Mike Ricci is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 16 seasons. He was born on October 27, 1971, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Ricci began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Peterborough Petes in 1987. He played for the Petes for three seasons, during which he scored 133 goals and 197 assists in 174 games.
In 1990, Ricci was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, fourth overall, in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Flyers in the 1990-91 season and played for them for three seasons. In his rookie season, he scored 20 goals and 35 assists in 74 games. In his second season, he scored 30 goals and 46 assists in 80 games, which was his best season with the Flyers.
In 1994, Ricci was traded to the Quebec Nordiques, which later became the Colorado Avalanche. He played for the Avalanche for six seasons and was a key player in their Stanley Cup win in 1996. In the 1996 playoffs, he scored 10 goals and 11 assists in 22 games. In his six seasons with the Avalanche, he scored 109 goals and 157 assists in 427 games.
In 2000, Ricci was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he played for six seasons. He was a fan favorite in San Jose and was known for his gritty play and leadership. In his first season with the Sharks, he scored 20 goals and 34 assists in 82 games. In his six seasons with the Sharks, he scored 67 goals and 116 assists in 397 games.
In 2006, Ricci signed with the Phoenix Coyotes as a free agent. He played for the Coyotes for one season before retiring from the NHL in 2007. In his final season, he scored six goals and 10 assists in 42 games.
Throughout his NHL career, Ricci was known for his physical play, defensive skills, and leadership. He was a two-time NHL All-Star and won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 1994 World Championships. He finished his NHL career with 242 goals and 362 assists in 1,099 games.
After retiring from the NHL, Ricci became a player development coach for the Sharks and later became an assistant coach for the team. He also founded the Mike Ricci Hockey Academy, which provides hockey training for young players.
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