Rick Vaive
Encyclopedia
Richard Claude Vaive is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
player. He played in the National Hockey League
from 1979 to 1992, and is best remembered as the first 50 goal scorer in Toronto Maple Leafs
franchise history.
in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft
, after a stellar junior hockey career with the Sherbrooke Castors
. His professional career, which began in the WHA
with the Birmingham Bulls
, lasted from 1978 until 1992.
In 1980, the Canucks traded Vaive, along with Bill Derlago
, to the Toronto Maple Leafs
in exchange for Dave "Tiger" Williams
and Jerry Butler
. In Toronto, Vaive and Derlago were teamed with Pat Hickey
, and Derlago became Vaive's setup man. Vaive scored prolifically with the Leafs, becoming the first 50-goal scorer in franchise history, surpassing that threshold three times. He recorded 54 goals in 1981–82, 51 goals in 1982–83, and 52 goals in 1983–84. He also served as captain of the Maple Leafs from 1982 to 1986. Vaive was stripped of his captaincy during the 1985–86 NHL season, for missing a morning practice.
Vaive was a late cut from the 1984 Canada Cup
team.
His trade from Toronto
along with Steve Thomas
and Bob McGill
to Chicago
in exchange for Al Secord
and Ed Olczyk
before the 1987 season was one of several lamentable trades arranged by team owner Harold Ballard
in the 1980s. Vaive netted 43 goals in his first season in Chicago but would never manage more than 29 in a season after that. He spent 4 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres
before retiring as a member of the AHL
's Hamilton Canucks
in 1993.
In July 2009, Vaive was arrested and charged with impaired driving. His trial in Newmarket has been adjourned until February 2012.
and the American Hockey League
after his retirement from the NHL, serving as a head coach in 1993 with the expansion South Carolina Stingrays
, winning two division titles (1995 and 1997), a conference championship (1997), and under his watch became the first ECHL coach in history to win both the Brabham Cup and Kelly Cup
in the same season, in the 1996–97 season. He served one season with the Mississauga Ice Dogs before Don Cherry took over as head coach.
Vaive currently hosts various shows on Leafs TV
, an MLSE-run property focusing on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
His son, Justin Vaive, was selected by the Anaheim Ducks
in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft
.
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...
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. He played 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...
from 1979 to 1992, and is best remembered as the first 50 goal scorer in 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...
franchise history.
Bio
Vaive was selected fifth overall by the Vancouver CanucksVancouver 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 the 1979 NHL Entry Draft
1979 NHL Entry Draft
The 1979 NHL Entry Draft took place on August 9, 1979, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 126 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1978–79 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those...
, after a stellar junior hockey career with the Sherbrooke Castors
Sherbrooke Castors
The Sherbrooke Castors or Sherbrooke Beavers was the name of two different junior ice hockey teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Both franchises played at the Palais des Sports in Sherbrooke, Quebec.-Original Castors:...
. His professional career, which began in the WHA
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...
with the Birmingham Bulls
Birmingham Bulls
The Birmingham Bulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979 and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.Prior to being...
, lasted from 1978 until 1992.
In 1980, the Canucks traded Vaive, along with Bill Derlago
Bill Derlago
William Anthony Derlago, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1978 to 1987 with the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques....
, 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 exchange for Dave "Tiger" Williams
Tiger Williams
David James "Tiger" Williams is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1974–75 to 1987–88. He is the NHL's career leader in penalty minutes.-NHL career:...
and Jerry Butler
Jerry Butler (ice hockey)
Jerome Patrick Butler is a retired a Canadian ice hockey winger who spent 11 seasons in the National Hockey League...
. In Toronto, Vaive and Derlago were teamed with Pat Hickey
Pat Hickey
Patrick Joseph Hickey is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 10 seasons in the NHL for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques and St. Louis Blues.-Playing career:...
, and Derlago became Vaive's setup man. Vaive scored prolifically with the Leafs, becoming the first 50-goal scorer in franchise history, surpassing that threshold three times. He recorded 54 goals in 1981–82, 51 goals in 1982–83, and 52 goals in 1983–84. He also served as captain of the Maple Leafs from 1982 to 1986. Vaive was stripped of his captaincy during the 1985–86 NHL season, for missing a morning practice.
Vaive was a late cut from the 1984 Canada Cup
Canada Cup (ice hockey)
The Canada Cup was an invitational international ice hockey tournament held on five occasions between 1976 and 1991. The tournament was created to meet demand for a true world championship that allowed the best players from participating nations to compete regardless of their status as professional...
team.
His trade from Toronto
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...
along with Steve Thomas
Steve Thomas (ice hockey)
Stephen Antony "Stumpy” Thomas is a retired English-born Canadian ice hockey right winger who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Detroit Red Wings...
and Bob McGill
Bob McGill
Robert Paul McGill is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman.McGill started his National Hockey League career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1982. He also played for the Chicago Black Hawks, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and Hartford Whalers...
to Chicago
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 exchange for Al Secord
Al Secord
Alan William Secord is a retired professional ice hockey left wing who played in the National Hockey League for twelve seasons from 1978–79 until 1989–90.-Playing career:...
and Ed Olczyk
Ed Olczyk
Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk is an American former head coach for the National Hockey League Pittsburgh Penguins and former center for Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins...
before the 1987 season was one of several lamentable trades arranged by team owner Harold Ballard
Harold Ballard
Harold E. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February...
in the 1980s. Vaive netted 43 goals in his first season in Chicago but would never manage more than 29 in a season after that. He spent 4 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
before retiring as a member of 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...
