710 2007–08Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL1511210————— 2008–09Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL54342357381263912 2008–09Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL201234————— 2009–10Springfield FalconsAHL4022163818————— 2009–10Edmonton OilersNHL50110————— 2010–11Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL7918173545————— 2011–12Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL3921113225————— 2012–13Kölner HaieDEL522315383212314182013–14Kölner HaieDEL521815339317821082014–15Kölner HaieDEL4512112355————— 2015–16 Düsseldorfer EG DEL 52 12 4 16 54 5 0 2 2 02016–17Düsseldorfer EGDEL4945932————— NHL totals 40 2 4 6 14 — — — — —
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