BIOGRAPHY

Christopher Drury (born August 20, 1976) is currently the captain of the New York Rangers. Drury is a Hobey Baker Award-winner with Boston University, a Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, and an Olympic silver medalist with the United States. As a child, he also won the Little League Baseball World Series Championship with his hometown team from Trumbull, Connecticut. He is sometimes known by the nicknames “McDrury” and “Captain Clutch”.

After graduating from Fairfield College Preparatory School, Drury was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques 72nd overall in the third round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. Upon being drafted, Drury began four years at Boston University. In 1995, Drury won a national championship with BU in his freshman year. In his senior year, he won the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top ice hockey player after finishing as the runner-up the previous season. Drury was the first BU player to reach 100 career goals and assists, finishing with 113 and 100, respectively.

Drury started playing in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche in 1998–99. Recording 44 points in his first season, Drury was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. In doing so, he became the first player in history to have won both the Hobey Baker Award and the Calder Trophy.

After a 65-point season in 2000–01, Drury won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche, adding 12 points in the playoffs. Drury became a fan favorite with the Avalanche crowd primarily due to his clutch play during playoffs.

Drury was traded to the Calgary Flames on October 1, 2002, and then to the Buffalo Sabres prior to the next season on July 3, 2003. Drury excelled in Buffalo, and his role with the Sabres placed him as co-captain with Daniel Briere from 2005 to his departure to the New York Rangers via free agency in 2007.

After the departure of Jaromír Jágr from the Rangers to play in the Russian KHL, Drury was named the 25th captain in Rangers history on October 3, 2008. Drury is only the second American-born captain in team history.

On January 15, 2009, Drury was named Hockey East’s Best Defensive Forward, as part of the league’s 25th Anniversary celebration. Drury was chosen in a vote comprised of Hockey East fans and members of the league’s 25th Anniversary Committee.