Stephen Blunden
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Stephen Blunden (born 5 April 1989) is a
Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...
semi-professional
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
forward Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward. Forward may also refer to: People *Forward (surname) Sports * Forward (association football) * Forward (basketball), including: ** Point forward ** Power forward (basketball) ** Smal ...
or
left winger In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...
who plays for CBR Brave in the
Australian Ice Hockey League The Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) is Australia's top-level men's ice hockey league. Established in 2000, the AIHL is sanctioned by Ice Hockey Australia (a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation). The AIHL is a Semi-professional ...
in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. A Canadian youth product, Blunden has risen through the Canadian league and university system with
Gloucester Rangers The Rockland Nationals (French: ''National de Rockland''), colloquially known as the Nats, are a Junior A ice hockey team based in Rockland, Ontario. The Nationals compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the East Divisio ...
,
Belleville Bulls The Belleville Bulls were a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 and based in Belleville, Ontario. The team played in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The team relocated to Hamilton, Ontario, ...
, Ottawa 67’s and the
University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa (), often referred to as uOttawa or U of O, is a Official bilingualism in Canada, bilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on directly to the northeast of Downtown Ot ...
. In 2014 Stephen expanded his hockey career by linking up with Australian phoenix club CBR Brave. During the AIHL off-season Stephen linked up with French second division side HC Cholet before returning to the Brave for the
2015 AIHL season The 2015 AIHL season was the 16th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 25 April 2015, until 23 August 2015, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 29 and 30 August. The Newcastle North Stars won both the H Newman R ...
.


Playing career


Youth career

Blunden had an extensive youth career in the
Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; ) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League, alongside the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The league is for players ag ...
( OHL ) &
Canadian Junior Hockey League The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is an association of Canadian junior ice hockey#Junior A, junior A ice hockey leagues and teams and was formed in November 1993, emerging from the Canada West Association of Junior 'A' Hockey. The champi ...
( CJHL ) with a number of different clubs in
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Canada including
Gloucester Rangers The Rockland Nationals (French: ''National de Rockland''), colloquially known as the Nats, are a Junior A ice hockey team based in Rockland, Ontario. The Nationals compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the East Divisio ...
,
Belleville Bulls The Belleville Bulls were a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 and based in Belleville, Ontario. The team played in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The team relocated to Hamilton, Ontario, ...
and Ottawa 67’s u20's between 2004 and 2010. Blunden's youth career was capped off by being named
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
by the
Gloucester Rangers The Rockland Nationals (French: ''National de Rockland''), colloquially known as the Nats, are a Junior A ice hockey team based in Rockland, Ontario. The Nationals compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the East Divisio ...
in 2009/2010 CJHL season where Stephen bagged 90 points with 22 goals and 68 assists in 54 matches.


University career

In 2010 Stephen moved to the
University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa (), often referred to as uOttawa or U of O, is a Official bilingualism in Canada, bilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on directly to the northeast of Downtown Ot ...
and started playing for the university team,
Ottawa Gee-Gees The Ottawa Gee-Gees () are the athletic teams that represent the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario. The Gee-Gees won the national football championship, the Vanier Cup, in 1975 and 2000, while also appearing in the game in the 1970, 1980 ...
, in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's ice hockey ( CIS ). Blunden spent four seasons with the Gee-Gees, playing regularly and participated in the play-offs in three of those four seasons. In Blunden's last season in the CIS he was selected in the 2013-2014 CIS ( OUA East ) First all-star team.


