Geoff Courtnall
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Lawton Courtnall (born August 18, 1962) is a Canadian
former professional ice hockey
player in the National Hockey League
(NHL) from 1983 to 2000. He was the head coach of the Victoria Grizzlies
of the BCHL as well as the University of Victoria Vikes of the BCIHL.
Courtnall was born in Victoria
, British Columbia
, Canada
and raised in Duncan, British Columbia
. He is the brother of former NHL player, Russ Courtnall
. Geoff's son, Justin, was drafted 210th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft
by the Tampa Bay Lightning
.
of the NHL as an undrafted
free agent
on 6 July 1983. He played for the Bruins from the 1983–84 NHL season to 8 March 1988 when he was traded along with Bill Ranford
to the Edmonton Oilers
for Andy Moog
. While in Edmonton He helped the Oilers win the 1988 Stanley Cup
Championship. Barely four months later, the Oilers traded Courtnall to the Washington Capitals
for Greg Adams, who was also from Duncan, British Columbia. After two seasons in Washington, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues
for Mike Lalor
and Peter Zezel
.
Courtnall's first nine seasons were spent bouncing between five NHL clubs and two AHL clubs, the Hershey Bears
and Moncton Golden Flames
.
After less than a season in St. Louis he was sent at the trading deadline to the Vancouver Canucks
in a blockbuster trade. Going to Vancouver were Robert Dirk
, Sergio Momesso
, Cliff Ronning
, and future considerations. Going to St. Louis were Garth Butcher
and Dan Quinn
. This trade marked a major turning point for the Canucks as these players were among the core players that would lead the Canucks on their run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994
. Courtnall would only play one more season in Vancouver after the Cup run of '94 as he went back to the St. Louis Blues for the start of the 1995–96 season. Courtnall, in his second tour with the Blues, would score almost 80 goals over five seasons, but only played 30 games over his final two as the result of several concussions, but reached the 1,000 game mark during the 1997-98 season in which he scored 31 goals in his last full season. After sitting out the last half of the 1998–99 season with a concussion he returned to the lineup the next season. But only a few games in he went down again with yet another concussion, forcing Courtnall's retirement shortly after that hit during the 1999–2000 season as a result of post-concussion syndrome.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former professional ice hockey
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 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...
(NHL) from 1983 to 2000. He was the head coach of the Victoria Grizzlies
Victoria Grizzlies
The Victoria Grizzlies are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Bear Mountain Arena....
of the BCHL as well as the University of Victoria Vikes of the BCIHL.
Courtnall was born in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and raised in Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
. He is the brother of former NHL player, Russ Courtnall
Russ Courtnall
Russ Courtnall is a former NHL player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings...
. Geoff's son, Justin, was drafted 210th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft
2007 NHL Entry Draft
The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007...
by 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...
.
Playing career
The speedy Geoff Courtnall was signed by the Boston BruinsBoston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
of the NHL as an undrafted
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on 6 July 1983. He played for the Bruins from the 1983–84 NHL season to 8 March 1988 when he was traded along with Bill Ranford
Bill Ranford
William Edward Ranford is a former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings. He graduated from New Westminster Secondary School in 1985. He was selected in the third round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, 52nd overall, by the Boston Bruins...
to the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
for Andy Moog
Andy Moog
Donald Andrew Moog is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the goaltending coach for the NHL's Dallas Stars.Moog was previously the Dallas Stars' assistant coach...
. While in Edmonton He helped the Oilers win the 1988 Stanley Cup
1988 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1988 Stanley Cup Finals was between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins. The Oilers would win the series 4–0 in five games; game four was abandoned due to a power failure at the Boston Garden with the score tied 3–3 and replayed.-Paths to the Final:...
Championship. Barely four months later, the Oilers traded Courtnall to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
for Greg Adams, who was also from Duncan, British Columbia. After two seasons in Washington, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
for Mike Lalor
Mike Lalor
John Michael Lalor is an American former professional ice hockey defenceman. Although a U.S. citizen by birth, Mike Lalor spent his growing years in Fort Erie, Ontario. Mike played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, St...
and Peter Zezel
Peter Zezel
Peter Zezel was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who spent 15 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1984 and 1999. He was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario.-Playing career:...
.
