Chris Stewart (ice hockey)

Chris Stewart
Stewart with the St. Louis Blues
Born	(1987-10-30) October 30, 1987 (age 29) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	239 lb (108 kg; 17 st 1 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Minnesota Wild Colorado Avalanche St. Louis Blues Buffalo Sabres Anaheim Ducks
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	18th overall, 2006 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	2007–present

Chris Stewart (born October 30, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Stewart is the younger brother of Anthony Stewart. Stewart has also played for the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks. He played junior hockey with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Stewart was the second of seven children—he has five younger sisters—born to his mother, Sue, and his father, Norman, who came from a combined Jamaican and Irish background. Stewart grew up quite poor but he still loved to play hockey and was noted for his tenacity even before reaching his full size. He and Anthony played with the North York Jr. Canadiens, and thanks to a representative of the team, his hockey was paid for entirely. He also liked football and seriously considered playing it throughout his high school years at West Hill Collegiate Institute. Growing up, Stewart became friends with fellow Toronto native hockey player Wayne Simmonds, currently of the Philadelphia Flyers, and they return to Toronto as house-mates during the NHL off-season.

Prior to the 2004–05, Stewart's older brother Anthony, who was the captain of the Kingston Frontenacs, put his reputation on the line when he asked Frontenacs General Manager Larry Mavety to give Chris the chance to try out with the Frontenacs as an undrafted free agent. Mavety complied, and Stewart made the team in training camp, allowing the brothers to play together on the same team. Initially given the position with the Frontenacs as an energetic fighting role player, Stewart took advantage of his increased playing time and had a solid rookie season, scoring 18 goals and 30 points in 64 games. Stewart played in his first OHL game on September 26, 2004, getting no points in a 4–3 loss to the Brampton Battalion. Stewart scored his first goal in the League on October 3, 2004, beating Sudbury Wolves goaltender Patrick Ehelechner in a 6–4 loss. The Frontenacs failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.