Darcy Tucker
Encyclopedia
Darcy Tucker is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
player, who played most of his National Hockey League
(NHL) career with the Toronto Maple Leafs
. A sixth round draft choice, Tucker began his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens
. Throughout his NHL career he also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning
and the Colorado Avalanche
.
and Ryan Huska
, that were a part of all three Kamloops Blazers
Memorial Cup
wins in 1992, 1994 and 1995. In 1996, while playing for the Fredericton Canadiens
, he won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the top rookie of the American Hockey League
(AHL).
Tucker was drafted in the sixth round (151st overall) by the Montreal Canadiens
in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning
with Stéphane Richer
and David Wilkie
for Patrick Poulin
, Igor Ulanov
and Mick Vukota
in 1998, where he played for three seasons before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
in 2000 for Mike Johnson
.
Tucker became notorious on Long Island
during the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs after he hip-checked the New York Islanders
' captain Michael Peca
during game five of the first round. The check blew out Peca's MCL
and ACL
on his left knee, ending his season and delaying his entry into the 2002–03 campaign. No penalty was assessed. In the offseason of 2006, the Leafs signed Peca for one season, making Tucker and Peca teammates.
On June 24, 2008, he became an unrestricted free agent after his former club, the Maple Leafs, bought out the remainder of his contract. On July 1, 2008, he signed a two-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche
worth $4.5 million.
On October 1, 2010, Tucker announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the NHL.
. Shayne and Tucker were teammates on the Leafs for three seasons, and Tucker frequently helped him deal with his panic attacks. Tucker and his wife have two sons, Cole and Cain, and a daughter, Owynn.
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...
player, who played most of his 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...
(NHL) career with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. A sixth round draft choice, Tucker began his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. Throughout his NHL career he also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
and the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
.
Playing career
Tucker is one of three players, along with Tyson NashTyson Nash
Tyson Scott Nash is a former ice hockey left winger. He announced his retirement on September 11, 2008. He last played for the Nippon Paper Cranes in Japan during the 2007–08 season....
and Ryan Huska
Ryan Huska
Ryan Huska is a former NHL player. In 1997–98, he played his only NHL game with the Chicago Blackhawks....
, that were a part of all three Kamloops Blazers
Kamloops Blazers
The Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League based out of Kamloops, British Columbia. They play their home games at Interior Savings Centre.-History:...
Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
wins in 1992, 1994 and 1995. In 1996, while playing for the Fredericton Canadiens
Fredericton Canadiens
The Fredericton Canadiens, or the 'Baby Habs' were a professional ice hockey team in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The Canadiens played their home games at the Aitken Centre...
, he won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the top rookie of the American Hockey League
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...
(AHL).
Tucker was drafted in the sixth round (151st overall) by the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
1993 NHL Entry Draft
The 1993 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26, 1993, at the Colisee de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise specified.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
with Stéphane Richer
Stephane Richer
Stéphane Jean-Jacques Richer is a retired professional ice hockey left winger.-Playing career:Richer was drafted 29th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 1,054 career NHL games, scoring 421 goals and 398 assists for 819 points. Richer won the Calder Cup in...
and David Wilkie
David Wilkie (ice hockey)
David Wilkie is a retired American Ice Hockey player who played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New York Rangers...
for Patrick Poulin
Patrick Poulin
Patrick Poulin is a retired former professional ice hockey player who played 634 games in the National Hockey League between 1991 and 2002...
, Igor Ulanov
Igor Ulanov
Igor S. Ulanov is a former National Hockey League defenceman. Ulanov was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the tenth round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft...
and Mick Vukota
Mick Vukota
Marinko M. "The Quick, Mickster" Vukota is a former NHL Right Wing. Undrafted, he signed with the New York Islanders, who were looking to add toughness and muscle to their roster, on March 2, 1987. Vukota worked his way up the system and found himself skating on NHL ice by the end of the 1987–88...
in 1998, where he played for three seasons before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 2000 for Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson (hockey)
Michael Paul Johnson is a retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Phoenix Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens and the St...
.
Tucker became notorious on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
during the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs after he hip-checked the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
' captain Michael Peca
Michael Peca
Michael Anthony "Mike" Peca is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward in the National Hockey League . He most recently played for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL. He has also played for the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple...
during game five of the first round. The check blew out Peca's MCL
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
and ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
on his left knee, ending his season and delaying his entry into the 2002–03 campaign. No penalty was assessed. In the offseason of 2006, the Leafs signed Peca for one season, making Tucker and Peca teammates.
On June 24, 2008, he became an unrestricted free agent after his former club, the Maple Leafs, bought out the remainder of his contract. On July 1, 2008, he signed a two-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
worth $4.5 million.
On October 1, 2010, Tucker announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the NHL.
Awards
- 1993–94 WHLWestern Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
West First All-Star Team - 1993–94 Memorial CupMemorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
All-Star Team - 1993–94 Memorial Cup Stafford Smythe Memorial TrophyStafford Smythe Memorial TrophyThe Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy is a Canadian Hockey League trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in the annual Memorial Cup Tournament...
- 1993–94 CHLCanadian Hockey LeagueThe Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
First All-Star Team - 1994–95 WHLWestern Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
West First All-Star Team - 1994–95 Memorial Cup All-Star Team
- 1995–961995–96 AHL seasonThe 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions...
AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe 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...
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1991–92 | Kamloops Blazers Kamloops Blazers The Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League based out of Kamloops, British Columbia. They play their home games at Interior Savings Centre.-History:... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
26 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 42 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | ||
| 1992–93 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 67 | 31 | 58 | 89 | 155 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 34 | ||
| 1993–94 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 66 | 52 | 88 | 140 | 143 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 43 | ||
| 1994–95 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 64 | 64 | 73 | 137 | 94 | 21 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 19 | ||
| 1995–96 1995–96 AHL season The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions... |
Fredericton Canadiens Fredericton Canadiens The Fredericton Canadiens, or the 'Baby Habs' were a professional ice hockey team in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The Canadiens played their home games at the Aitken Centre... |
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... |
74 | 29 | 64 | 93 | 174 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 14 | ||
| 1995–96 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL 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... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 73 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 110 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1997–98 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 39 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
NHL | 35 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 82 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 176 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 50 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 108 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 27 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 55 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 15 | ||
| 2000–01 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 82 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 141 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2001–02 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 77 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 92 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 38 | ||
| 2002–03 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 77 | 10 | 26 | 36 | 119 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2003–04 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 64 | 21 | 11 | 32 | 68 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 | ||
| 2005–06 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 74 | 28 | 33 | 61 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 56 | 24 | 19 | 43 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 74 | 18 | 16 | 34 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... |
NHL | 63 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 71 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 47 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 947 | 215 | 261 | 476 | 1410 | 68 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 81 | ||||
Personal
In 1998, Tucker married Shannon Corson, the sister of former NHL player Shayne CorsonShayne Corson
Shayne Corson is a retired Canadian professional hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars...
. Shayne and Tucker were teammates on the Leafs for three seasons, and Tucker frequently helped him deal with his panic attacks. Tucker and his wife have two sons, Cole and Cain, and a daughter, Owynn.