Dan Ratushny
Encyclopedia
Daniel Paul Ratushny is a professional hockey
defenceman
who played 1 game in the National Hockey League
in 1993 for the Vancouver Canucks
.
A skilled defender with a smooth skating stride, Ratushny was selected 25th overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
by the Winnipeg Jets
following his freshman season at Cornell University
. He would spend two more seasons at Cornell, developing into an excellent offensive defender and registering 31 points in just 26 games in his junior year. He was named an ECAC
first-team all-star in both 1990 and 1991. He would also represent Canada the 1990 World Junior Championships
, winning a gold medal.
Ratushny would leave college hockey after his junior year to join the Canadian National Team
with the goal of participating at the 1992 Olympics (at the time, the national team was stocked with amateur players, as professional participation at the Olympics was prohibited). He spent the conclusion of the 1990–91 and the entire 1991–92 seasons with the national team, and did help Canada to a silver medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics
in Albertville, France.
However, Ratushny proved difficult to sign for the Jets, and finished the 1991–92 season in Switzerland before signing with the IHL Fort Wayne Komets
for the 1992–93 season. Ultimately he was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks
at the NHL trade deadline in 1993 and signed a contract with the Canucks. He would play one game for the Canucks at the conclusion of the regular season against the Los Angeles Kings
, and made an instant impact, picking up an assist and throwing a highlight-reel bodycheck on Kings superstar Luc Robitaille
.
Following his fine debut, Ratushny was expected to contend for a roster spot on the Canucks in 1993–94, but failed to make the team after a disppointing training camp and was assigned to the AHL
. He would never play another NHL game, and was released by the Canucks in 1995.
Following his release by the Canucks, he continued to toil in minor pro until 1999 before continuing his career abroad. He has spent time in Japan, United Kingdom, Finland, and most recently spent the 2005–06 season in the Swedish 2nd division.
Dan returned to Cornell and received his B.Sc. in Economics in 1997. He earned his M.B.A. from HEC Paris/University of Strathclyde Business School in 2003 and his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law in 2006. Dan is currently an attorney in the corporate department of the international law firm Stikeman & Elliott, working in their Toronto office.
Dan Ratushny has just recently signed a 1-year contract with the Swiss National League B team EHC Olten
. He will be their new head coach for the 2009/2010 season. As a player, Ratushny played a couple of games for EHC Olten
in 1992.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played 1 game in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
in 1993 for the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
.
A skilled defender with a smooth skating stride, Ratushny was selected 25th overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
1989 NHL Entry Draft
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some believe that the Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft was the most successful ever, with 5,721 total NHL games played by the players selected.-Selections by round:...
by the Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
following his freshman season at Cornell University
Cornell Big Red
The Cornell Big Red is the informal name of the sports teams, and other competitive teams, at Cornell University. The university sponsors 36 varsity sports, as well as numerous intramural and club teams. Cornell participates in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League.The men's and women's hockey...
. He would spend two more seasons at Cornell, developing into an excellent offensive defender and registering 31 points in just 26 games in his junior year. He was named an ECAC
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
first-team all-star in both 1990 and 1991. He would also represent Canada the 1990 World Junior Championships
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
, winning a gold medal.
Ratushny would leave college hockey after his junior year to join the Canadian National Team
Canadian national men's hockey team
The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior...
with the goal of participating at the 1992 Olympics (at the time, the national team was stocked with amateur players, as professional participation at the Olympics was prohibited). He spent the conclusion of the 1990–91 and the entire 1991–92 seasons with the national team, and did help Canada to a silver medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
in Albertville, France.
However, Ratushny proved difficult to sign for the Jets, and finished the 1991–92 season in Switzerland before signing with the IHL Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
for the 1992–93 season. Ultimately he was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
at the NHL trade deadline in 1993 and signed a contract with the Canucks. He would play one game for the Canucks at the conclusion of the regular season against the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and made an instant impact, picking up an assist and throwing a highlight-reel bodycheck on Kings superstar Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. During his 19-season National Hockey League career, Robitaille won a Stanley Cup in 2001–02 with the Detroit Red Wings, and played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, but is most known for his fourteen seasons,...
.
Following his fine debut, Ratushny was expected to contend for a roster spot on the Canucks in 1993–94, but failed to make the team after a disppointing training camp and was assigned to the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. He would never play another NHL game, and was released by the Canucks in 1995.
Following his release by the Canucks, he continued to toil in minor pro until 1999 before continuing his career abroad. He has spent time in Japan, United Kingdom, Finland, and most recently spent the 2005–06 season in the Swedish 2nd division.
Dan returned to Cornell and received his B.Sc. in Economics in 1997. He earned his M.B.A. from HEC Paris/University of Strathclyde Business School in 2003 and his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law in 2006. Dan is currently an attorney in the corporate department of the international law firm Stikeman & Elliott, working in their Toronto office.
Dan Ratushny has just recently signed a 1-year contract with the Swiss National League B team EHC Olten
EHC Olten
EHC Olten is a Swiss professional ice hockey team based in Olten, Switzerland.-External links:*...
. He will be their new head coach for the 2009/2010 season. As a player, Ratushny played a couple of games for EHC Olten
EHC Olten
EHC Olten is a Swiss professional ice hockey team based in Olten, Switzerland.-External links:*...
in 1992.