Playing Career
Ricci grew up in Scarborough, Ontario and attended St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic school. He played hockey in the former Metro Toronto Hockey League (now Greater Toronto Hockey League) and was a 2nd round pick of the OHL's Peterborough Petes in 1987 after a strong season with the Toronto Marlboros Bantams.
Ricci was also a talented soccer player growing up playing for the Scarborough Blues program with his cousin, Paul Peschisolido, who would go on to a solid international career. Ricci's father Mario was a professional soccer player in Italy before emigrating to Canada.
Ricci was selected 4th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He had come off of 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 blockbuster trade.
Ricci would have a career year in his first season with the Nordiques, scoring 78 points. The next season, 1993–94, he would score 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 would win a Stanley Cup following the franchises relocation from Quebec. On November 21, 1997, Ricci would begin a new endeavor with the Sharks, the same team against whom he had scored 5 goals.
Ricci quickly became an elite defensive centreman with San Jose, but he never was able to regain the offensive prowess of his earlier years. 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.
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. The two had met in San Jose. Ricci played the 2005–06 season with the Phoenix Coyotes.
On August 13, 2007, Ricci announced his retirement after telling The Peterborough Examiner that he had not recovered from neck surgery as well as he had hoped.
Ricci rejoined the San Jose Sharks organization in the 2007–08 season as an advisor, and was introduced at the Sharks' rescheduled Opening Night festivities on October 18, 2007.
Mike Ricci is known for donning a witch's hat in a commercial for ESPN. He is also known for his long hair.
Read more about this topic: Mike Ricci
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