Rick Lanz
Encyclopedia
Richard Roman Lanz is a former professional ice hockey
defenceman
who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League
and is best known for his time with the Vancouver Canucks
. He was born in Czechoslovakia, but his family defected to Canada following the invasion by the Soviet Union
in 1968.
by the Vancouver Canucks
following an excellent junior career with the Oshawa Generals
in which he was named the club's top defender in three consecutive seasons. He also received the opportunity to represent Canada at the 1980 World Junior Championships
.
He immediately broke into the Canucks roster in 1980–81 at the age of just 19 and had a fine rookie year, posting 29 points in 76 games. Unfortunately, the 1981–82 season would prove to be a setback, as he tore knee ligaments 39 games in, forcing him to miss the rest of the regular season and the entire playoffs. The situation would prove doubly disappointing as he was forced to miss the Canucks' surprising march to the Stanley Cup
Finals that spring.
In 1982–83 Lanz returned to the ice and hit his stride as an NHL player, recording 10 goals and 48 points, good for 6th on the club. He was also selected to represent Canada at the 1983 World Championships
, where he helped the team win a bronze medal. He would follow this up with his finest NHL season in 1983–84, as he posted 18 goals and 57 points (both narrowly missing club records for defenders) and was named the team's top defenceman. He was especially effective on the powerplay, and his 14 powerplay goals tied for the league lead amongst defenders with Edmonton Oilers
superstar Paul Coffey
.
Lanz would suffer through a disaster 1984–85 season, as he was hobbled by a neck injury and limited to just 19 points. He would return to form the following year, though, posting 53 points to again lead Canuck defenders. However, frustrated with his inconsistent play, Vancouver dealt him to the Toronto Maple Leafs
for Jim Benning
and Dan Hodgson
midway through the 1986–87 season. He finished the year with 28 points in 61 games, and matched that total in 1987–88. He was still a useful contributor for the Leafs, but was no longer the dangerous offensive player he had been in Vancouver. After a terrible 1988–89 season in which he was limited by injuries and benchings to just 32 games and 10 points, he was released by Toronto.
His departure from Toronto would essentially mark the end of his NHL career. Unable to find any interest in the NHL, he spent the 1989–90 season in Switzerland
. He was signed to a contract by the Chicago Blackhawks
in 1990, but would only play a single game for them during the 1991–92 season. Following brief stops in the minor-league systems of the Los Angeles Kings
and Tampa Bay Lightning
, he retired in 1993.
Lanz finished his career with totals of 65 goals and 221 assists for 286 points in 569 career games, along with 448 penalty minutes.
to accept a job in the BCHL as an assistant coach for the Penticton Panthers
. He was named head coach of the Langley Thunder
in 1995. He would later be united with his brother in-law Mark Holick in South Surrey and found immediate success. He took a team with super-star Scott Gomez to the Royal Bank Cup in Summerside PEI but would lose in the final to a heartbreaking game. The next season Rick would move to the WHL
in 1997–98 as an assistant coach for the Tri-City Americans
, although he was promoted to the head coaching position only a few games into the season. He would return to Langley the following year, and remain their head coach until 2003.
Lanz was hired as head coach of the Burnaby Express
in 2004, and led the team to the Royal Bank Cup
in 2006, where they were crowned Canadian Junior A Champions. He left Burnaby to sign on as head coach of the Victoria Grizzlies
and after two months as head coach of the Victoria Grizzlies he was offered the head scouting job for western Canada and US for the Colorado Avalanche.
Some notable players that Rick has coached are Scott Gomez
, Ivan Huml
, Keith Seabrook
, Raymond Sawada
, Mark
& Mike Santorelli
, Kyle Turris
, Ben Walter
, and Justin Courtnall.
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 spent 10 seasons 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...
and is best known for his time with 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,...
. He was born in Czechoslovakia, but his family defected to Canada following the invasion by the Soviet Union
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
in 1968.
Playing career
Lanz was selected 7th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft1980 NHL Entry Draft
The 1980 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum. This was the first time that an NHL arena hosted the draft. The National Hockey League teams selected 210 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1979–80 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the...
by 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,...
following an excellent junior career with the Oshawa Generals
Oshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
in which he was named the club's top defender in three consecutive seasons. He also received the opportunity to represent Canada at the 1980 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...
.
He immediately broke into the Canucks roster in 1980–81 at the age of just 19 and had a fine rookie year, posting 29 points in 76 games. Unfortunately, the 1981–82 season would prove to be a setback, as he tore knee ligaments 39 games in, forcing him to miss the rest of the regular season and the entire playoffs. The situation would prove doubly disappointing as he was forced to miss the Canucks' surprising march to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The 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...
Finals that spring.
In 1982–83 Lanz returned to the ice and hit his stride as an NHL player, recording 10 goals and 48 points, good for 6th on the club. He was also selected to represent Canada at the 1983 World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
, where he helped the team win a bronze medal. He would follow this up with his finest NHL season in 1983–84, as he posted 18 goals and 57 points (both narrowly missing club records for defenders) and was named the team's top defenceman. He was especially effective on the powerplay, and his 14 powerplay goals tied for the league lead amongst defenders with 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 ....
superstar Paul Coffey
Paul Coffey
Paul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points, behind Ray Bourque.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th...
.