Courtnall's first nine seasons were spent bouncing between five NHL clubs and two AHL clubs, the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
and Moncton Golden Flames
Moncton Golden Flames
The Moncton Golden Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, playing home games at the Moncton Coliseum. The team operated in the American Hockey League between 1984 and 1987, as a minor league affiliate of the Calgary Flames and the Boston Bruins...
.
After less than a season in St. Louis he was sent at the trading deadline 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,...
in a blockbuster trade. Going to Vancouver were Robert Dirk
Robert Dirk
Robert Dirk is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League between 1987 and 1996.-Playing career:...
, Sergio Momesso
Sergio Momesso
Sergio F. Momesso is a retired professional ice hockey player who spent 13 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1983 and 1997.-Playing career:...
, Cliff Ronning
Cliff Ronning
Clifford John Ronning is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 7th round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, 134th overall...
, and future considerations. Going to St. Louis were Garth Butcher
Garth Butcher
Garth Butcher is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. Butcher was a top prospect as a junior player and was a member of the first Canadian team to win gold at the world junior championship...
and Dan Quinn
Dan Quinn
Daniel Peter Quinn is a Canadian professional golfer and former professional ice hockey player. Quinn played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
. This trade marked a major turning point for the Canucks as these players were among the core players that would lead the Canucks on their run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994
1994 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
. Courtnall would only play one more season in Vancouver after the Cup run of '94 as he went back to the St. Louis Blues for the start of the 1995–96 season. Courtnall, in his second tour with the Blues, would score almost 80 goals over five seasons, but only played 30 games over his final two as the result of several concussions, but reached the 1,000 game mark during the 1997-98 season in which he scored 31 goals in his last full season. After sitting out the last half of the 1998–99 season with a concussion he returned to the lineup the next season. But only a few games in he went down again with yet another concussion, forcing Courtnall's retirement shortly after that hit during the 1999–2000 season as a result of post-concussion syndrome.
Awards and achievements
- 1987–88 - NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe 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...
- Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
(EdmontonEdmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
)
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 | ||
| 1980–81 | Cowichan Valley Capitals Cowichan Valley Capitals The Cowichan Valley Capitals are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League... |
BCJHL | 44 | 20 | 56 | 76 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Victoria Cougars | 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... |
11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||
| 1981–82 | Victoria Cougars | WHL | 72 | 35 | 57 | 92 | 100 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1982–83 | Victoria Cougars | WHL | 71 | 41 | 73 | 114 | 186 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 42 | ||
| 1983–84 1983–84 AHL season The 1983–84 AHL season was the 48th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league initiates two new awards. The Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award is first awarded to the league's "best goaltender." The Jack A... |
Hershey Bears Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
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 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 1984–85 AHL season The 1984–85 AHL season was the 49th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Whalers finished first overall in the regular season... |
Hershey Bears | AHL | 9 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 64 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 82 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 1985–86 1985–86 AHL season The 1985–86 AHL season was the 50th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears finished first overall in the regular season... |
Moncton Golden Flames Moncton Golden Flames The Moncton Golden Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, playing home games at the Moncton Coliseum. The team operated in the American Hockey League between 1984 and 1987, as a minor league affiliate of the Calgary Flames and the Boston Bruins... |
AHL | 12 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 64 | 21 | 16 | 37 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1986–87 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 65 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1987–88 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 62 | 32 | 26 | 58 | 108 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL | 12 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 23 | ||
| 1988–89 | Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL | 79 | 42 | 38 | 80 | 112 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 12 | ||
| 1989–90 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 80 | 35 | 39 | 74 | 104 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 32 | ||
| 1990–91 | St. Louis Blues St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade... |
NHL | 66 | 27 | 30 | 57 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | 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,... |
NHL | 11 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | ||
| 1991–92 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 70 | 23 | 34 | 57 | 116 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 20 | ||
| 1992–93 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 84 | 31 | 46 | 77 | 167 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 12 | ||
| 1993–94 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 82 | 26 | 44 | 70 | 123 | 24 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 51 | ||
| 1994–95 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 45 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 81 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 34 | ||
| 1995–96 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 69 | 24 | 16 | 40 | 101 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | ||
| 1996–97 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 82 | 17 | 40 | 57 | 86 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 23 | ||
| 1997–98 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 79 | 31 | 31 | 62 | 94 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 18 | ||
| 1998–99 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 24 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 1999–00 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1049 | 367 | 432 | 799 | 1465 | 156 | 39 | 70 | 109 | 262 | ||||
See also
- List of family relations in the NHL
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played