Steve Rucchin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Position | Center |
Shoots | Left |
Height Weight |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) |
NHL Team F. Teams |
Atlanta Thrashers Anaheim Mighty Ducks New York Rangers |
Nationality | Canada |
Born | July 4, 1973, Thunder Bay, ON |
NHL Draft | undrafted |
Pro Career | 1994 – present |
Steve Rucchin (b. July 4th, 1971 Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a center for the Atlanta Thrashers (NHL).
Unlike most Canadian youth who progress through the Canadian junior hockey system, Rucchin played high school hockey for Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School in London, Ontario. His coach happened to also be an assistant with the University of Western Ontario and recruited him. He was an Ontario University All-Star in 3 of his 4 seasons there, and was Player of the Year and First-team All-Canadian in his senior season.
He was drafted 2nd overall in the 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. At 6'3" 210lbs, he developed into a strong two-way player, penalty killer, and one of the best faceoff men in hockey. He also centered Anaheim's top line with Paul Kariya and Teemu Selänne. Rucchin was an alternate captain from 2000-2003, and captained the Ducks in 2003-2004.
In August 2005, he was traded to the New York Rangers for minor-league enforcer Travis Gillies and a conditional 2007 draft pick in a move to dump salary. He ranks third in Ducks history in assists (279), goals (153), points (432), and game-winning goals (23). Known as a great locker-room teammate, he provided veteran leadership in 2005-06, as an alternate captain (along with Jaromir Jagr and Darius Kasparaitis) on a young Rangers team.
On July 3rd, 2006, Rucchin signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers.
Preceded by: Paul Kariya |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim captains 2003-04 |
Succeeded by: Scott Niedermayer |
[edit] External links
- Ducks aren't quite as tough as Mustangs (uwo.ca)
- Player stats
- Veterans Rucchin and Leclerc are traded to free cap room (ocregister.com)