Steve Rucchin

Background

Rucchin played high school hockey for Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School in London, Ontario. He was recruited by his coach, who was also an assistant with the University of Western Ontario. 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 in 2003–05. In the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he helped the Ducks upset the Detroit Red Wings in a sweep by scoring the game-winning and series-clinching overtime goal in Game 4. At the 1998 World Championship, he and his older brother Larry faced each other, with Steve playing for Canada and Larry for Italy.

In August 2005, he was traded to the New York Rangers for Trevor Gillies and a conditional 2007 draft pick. He ranks among the Ducks' all-time leaders in assists, goals, points, and game-winning goals, though not in the top five. He served as an alternate captain on the Rangers in 2005–06. On July 3, 2006, he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers.

In his 47th game with the Thrashers, on March 6, 2007, he suffered a concussion on a hit by Ben Guite and was ruled out for the remainder of the season with post-concussion syndrome. Prior to the 2007–08 season, he failed a physical at training camp and sat out the final year of his contract, effectively ending his professional career.