CBR Brave

4 April 2014, CBR Brave announced the import signing of Stephen Blunden along with teammate Mathieu Ouellette from the
University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa (), often referred to as uOttawa or U of O, is a Official bilingualism in Canada, bilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on directly to the northeast of Downtown Ot ...
. The Canadian pair were the second and third import signings for the new club from
Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
and the first offensive signings. Upon signing Blunden made it clear he was excited to experience the Australian lifestyle and culture and had this to say:
Being from Ottawa, we don’t have the luxury of being close to any beautiful beaches along the coast so I would love to try and take up surfing.
It did not take long for Blunden to adjust to life in Australia with
Brave Brave(s) or The Brave(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Brave, an adjective for one who possesses courage * Braves (Native Americans), a Euro-American stereotype for Native American warriors Film and television * ''Brave'' (1994 film), a concept ...
and he quickly established himself as one of the AIHL's best offensive weapons. After just eight games Stephen had amassed eleven goals and assists for a combined total of twenty two points. Stephen's combination play with Mathieu Ouellette and Finnish teammate Anton Kokkonen was attributed to the rapid rise in the league table by the Brave. During an interview with Lee Gaskin for the
Canberra Times ''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Australian Community Media. It was founded in 1926, and has changed ownership and format several times. History ''The Canberra Times'' was launched in 1 ...
in June Blunden had this to say about life in the Australian capital and the AIHL:
I had a few buddies in the past play here and they said they had a great experience, so I emailed Canberra and started talking with oach Matti Luomaand he convinced me to come. It's surpassed my expectations, the games get pretty physical, pretty quick. At first our line struggled, our first two shifts we got scored against both times, but after that we really gelled.
By 24 July 2014, Blunden was one point off his second successive fifty point season after scoring twenty points in seven games. Stephen's firepower had the Brave hunting for a top four finish in the league and an AIHL Finals birth that would give a Canberra club the first chance at securing the
Goodall Cup The Goodall Cup is a perpetual trophy that is, currently, annually awarded to the playoff champions of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The trophy is named after Australian born player John Edwin Goodall who originally donated the cup. ...
since the ACT lifted the cup in 1998. Blunden finished his inaugural regular AIHL season with him assisting the team to a third finish and qualifying for the AIHL Finals weekend and a shot at the
Goodall Cup The Goodall Cup is a perpetual trophy that is, currently, annually awarded to the playoff champions of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The trophy is named after Australian born player John Edwin Goodall who originally donated the cup. ...
. Blunden had proven the early season hype correct by finishing the season as the second top points scorer in the league leading players table with a total of 68 points collected from 36 goals and 32 assists giving Stephen the best points per game score of 2.8 in the AIHL for the 2014 season. For his efforts Stephen was named CBR Brave Best Forward that was given out at the maiden Brave Awards Presentation Night at the Woden Tradies Club, Phillip, ACT. On 30 August 2014, Blunden along with his teammates experienced the disappointment of sudden-death elimination in the AIHL Finals held at
Medibank Icehouse The Icehouse (also currently known as O'Brien Icehouse due to naming rights) is an Australian ice sports and entertainment centre, located in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia.Docklands, Victoria Docklands is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on the western end of the Melbourne central business district, central business district. Docklands had a population of 15,495 at the 2021 Australian census, 2021 census. Pri ...
with a demolition 6–1 defeat at the hands of
Melbourne Ice The Melbourne Ice is an Australian semi-professional ice hockey team from Melbourne, Victoria, based at the Icehouse in the Docklands precinct of central Melbourne. Founded in 2000, the Ice have been a member of the Australian Ice Hockey Leag ...
. 10 September 2014, On conclusion of the 2014 AIHL season, Blunden returned to North America to seek a new challenge in his hockey career and was signed by professional club
Tulsa Oilers The Tulsa Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and play in the ECHL. The Oilers played their home games at the Tulsa Convention Center until 2008 when they moved into the new BOK Center. For many years, the Tulsa ...
from the
ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...
in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. However, by October 23, 2014, Blunden was released by the Oilers without making an apperience for the club. After being released by
Tulsa Oilers The Tulsa Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and play in the ECHL. The Oilers played their home games at the Tulsa Convention Center until 2008 when they moved into the new BOK Center. For many years, the Tulsa ...
Blunden signed on with HC Cholet in the professional French second division (
FFHG Division 1 FFHG Division 1 (Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace Division 1 or French Ice Hockey Federation Division 1) is a semi-professional sports, semi-professional ice hockey Sports league, league in France. In France, there are four levels of n ...
). Stephen played sixteen games for Cholet, known as the Dogs, and scored nineteen points with eight goals and eleven assists while racking up a large number of penalty minutes ( 80 minutes ). 23 March 2015, Before the start of the
2015 AIHL season The 2015 AIHL season was the 16th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 25 April 2015, until 23 August 2015, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 29 and 30 August. The Newcastle North Stars won both the H Newman R ...
the CBR Brave announced the re-signing of Stephen Blunden after securing an early release of his Cholet contract. Blunden linked up with the Brave in round two of the season and made his 2015 return debut for the Brave against the
Newcastle North Stars The Newcastle Northstars (formally ''Newcastle North Stars'') is an Australian semi-professional ice hockey team from Newcastle, New South Wales. The Northstars are a member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), joining as an expansion tea ...
, scoring two goals and getting an assist as the Brave succumbed to the North Stars 7–4 in
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...
at the
Hunter Ice Skating Stadium The Hunter Ice Skating Stadium is an ice sports and public skate centre, opened in 2000 and located in Warners Bay, a suburb of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium serves as the home ice rink of the Newcastle Northstars w ...
. After the first six games of the 2015 season Lee Gaskin sat down with Stephen for another interview to talk about the reasons why Stephen returned to
Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
given he was the only import player to return to the CBR Brave for their second season.
"I don't think people give Canberra the respect it deserves," Blunden said. "I love the city, the fans are great, it's just fun playing hockey here. "It's a great group of guys, we all just come together and gel so well, we all work hard for each other and stand up for each other. Almost every night we're hanging out even if it's away from the rink and they're just fun to be around." Blunden played with Cholet in France, but said Australian ice hockey could stand its ground. "I think it's a lot rougher here than it is over in Europe. The refs let a lot more go, which is fine by me. I like it, it's a lot more fun, it gets the fans behind the game."


