LAST SEASON: Completed his fifth NHL season/fourth season with New Jersey; appeared in 64 games... Finished with 3g-6a-9pts overall to match previous season’s point total (6g-3a); six assists were a career high... Appeared in his 200th game with Devils February 29 vs. Washington... Saw action in season-high 45 straight contests from December 29 to end of regular-season schedule; also appeared in 49 of the
last 54 games overall... Totals included 2a April 2 vs. Boston and two-goal effort January 29 vs. Pittsburgh... Recorded assists/points in season/career-high (tie) three straight games March 13-19 (3a)... Made 2007-08 debut/appeared in his 200th lifetime contest October 6 at Florida... Added 1a in five playoff games.
CAREER:
2006-07: Played in career-high 76 of 82 contests overall, including season/career-high 62 straight appearances November 24 through end of regular-season schedule April 8…Completed campaign with 6g-3a-9pts overall, including last point with goal March 30 vs. Philadelphia…Two of six goals were scored vs. Boston; recorded lone game-winning goal of season/fifth career January 7 at Montreal…Saw action in his 100th game with New Jersey December 12 vs. Buffalo…Posted first goal/point of season November 9 vs. Chicago…Made his 2006-07 debut October 7 at Dallas; became the 12th of 13 players to be re-acquired and play for the Devils, including J. Dowd in 2006-07…Others include T. Albelin, C. Lemieux, V. Malakhov, G. McAdam, A. Mogilny, K. Oliwa, P. Rheaume, S. Richer, C. Schwab, K. Sutton and C. Terreri…Played in nine of 11 post-season contests overall.
2005-06: Saw action in 43 professional games: one with Phoenix, 39 with Columbus, and three with Syracuse (AHL)…Was traded midseason for second time in NHL career; made 2005-06 debut October 5 in Coyotes’ season opener at Vancouver…Acquired by Columbus from Phoenix October 8 in five-player transaction which included former Devils’ defenseman C. Hulse…Made Blue Jackets’ debut October 9 at Chicago; saw action in 11 of 16 games through November 13…Recorded 1g-2a-3pts in 3 games with Crunch during November 17-25 AHL assignment… Played in 23 straight NHL contests November 26-January 16; posted 3g-2a-5pts during stretch…Suffered broken foot in final game of stretch vs. NY Rangers; missed 12 games as a result…Skated in his 100th lifetime contest December 9 at Atlanta…Returned to lineup March 2 at Colorado; made last appearance of season March 9 vs. Phoenix and posted one goal…Missed final 19 regular-season games due to irregular heart beat…
2004-05: Saw action in 14 regular-season and 11 playoff games with United Hockey League’s expansion Danbury Trashers…
2003-04: Played in 51 games with New Jersey until March 5 trade to Phoenix…Recorded career-high 6g (since tied), six assists, and 12 points overall…Made his Coyotes’ debut March 7 vs. Minnesota; collected first assist/point with squad April 3 vs. Chicago…Appeared in just six contests following transaction; missed nine matches March 10-26 with shoulder injury…
2002- 03: Split third pro season between New Jersey and Albany (AHL)…Began campaign on River Rats’ roster; posted 6g-10a-16pts and 68 penalty minutes in 41 games through first recall, and 8g- 11a-19pts and 74 PIM in 47 AHL games overall…Recalled from Albany/made NHL debut/ posted 2g on his 23rd birthday – January 13 vs. Florida…Became the 11th of 12 players in team history to post a goal in his first NHL game, joining J. Bicek, J. Boumedienne, P. Dagenais, J. Madill, B. Morrison, D. Pederson, S. Pellerin, P. Rheaume, S. Sullivan and P. Sykora, and the first to score twice…Originally drafted by NY Islanders in first round (9th overall) of 1998 NHL Entry Draft; was third player in Devils’ history to be drafted twice to play in a game (V. Fetisov & P. Dagenais)…Played in 26 NHL games overall, including season-high 11 straight appearances February 11-March 4…Played in 21 of 24 games through March 4, and 24 of 28 through March 13; missed 3 games February 5-9 (ill)…Finished regular- season campaign with River Rats…Along with A. Ahonen and R. Giroux, recalled by Devils April 10 upon completion of AHL season…Did not see any action until game four of Stanley Cup Final s at Anaheim; posted first point with assist in game five…Recorded 1g- 2a-3pts in game 7, including Cup-clinching goal…Led all NHL rookies with 3a…
2001-02: Appeared in 78 games with Albany, the most of his pro career…Finished fifth on squad with 13g-17a-30pts, improving his goal, assist and point totals from previous season…
2000-01: Signed with Devils July 21 and attended his third NHL training camp…Made pro debut by appearing in 71 AHL games…
OTHER: Opted to re-enter NHL Entry Draft in June 2000 after not signing with Islanders…Attended his first NHL training camp in 1998…Played junior hockey in Windsor and Erie; posted 70g-57a-127pts and 353 PIM in 185 OHL contests.
PERSONAL: Married, wife’s name is Christie…The Rupps have one daughter, Madeline, and one son, Mason…Enjoys summers in Saegertown, PA…Lists Napoleon Dynamite as his favorite movie and Big Brother as his favorite TV show…Enjoys listening to the music of Audio Adrenaline and Hawk Nelson…Lists trap shooting and spending time with his kids as his hobbies…Appeared on Christian Broadcast Network’s 700 Club in 2006…Does charity work for World Vision…Visited Cleveland Browns training camp and held a fund-raiser for the Jennifer Ferraro Foundation during his day with the Stanley Cup in 2003…Named Devils Fan Club Rookie of the Year for 2002-03…First job was at a local grocery store.