Lanz would suffer through a disaster 1984–85 season, as he was hobbled by a neck injury and limited to just 19 points. He would return to form the following year, though, posting 53 points to again lead Canuck defenders. However, frustrated with his inconsistent play, Vancouver dealt him 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...
for Jim Benning
Jim Benning
James Elmer Benning is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. Drafted in the first round in the 1981 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, he played 605 games over nine seasons for the Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks, compiling 52 goals and 191 points.Prior to his professional...
and Dan Hodgson
Dan Hodgson
Daniel W. "Hodge" Hodgson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 114 National Hockey League games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks. He won the Memorial Cup as a member of the Prince Albert Raiders in 1985...
midway through the 1986–87 season. He finished the year with 28 points in 61 games, and matched that total in 1987–88. He was still a useful contributor for the Leafs, but was no longer the dangerous offensive player he had been in Vancouver. After a terrible 1988–89 season in which he was limited by injuries and benchings to just 32 games and 10 points, he was released by Toronto.
His departure from Toronto would essentially mark the end of his NHL career. Unable to find any interest in the NHL, he spent the 1989–90 season in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He was signed to a contract by the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
in 1990, but would only play a single game for them during the 1991–92 season. Following brief stops in the minor-league systems of 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 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...
, he retired in 1993.
Lanz finished his career with totals of 65 goals and 221 assists for 286 points in 569 career games, along with 448 penalty minutes.
Coaching career
Following his retirement, Lanz returned to British ColumbiaBritish 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...
to accept a job in the BCHL as an assistant coach for the Penticton Panthers
Penticton Vees
The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...
. He was named head coach of the Langley Thunder
Langley Thunder
The Langley Thunder are a Senior A box lacrosse club, based in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. The team competes in the 7-team Western Lacrosse Association ....
in 1995. He would later be united with his brother in-law Mark Holick in South Surrey and found immediate success. He took a team with super-star Scott Gomez to the Royal Bank Cup in Summerside PEI but would lose in the final to a heartbreaking game. The next season Rick would move to the 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...
in 1997–98 as an assistant coach for the Tri-City Americans
Tri-City Americans
The Tri-City Americans are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League, based in Kennewick, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center...
, although he was promoted to the head coaching position only a few games into the season. He would return to Langley the following year, and remain their head coach until 2003.
Lanz was hired as head coach of the Burnaby Express
Burnaby Express
The Coquitlam Express are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...
in 2004, and led the team to the Royal Bank Cup
Royal Bank Cup
The Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
in 2006, where they were crowned Canadian Junior A Champions. He left Burnaby to sign on as 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....
and after two months as head coach of the Victoria Grizzlies he was offered the head scouting job for western Canada and US for the Colorado Avalanche.
Some notable players that Rick has coached are Scott Gomez
Scott Gomez
Scott Carlos Gomez is an American ice hockey center of both Mexican and Colombian descent, currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Ivan Huml
Ivan Huml
Ivan Huml is a Czech professional ice hockey player who currently plays for HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga...
, Keith Seabrook
Keith Seabrook
Keith Seabrook is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Seabrook is currently a member of the Florida Panthers organization of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
, Raymond Sawada
Raymond Sawada
Raymond Masao Sawada is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League He played at Cornell University from 2004–2008, where he was co-captain as a senior and a member of the Quill and Dagger society...
, Mark
Mark Santorelli
Mark Santorelli is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League . His older brother Mike currently plays in the Florida Panthers organization...
& Mike Santorelli
Mike Santorelli
Mike Santorelli is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Kyle Turris
Kyle Turris
Kyle Turris is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . He was selected third overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...
, Ben Walter
Ben Walter
Ben James Walter is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing with the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League...
, and Justin Courtnall.
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1977-78 Oshawa Generals OHA 65 1 41 42 51 -- -- -- -- --
1978-79 Oshawa Generals OHA 66 11 48 59 88 -- -- -- -- --
1979-80 Oshawa Generals OHA 52 18 38 56 51 -- -- -- -- --
1980-81 Vancouver Canucks NHL 76 7 22 29 40 3 0 0 0 4
1981-82 Vancouver Canucks NHL 39 3 11 14 48 -- -- -- -- --
1982-83 Vancouver Canucks NHL 74 10 38 48 46 4 2 1 3 0
1983-84 Vancouver Canucks NHL 79 18 39 57 45 4 0 4 4 2
1984-85 Vancouver Canucks NHL 57 2 17 19 69 -- -- -- -- --
1985-86 Vancouver Canucks NHL 75 15 38 53 73 3 0 0 0 0
1986-87 Vancouver Canucks NHL 17 1 6 7 10 -- -- -- -- --
1986-87 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 44 2 19 21 32 13 1 3 4 27
1987-88 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 75 6 22 28 65 1 0 0 0 2
1988-89 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 32 1 9 10 18 -- -- -- -- --
1989-90 Ambri-Piotta Swiss ? 3 14 17 0 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 Indianapolis Ice IHL 8 0 5 5 18 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 1 0 0 0 2 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 38 7 14 21 21 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Canadian National Team Intl 4 0 1 1 2 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Atlanta Knights IHL 25 6 12 18 30 -- -- -- -- --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHL Totals 569 65 221 286 448 28 3 8 11 35
Coaching statistics
Season Team Lge Type GP W L T OTL Pct
1996-97 South Surrey Eagles BCHL Head Coach 60 47 7 6 0 0.833
1997-98 Tri-City Americans WHL Head Coach 72 17 49 6 0 0.278
1998-99 Langley Hornets BCHL Head Coach 60 20 38 0 2 0.350
1999-00 Langley Hornets BCHL Head Coach 60 41 17 0 2 0.700
2000-01 Langley Hornets BCHL Head Coach 60 29 25 0 6 0.533
2003-04 Langley Hornets BCHL Head Coach 60 19 36 1 4 0.358
2005-06 Burnaby Express BCHL Head Coach 60 34 20 1 5 0.617