{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1962)}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Randy Velischek | image = Randyvelischek.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|2|10}} | birth_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lb = 200 | position = Defence | shoots = Left | played_for = Minnesota North Stars<br />New Jersey Devils<br />Quebec Nordiques | draft = 53rd overall | draft_year = 1980 | draft_team = Minnesota North Stars | career_start = 1983 | career_end = 1995 }}
'''Randolph Velischek''' (born February 10, 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota North Stars, New Jersey Devils, and Quebec Nordiques, and coached the Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League for one season. He was drafted 53rd overall by the North Stars in the 1980 NHL entry draft and played 509 career NHL games, scoring 21 goals and 97 points.<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" />
==Playing career== Velischek was born in Montreal, Quebec. As a youth, he played in the 1974 and 1975 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Mount Royal, Quebec.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-01-11|archive-date=2019-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> He spent his junior hockey career with the Lac St-Louis Lions of the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association and the Verdun Éperviers of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> After his junior career ended, Velischek played four years of college hockey for the Providence Friars from 1979 to 1983.<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /><ref name="Randy Velischek Article in The Pingry Review" />
In addition to playing in the NHL, Velischek played professionally in the American Hockey League for the Springfield Indians, Maine Mariners, Halifax Citadels, and Cornwall Aces, the International Hockey League for the Milwaukee Admirals, the Central Hockey League for the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, and the British Hockey League for the Durham Wasps.<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /><ref name="Randy Velischek Legends of Hockey Profile" />
==Life after hockey== From 1995 to 2006, Velischek served as a broadcaster for the New Jersey Devils on ABC Radio and WFAN-AM.<ref name="Randy Velischek Article in The Pingry Review" />
Beginning in 2007–08 school year, Velischek taught at the Pingry School as a German and French teacher and coached middle school ice hockey.<ref name="Randy Velischek Article in The Pingry Review" /> On June 11, 2009, Velischeck was hired as the boy's high school ice hockey coach at Morristown-Beard School.<ref name="Randy Velischek Hired as Boy's Ice Hockey Coach at Morristown-Beard School" /> Along with coaching at Morristown-Beard School, Velischek was also the hockey director at Twin Oaks Ice Rink in Morristown, New Jersey, and runs RJV Hockey School.<ref name="Randy Velischek Twin Oaks Ice Rink Profile" />
On September 20, 2018, he was named the head coach of the New Jersey Devils-associated Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theicegarden.com/2018/9/20/17882844/riveters-name-head-new-coach-nwhl-velischek-metropolitan-riveters |title=The Riveters finally name a new coach |website=TheIceGarden.com |date=20 September 2018 |access-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920234953/https://www.theicegarden.com/2018/9/20/17882844/riveters-name-head-new-coach-nwhl-velischek-metropolitan-riveters |url-status=live}}</ref> based in Newark, New Jersey, despite not having any previous experience in women's hockey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://devilsarmyblog.com/articles/will-new-coach-randy-velischek-survive-more-than-one-season/|title=Will New Coach Randy Velischek Survive More Than One Season?|date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> He was not retained for the 2019–20 season after the Devils severed ties with the Riveters and the team performed disappointingly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theicegarden.com/2019/7/3/20550164/the-riveters-next-coach-needs-to-be-chosen-carefully-nwhl-womens-hockey-wiseman-velischek|title=The Riveters' next coach needs to be chosen carefully|first=Mike|last=Murphy|date=July 3, 2019|website=The Ice Garden|access-date=September 16, 2020|archive-date=May 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519134351/https://www.theicegarden.com/2019/7/3/20550164/the-riveters-next-coach-needs-to-be-chosen-carefully-nwhl-womens-hockey-wiseman-velischek|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/metropolitan-riveters-relieved-to-see-2018-end/|title=Metropolitan Riveters: Reeling Rivs Relieved to See 2018 End|date=December 16, 2018|access-date=September 16, 2020|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026165232/https://thehockeywriters.com/metropolitan-riveters-relieved-to-see-2018-end/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 1977–78 | Lac-St-Louis Lions | QMAAA | 26 || 3 || 25 || 28 || 14 | 7 || 5 || 3 || 8 || 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1978–79 | Lac-St-Louis Lions | QMAAA | 39 || 13 || 31 || 44 || 47 | 9 || 3 || 8 || 11 || 10 |- | 1978–79 | Verdun Eperviers | QMJHL | — || — || — || — || — | 4 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1979–80 | Providence College | NCAA | 31 || 5 || 5 || 10 || 20 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1980–81 | Providence College | NCAA | 33 || 3 || 12 || 15 || 26 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1981–82 | Providence College | NCAA | 33 || 1 || 14 || 15 || 38 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1982–83 | Providence College | NCAA | 41 || 18 || 34 || 52 || 50 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1982–83 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 | 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 1983–84 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 43 || 7 || 21 || 28 || 54 | 5 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1983–84 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 33 || 2 || 2 || 4 || 10 | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 1984–85 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 26 || 2 || 7 || 9 || 22 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1984–85 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 52 || 4 || 9 || 13 || 26 | 9 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 8 |- | 1985–86 | Maine Mariners | AHL | 21 