Steve Rucchin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steve Rucchin |
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| Born | July 4, 1971 Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim New York Rangers Atlanta Thrashers |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
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| Playing career | 1994–2007 | ||
Steve Andrew Rucchin (born July 4, 1971) is a Canadian former ice hockey player. He played as a centre in the National Hockey League (NHL). Steve is best known for his time with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He also played for the New York Rangers and the Atlanta Thrashers.
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Steve Rucchin's Hockey Journey
Starting in High School and University
Steve Rucchin began his hockey journey playing for Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School in London, Ontario. His coach there also worked with the University of Western Ontario hockey team. This connection helped Steve get recruited to play for the university.
He was a star player at the University of Western Ontario. He was named an All-Star in three of his four seasons. In his final year, he was even named Player of the Year.
Joining the NHL: The Mighty Ducks
In 1994, Steve was chosen by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the NHL Supplemental Draft. This draft helped teams pick talented players who might have been missed in the main draft.
Steve quickly became an important player for the Ducks. He played on the team's top line with famous players like Paul Kariya and Teemu Selänne. This was a big achievement for someone who came from Canadian university hockey.
Captain and Playoff Hero
Steve was a leader on the Mighty Ducks team. He served as an alternate captain from 2000 to 2003. Then, he became the team's captain from 2003 to 2005.
One of his most memorable moments was in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Steve helped the Ducks win against the Detroit Red Wings. He scored the winning goal in overtime during Game 4, which helped his team sweep the series. This means they won all four games.
In 1998, Steve played for Team Canada at the World Championship in Switzerland. What made this special was that his older brother, Larry, played for Team Italy in the same tournament. They actually faced each other in a game!
Moving to Other Teams
In 2005, Steve was traded to the New York Rangers. He was known as a great teammate and a strong leader. He helped guide the younger players on the Rangers team.
Steve ranks high in the Ducks' history books. He is fifth in assists, goals, points, and game-winning goals for the team.
In 2006, Steve signed with the Atlanta Thrashers. However, his career ended early due to an injury. In March 2007, he suffered a concussion during a game. He was unable to play for the rest of that season. Before the next season, he could not pass a physical exam, which meant he had to stop playing professional hockey.
Life After Hockey
Steve Rucchin now lives in London, Ontario. He still travels often to Anaheim, California, where he played for many years.
