Mike Ricci
Ricci with the Colorado Avalanche in 1997
Born	(1971-10-27) October 27, 1971 (age 52) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Philadelphia Flyers Quebec Nordiques Colorado Avalanche San Jose Sharks Phoenix Coyotes
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	4th overall, 1990 Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career	1990–2007
Medal record Representing  Canada Ice hockey World Championships 1994 Bolzano World Junior Championships 1990 Helsinki

Michael Ricci (born October 27, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks and Phoenix Coyotes.

Ricci currently serves in the Sharks front office as a scout & development coach.^[1]

Playing career

Ricci was born and raised in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Ontario. He attended St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic school and Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute.^{[citation needed]} As a youth, he played in the 1984 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Mississauga.^[2] He was a 2nd round pick of the Ontario Hockey League's Peterborough Petes in 1987 after a strong season with the Toronto Marlboros Bantams.^{[citation needed]}

Ricci was also a talented soccer player growing up playing for the Scarborough Blues program with his cousin, Paul Peschisolido,^[3] who went on to a solid international career. Ricci's father Mario was a professional soccer player in Italy before emigrating to Canada.^{[citation needed]}

Ricci was selected in the 1st Round 4th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.^{[citation needed]} He had just completed three stellar seasons with the Peterborough Petes, and was dubbed a cannot-miss prospect. Ricci lasted only two years in Philadelphia, as in the summer of 1992 he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in the Eric Lindros trade.^{[citation needed]} He had a career year in his first season with the Nordiques, scoring 78 points. The next season, 1993–94, he scored a career-high 30 goals, with 5 of those coming in one game against the San Jose Sharks. In 1996, Ricci and the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup following the franchise's relocation from Quebec. On November 21, 1997, Ricci began a new endeavor with the Sharks.^{[citation needed]}

Ricci quickly became an elite defensive centreman with San Jose, but never was able to regain the offensive prowess of his earlier years.^{[citation needed]} Ricci was an essential cog to San Jose's success, and was there when the team made its first trip to the Western Conference Final in 2004. San Jose fans admired Ricci for his gritty style of play and were saddened when he was let go.^{[citation needed]}

In 2005, Ricci switched his uniform number to 40 in honor of former National Football League (NFL) player Pat Tillman, who was killed in action while serving for the U.S. Army.^[4] The two had met in San Jose. Ricci played the 2005–06 season with the Phoenix Coyotes.

On August 13, 2007, he announced his retirement after telling The Peterborough Examiner that he had not recovered from neck surgery as well as he had hoped.^[5]

Post-playing career

Ricci rejoined the Sharks organization in the 2007–08 season as an advisor,^[6] and was introduced at the Sharks' rescheduled Opening Night festivities on October 18, 2007. He is actively involved in the Sharks Alumni Foundation.^[7]

On December 11, 2019, Ricci was named an assistant coach for the Sharks.^[8]

Acting

Ricci had a bit-part as Elmer Lach in the 2005 Quebec film The Rocket, about the life of Maurice Richard.^[9] Out of several NHL players who appear in the film, Ricci and Sean Avery are the only ones with any dialogue.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Ricci and his wife Beth, who is from Peterborough, Ontario, were married July 4, 1998. They have three children. Their son Mario is a talented baseball player.^[10] Ricci is an accomplished soccer player, fisherman, and avid fan of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.^[11] He owns property in Los Gatos, CA^[12] and a lakeside cottage in Haliburton, Ontario.^[13]

Records

• Ricci held the San Jose Sharks' franchise record for consecutive games played at 228 (later surpassed by Patrick Marleau).^[14][15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1989	Canada	WJC	4th		7	5	2	7	6
1990	Canada	WJC			5	0	4	4	0
1994	Canada	WC			8	2	1	3	8
Junior totals					12	5	6	11	6
Senior totals					8	2	1	3	8

Awards and honours