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1985–86 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 47 || 2 || 7 || 9 || 39 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1986–87 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 64 || 2 || 16 || 18 || 52 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1987–88 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 51 || 3 || 9 || 12 || 66 | 19 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 20 |- | 1988–89 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 80 || 4 || 14 || 18 || 70 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1989–90 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 62 || 0 || 6 || 6 || 72 | 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 |- | 1990–91 | Quebec Nordiques | NHL | 79 || 2 || 10 || 12 || 42 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1991–92 | Halifax Citadels | AHL | 16 || 3 || 6 || 9 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1991–92 | Quebec Nordiques | NHL | 38 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 22 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1992–93 | Halifax Citadels | AHL | 49 || 6 || 16 || 22 || 18 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1993–94 | Milwaukee Admirals | IHL | 53 || 7 || 11 || 18 || 28 | 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1993–94 | Cornwall Aces | AHL | 18 || 1 || 6 || 7 || 17 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1994–95 | Milwaukee Admirals | IHL | 35 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 24 | 12 || 2 || 2 || 4 || 6 |- |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! ALIGN="center" | 509 ! ALIGN="center" | 21 ! ALIGN="center" | 76 ! ALIGN="center" | 97 ! ALIGN="center" | 401 ! ALIGN="center" | 44 ! ALIGN="center" | 2 ! ALIGN="center" | 5 ! ALIGN="center" | 7 ! ALIGN="center" | 32 |}
==Awards and honors== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year |- | All-ECAC Hockey ''All-Star Team of The 1980s'' Second Team | 1979-83<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> |- | ''All-ECAC'' | 1981–82<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> |- | ''ECAC Second All-Star Team'' | 1981–82<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> |- | ''NCAA (All-East) Senior All-Stars'' | 1982–83<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> |- | ''All-ECAC'' | 1982–83<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> |- | ''ECAC First All-Star Team'' | 1982–83<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> |- | ''ECAC Player of The Year'' | 1982–83<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> |- | ''NCAA (New England)-All New England'' | 1982–83<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile" /> |- | AHCA East All-American | 1982–83<ref name="1982-83 AHCA Titan All-American Team" /> |- |}
==References== <references>
<ref name="Randy Velischek EliteProspects.com Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=39553|title=Randy Velischek|publisher=Eliteprospects.com|date=|access-date=September 13, 2014|archive-date=July 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717202131/http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=39553|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Randy Velischek Legends of Hockey Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11695|title=Randy John Velischek|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|date=|access-date=September 13, 2014|archive-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914005103/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11695|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="1982-83 AHCA Titan All-American Team">{{cite web|url=http://www.ahcahockey.com/allamer/1983.php|title=1982-1983 AHCA TITAN ALL-AMERICAN TEAM|publisher=American Hockey Coaches Association|date=|access-date=September 13, 2014|archive-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914004550/http://www.ahcahockey.com/allamer/1983.php|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Randy Velischek Article in The Pingry Review">{{cite web|access-date=September 13, 2014|publisher=Pingry School|date=Winter 2009|title=''The Pingry Review''|url=http://www.pingry.k12.nj.us/uploaded/Student_Life/Publications/Review/review-winter-2009.pdf|archive-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914001238/http://www.pingry.k12.nj.us/uploaded/Student_Life/Publications/Review/review-winter-2009.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Randy Velischek Hired as Boy's Ice Hockey Coach at Morristown-Beard School">{{cite news|title=Randy Velischek Named Morristown-Beard Ice Hockey Coach (High School Boys Ice Hockey News)|url=http://www.nj.com/hssports/news/boysicehockey/index.ssf/2009/06/randy_velischek_named_morristo.html|access-date=September 13, 2014|date=June 11, 2009|work=NJ.com|archive-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914004130/http://www.nj.com/hssports/news/boysicehockey/index.ssf/2009/06/randy_velischek_named_morristo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Randy Velischek Twin Oaks Ice Rink Profile">{{Cite web|first=|last=|title=Randy Velischek|url=http://www.twinoaksicerink.com/coachingstaff.html|access-date=September 13, 2014|date=|publisher=Twin Oaks Ice Rink|archive-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914001044/http://www.twinoaksicerink.com/coachingstaff.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
</references>
==External links== * {{icehockeystats}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091218185346/http://www.randyvelischek.com/ RJV Hockey School]
{{S-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Steve Cruickshank| title = ECAC Hockey Player of the Year| years = 1982–83| after = Cleon Daskalakis}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velischek, Randy}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen Category:Cornwall Aces players Category:Halifax Citadels players Category:Ice hockey people from Montreal Category:Maine Mariners (AHL) players Category:Milwaukee Admirals (IHL) players Category:Minnesota North Stars draft picks Category:Minnesota North Stars players Category:Premier Hockey Federation coaches Category:New Jersey Devils announcers Category:New Jersey Devils players Category:Providence Friars men's ice hockey players Category:Quebec Nordiques players Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Salt Lake Golden Eagles (CHL) players Category:Springfield Indians players Category:Verdun Éperviers players Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans