Joseph Lawrence Zanussi (born September 25, 1947 in Rossland

Rossland, British Columbia

Rossland is a city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia.Tucked high in the Monashee Mountains, Rossland is at an elevation of 1023 metres . Population today is approximately 3500; a number that fluctuates from season to season. The population is at its peak during the winter...

, 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...

) is a retired 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 who played 149 games in the World Hockey Association

World Hockey Association

The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...

 and 87 games 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...

. Zanussi's skating ability and agility earned him the nicknames 'Crazy Legs' and 'Tazmanian Devil' and although small for a pro hockey defenseman, Zanussi was a good bodychecker and possessed a big shot. His only hockey card noted that he had a big smile. He signed originally with the Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 and played with the New York Rangers

New York Rangers

The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...

, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, and 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...

. He was part of the 1975 trade that brought Phil Esposito

Phil Esposito

Philip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have...

 to the Rangers and sent Brad Park

Brad Park

Douglas Bradford Park is a retired ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings...

 and Jean Ratelle

Jean Ratelle

Joseph Gilbert Yvon "Jean" Ratelle is a former Canadian ice hockey player and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. It has often been said of Jean Ratelle that he was so consistently effective at a high level of play day in and day out that he has been overlooked by some as one of the greatest to...

 to the Bruins. Zanussi led the AHL in scoring at the time, with 19 points through 11 games.

Career highlights

1967-68: 1st league captain of the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Canadian Junior Hockey League; member of the 1968 Estevan Bruins, 1968 Memorial Cup Champions.

1970-71: CHL MVP (tie); CHL 2nd team all star; team sportsmanship award; CHL best defenseman.

1972-73: Assisted on first ever Winnipeg Jets regular season WHA goal.

1973-74: Winnipeg Jets most exciting player as voted by the fans.

1974-75: Eddie Shore Award (AHL Best Defenseman); MVP Runner Up; 1st team all star; Providence Reds team MVP and Defensive awards.

1977-78: CHL 1st team all star; Salt Lake Golden Eagles best defenseman.

Trades

May 24, 1972: Traded to the New York Rangers by the Detroit Red Wings along with the Red Wings 1st round choice in the 1972 draft (#10 overall, Rangers selected Al Blanchard) in exchange for Gary Doak

Gary Doak

Gary Walter Doak is a former NHL defenceman who played for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers. He recorded 23 goals and 107 assists for a total of 130 points in 789 NHL regular season games. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1970...

 and Rick Newell

Rick Newell

Gordon Richard Newell is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played seven games in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings. He would also play 25 games in the World Hockey Association for the Phoenix Roadrunners.-External links:...

.

Nov. 7, 1975: Traded to the Boston Bruins by the New York Rangers along with Jean Ratelle and Brad Park in exchange for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais

Carol Vadnais

Carol Marcel Vadnais is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1966–67 until 1982–83...

.

Dec. 20, 1976: Traded to the St. Louis Blues by the Boston Bruins in exchange for Rick Smith.