Playing career

Ricci grew up in Scarborough, Ontario and attended St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic school and Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute. 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 went 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 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. 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 a Stanley Cup following the franchise's relocation from Quebec. On November 21, 1997, Ricci began a new endeavor with the Sharks.

Ricci quickly became an elite defensive centreman with San Jose, but 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, he 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 Sharks organization in the 2007-08 season as an advisor, and was introduced at the Sharks' rescheduled Opening Night festivities on October 18, 2007.

Acting

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

Records

• San Jose Sharks' franchise record for consecutive games played (228)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1986-87	Toronto Marlboros	OHL		38	39	42	81	27		—	—	—	—	—
1987-88	Peterborough Petes	OHL		41	24	37	61	20		12	7	6	13	12
1988-89	Peterborough Petes	OHL		60	54	52	106	43		17	19	16	35	18
1989-90	Peterborough Petes	OHL		60	52	64	116	39		—	—	—	—	—
1990-91	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		68	21	20	41	64		—	—	—	—	—
1991-92	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		78	20	36	56	93		—	—	—	—	—
1992-93	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		77	27	51	78	123		6	0	6	6	8
1993-94	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		83	30	21	51	113		—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		48	15	21	36	40		6	1	3	4	8
1995-96	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		62	6	21	27	52		22	6	11	17	18
1996-97	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		63	13	19	32	59		17	2	4	6	17
1997-98	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		6	0	4	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	San Jose Sharks	NHL		59	9	14	23	30		6	1	3	4	6
1998-99	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	13	26	39	68		6	2	3	5	10
1999-00	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	20	24	44	60		12	5	1	6	2
2000-01	San Jose Sharks	NHL		81	22	22	44	60		6	0	3	3	0
2001-02	San Jose Sharks	NHL		79	19	34	53	44		12	4	6	10	4
2002-03	San Jose Sharks	NHL		75	11	23	34	53		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	San Jose Sharks	NHL		71	7	19	26	40		17	2	3	5	4
2005-06	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		78	10	6	16	69		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		7	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1099	243	362	605	979		110	23	43	66	77

Medal record
Representing Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
	1994 Bolzano
World Junior Championships
	1990 Helsinki

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1989	Canada	WJC	4th		7	5	2	7	6
1990	Canada	WJC	01 !		5	0	4	4	0
1994	Canada	WC	01 !		8	2	1	3	8
Junior totals					12	5	6	11	6
Senior totals					8	2	1	3	8

Awards and honours

Award	Year
OHL
Second All-Star Team	1989
First All-Star Team	1990
Red Tilson Trophy	1990
William Hanley Trophy	1990
CHL Player of the Year	1990
NHL
Stanley Cup (Colorado Avalanche)	1996

[ Source: Wikipedia ]