Personal

Blunden was born on April 5, 1989, in
Gloucester, Ontario Gloucester ( ) is a former municipality and now geographic area of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Located east of Ottawa's inner core, it was an independent city until amalgamated with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa–Carleton in 2001 to beco ...
, Canada. He has one sister, Jennifer Blunden, and two brothers,
Mike Blunden Michael Charles Blunden (born December 15, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Over his professional career, Blunden has appeared in over 100 National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightnin ...
& Sean Blunden, both of whom are also
hockey ''Hockey'' is a family of List of stick sports, stick sports where two opposing teams use hockey sticks to propel a ball or disk into a goal. There are many types of hockey, and the individual sports vary in rules, numbers of players, apparel, ...
players with Mike drafted in the
NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
by
Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
in 2005 and Sean playing in the CIS for the
Concordia University Concordia University () is a Public university, public English-language research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1974 following the merger of Loyola College (Montreal), Loyola College and Sir George Williams Universit ...
team,
Concordia Stingers The Concordia Stingers are the athletic teams that represent Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They compete with other schools in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, and more specifically in Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RS ...
.


Career statistics


Regular season and playoffs


Awards and honours

Personal * 2013-2014 CIS ( OUA East ) First all-star team * 2014 CBR Brave Best Forward * 2014 AIHL Top Goal Scorer ( 36 goals ) * 2015 CBR Brave Best Forward * 2015 CBR Brave Highest points scorer * 2015 CBR Brave Most Valuable Player Club * 2014 AIHL Goodall Cup Semi Finalists * 2015 AIHL Goodall Cup Semi Finalists * 2016 AIHL Goodall Cup Finalists


References

*''Career Statistics''


External links


Stephen Blunden Elite Prospects profile

Stephen Blunden Hockey DB profile


{{DEFAULTSORT:Blunden, Stephen 1989 births Living people Canadian ice hockey players Canadian ice hockey forwards Canadian ice hockey left wingers CBR Brave players Ice hockey people from Ottawa Belleville Bulls players Ottawa 67's players University of Ottawa alumni 21st-century Canadian sportsmen