Chris Luongo

Christopher John Luongo (born March 17, 1967) is an American ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player. Luongo played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and New York Islanders. Luongo was born in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in Fraser, Michigan.

Playing career

Luongo was a stay-at-home defenseman who played in 218 games in his NHL career, scoring 8 goals and 23 assists for 31 points and collecting 176 penalty minutes. Drafted by his hometown Red Wings in 1985, he then accepted a scholarship to Michigan State where he enjoyed a four-year career with the Spartans, earning the team's "Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player Award" in 1988 and 1989. He spent 1989 to 1992 in the Red Wings organization before signing with the Ottawa Senators as a free agent. After one season in Ottawa, he was traded to the New York Islanders, where he finished his NHL career in 1996.

Luongo was also a member of the U.S. squad at the 1996, 1997, and 2000 World Championships.

From 1997 to 2004, he played in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga, playing for EV Landshut, Munich Barons, Nuremberg Ice Tigers and the Krefeld Pinguine.

Coaching

Luongo spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Wayne State Warriors. In September 2008 he joined the UAH Chargers as an assistant coach under head coach Danton Cole, who was a teammate of Luongo's at Michigan State. In 2010, he was named head coach of the Chargers, and coached the team for two seasons.

Luongo currently resides in Novi, Michigan, with his wife, Cheryl, and their two sons, Anthony and Christopher. Chris also has a dog named Tyson Luongo.