Mike Ricci

Michael "Mike" Ricci (born 27 October, 1971 in Scarborough, Ontario) is a retired Canadian ice hockey centre. =Playing career=

Mike Ricci grew up in Scarborough, Ontario playing hockey in the former Metro Toronto Hockey League (now Greater Toronto Hockey League). He 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, Bruno, was a pro 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 can't-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 Quebec, 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. Ricci would win a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche, the Nordiques had moved to Colorado that season. On 21 November 1997 Ricci would begin a new endeavour with the Sharks, the same team he had scored 5 goals against. 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 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 13 August 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 and uncanny resemblance to Rush frontman Geddy Lee.