Steve Rucchin
Encyclopedia
Steven Andrew Rucchin (ˈruːtʃɨn; born July 4, 1971 in Thunder Bay
, Ontario
) is a retired ice hockey centre
who played for three teams in the National Hockey League
, most notably for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
in London, Ontario
. His coach happened to also be an assistant with the University of Western Ontario
and recruited him. He was an Ontario University All-Star in three of his four seasons there, and was named Player of the Year and First-team All-Canadian in his senior season. He was drafted 2nd overall in the 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft
by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He soon centered Anaheim's top line with Paul Kariya
and Teemu Selänne
. Rucchin was an alternate captain
from 2000–2003, and captain 2003–05. In the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
, Rucchin earned his spot in Mighty Ducks immortality when he helped the Ducks upset the Detroit Red Wings
in a sweep of four games by scoring the game-winning and series-clinching overtime goal in Game 4. At the World Championship 1998 in Switzerland he and his older brother Larry made history when they face each other when Steve used to play for Canada while Larry played for Italy
.
In August 2005, he was traded to the New York Rangers
for minor-league enforcer Trevor Gillies
and a conditional 2007 draft pick in a move to dump salary. He ranks third in Ducks history in assists (279), goals (153), points (432), and game-winning goals (23). Known as a great locker-room teammate, he provided veteran leadership in 2005–06, as an alternate captain (along with Jaromir Jagr
and Darius Kasparaitis
) on a young Rangers team.
On July 3, 2006, Rucchin signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers. on March 6, 2007, he suffered a concussion on a hit by Ben Guite
of the Colorado Avalanche
. This injury ended his career.
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) is a retired ice hockey centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
who played for three teams 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...
, most notably for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
Playing career
Rucchin played high school hockey for Sir Frederick Banting Secondary SchoolSir Frederick Banting Secondary School
Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School is a high school located in London, Ontario, Canada. It was officially opened in 1969, and has history of excellence in the arts, in sports and in community service. Banting is recognized for having a strong French Immersion program and a music program...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. His coach happened to also be an assistant with the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
and recruited him. He was an Ontario University All-Star in three of his four seasons there, and was named Player of the Year and First-team All-Canadian in his senior season. He was drafted 2nd overall in the 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft
1994 NHL Supplemental Draft
-Round 1:-See also:*1994 NHL Entry Draft*1994–95 NHL season*List of NHL players...
by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He soon centered Anaheim's top line with Paul Kariya
Paul Kariya
Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League . Known as a skilled and fast-skating offensive player, he played in the NHL for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and St...
and Teemu Selänne
Teemu Selänne
Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...
. Rucchin was an alternate captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
from 2000–2003, and captain 2003–05. In the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played...
, Rucchin earned his spot in Mighty Ducks immortality when he helped the Ducks upset 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...
in a sweep of four games by scoring the game-winning and series-clinching overtime goal in Game 4. At the World Championship 1998 in Switzerland he and his older brother Larry made history when they face each other when Steve used to play for Canada while Larry played for Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
In August 2005, he was traded to 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...
for minor-league enforcer Trevor Gillies
Trevor Gillies
Trevor Gillies is a Canadian ice hockey player who is currently playing for the New York Islanders organization of the National Hockey League . Gillies is primarily used as an enforcer.-Playing career:...
and a conditional 2007 draft pick in a move to dump salary. He ranks third in Ducks history in assists (279), goals (153), points (432), and game-winning goals (23). Known as a great locker-room teammate, he provided veteran leadership in 2005–06, as an alternate captain (along with Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr
Jaromír Jágr is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Jágr formerly played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers, serving as captain of the Penguins and the Rangers...
and Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman. Known by the nickname Kaspar, he has dual citizenship in both the United States and Russia, and he has played for the Russian national ice hockey team.- Playing career :Kasparaitis left Lithuania for Russia at age 14 after...
) on a young Rangers team.
On July 3, 2006, Rucchin signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers. on March 6, 2007, he suffered a concussion on a hit by Ben Guite
Ben Guite
Ben Guite is a Canadian ice hockey forward who is under contract with the San Jose Sharks in the National Hockey League . He is the son of former WHAer Pierre Guite.- Playing career :...
of 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...
. This injury ended his career.
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 | ||
| 1994–95 | San Diego Gulls San Diego Gulls (1990–1995) The second San Diego Gulls team was founded in 1990 as part of the International Hockey League. The Gulls played at the Valley View Casino Center, formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena.... |
IHL | 41 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 43 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 64 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 79 | 19 | 48 | 67 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 1997–98 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 72 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 69 | 23 | 39 | 62 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1999–00 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 71 | 19 | 38 | 57 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 38 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 82 | 20 | 38 | 58 | 12 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 82 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | 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... |
NHL | 72 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Atlanta Thrashers Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season... |
NHL | 47 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 735 | 171 | 318 | 489 | 164 | 37 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 12 | ||||