's Hamilton Canucks
Hamilton Canucks
The franchise of the Hamilton Canucks was the top minor league affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks for two seasons in the American Hockey League. Today, the franchise is known as the Syracuse Crunch....
in 1993.
In July 2009, Vaive was arrested and charged with impaired driving. His trial in Newmarket has been adjourned until February 2012.
Coaching career
Vaive had a career as a professional hockey coach in the East Coast Hockey LeagueECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
and 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...
after his retirement from the NHL, serving as a head coach in 1993 with the expansion South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina Stingrays
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
, winning two division titles (1995 and 1997), a conference championship (1997), and under his watch became the first ECHL coach in history to win both the Brabham Cup and Kelly Cup
Kelly Cup
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning...
in the same season, in the 1996–97 season. He served one season with the Mississauga Ice Dogs before Don Cherry took over as head coach.
Vaive currently hosts various shows on Leafs TV
Leafs TV
Leafs TV is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. It was launched in September 2001. The channel presents programming revolving around the Toronto Maple Leafs National Hockey League club and their American Hockey League affiliate,...
, an MLSE-run property focusing on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
His son, Justin Vaive, was selected by the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
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...
.
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 | ||
| 1976–77 1976–77 QMJHL season The 1976–77 QMJHL season was the eighth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The leagues renames its division in honour of Robert Lebel and Frank Dilio, two lifetime contributors to ice hockey in Quebec. The East Division becomes the "Dilio Division" and the West Division... |
Sherbrooke Beavers | QMJHL | 68 | 51 | 59 | 110 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 1977–78 QMJHL season The 1977–78 QMJHL season was the ninth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates two awards, the Robert Lebel Trophy for the team with best goals against average, and the Guy Lafleur Trophy for the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. Ten teams played... |
Sherbrooke Beavers | QMJHL | 68 | 76 | 79 | 155 | 199 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Birmingham Bulls Birmingham Bulls The Birmingham Bulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979 and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.Prior to being... |
WHA 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... |
75 | 26 | 33 | 59 | 248 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | 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 | 47 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 111 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | 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 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 77 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | ||
| 1980–81 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 75 | 33 | 29 | 62 | 229 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1981–82 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 77 | 54 | 35 | 89 | 157 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 78 | 51 | 28 | 79 | 105 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 1983–84 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 76 | 52 | 41 | 93 | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 72 | 35 | 33 | 68 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 61 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 85 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 9 | ||
| 1986–87 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 73 | 32 | 34 | 66 | 61 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 23 | ||
| 1987–88 | 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... |
NHL | 76 | 43 | 26 | 69 | 108 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 38 | ||
| 1988–89 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 30 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
NHL | 28 | 19 | 13 | 32 | 64 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1989–90 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 70 | 29 | 19 | 48 | 74 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1990–91 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 71 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 74 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1991–92 1991–92 AHL season The 1991–92 AHL season was the 56th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns from divisions into three divisions, creating the new Atlantic division. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Fredericton Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season... |
Rochester Americans Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
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... |
12 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | ||
| 1991–92 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 20 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 1992–93 AHL season The 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day... |
Hamilton Canucks Hamilton Canucks The franchise of the Hamilton Canucks was the top minor league affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks for two seasons in the American Hockey League. Today, the franchise is known as the Syracuse Crunch.... |
AHL | 38 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Dundas Real McCoys Dundas Real McCoys The Dundas Real McCoys are a Senior "AAA" ice hockey team based out of Dundas, Ontario. They play in the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey.-History:... |
OHASr | 9 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 876 | 441 | 347 | 788 | 1445 | 54 | 27 | 16 | 43 | 111 | ||||
Coaching statistics
Season Team Lge Type GP W L T OTL Pct Result
1993-94 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL Head Coach 68 33 26 0 9 0.551 Lost in round 1
1994-95 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL Head Coach 68 42 19 0 7 0.669 Lost in round 2
1995-96 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL Head Coach 70 40 22 0 8 0.629 Lost in round 2
1996-97 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL Head Coach 70 45 15 10 0 0.714 Won Championship
1997-98 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL Head Coach 70 41 23 6 0 0.629 Lost in round 1
1998-99 Saint John Flames AHL Head Coach 80 31 40 8 1 0.444 Lost in round 2
1999-00 Saint John Flames AHL Head Coach 80 32 32 11 5 0.500 Lost in round 1
2000-01 Mississauga IceDogs OHL Head Coach 68 3 56 7 2 0.110
2004-05 Dundas Real McCoys OHASr Head Coach 34 20 12 0 2 0.618