Russ Courtnall

Russ Courtnall ( born January 2, 1965 in Duncan, British Columbia ) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player ( Right Wing ), who from 1983 to 1999 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings played in the National Hockey League.

Career

Courtnall spent his time in the junior class at the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League and was regarded as one of the great young talents in Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs secured NHL Entry Draft in 1983 in the first round in seventh place the rights to him. The following year he began again in Victoria. He played at the Junior World Championships in 1984 for Canada and impressed with seven goals and six assists in seven games. Immediately after the tournament, he was appointed to the Canadian national team, which was preparing for the 1984 Winter Olympics. In Sarajevo, the young player was able to convince, so the Maple Leafs beorderten him immediately after his return to the NHL. In the remaining 14 games, he still contributed with twelve points scorer.

From the 1984/85 season he was an integral part of the Maple Leafs. This season, his 22 points were well below expectations, which had put the club's management in him, but by his tremendous quickness succeeded Courtnall again and again to create space for his teammates. In the following year, improved his game yield point, and the latest in the season 1986/87 season he fulfilled expectations with 29 goals and 44 templates. However, his coach John Brophy preferred player who made more carefully and use physical assertiveness up. Trying to Russ Courtnall reshape this player type to let his statistics again become weaker. Since what had Courtnall to offer, did not fit into the expected profile of the Maple Leafs, they gave him during the 1988/89 season to the Montreal Canadiens from.

In the French-Canadian metropolis Courtnall developed through his spectacular game with speed and nimble body illusions become one of the crowd favorites, though its yield points was moderate. In the playoffs, he then helped the Canadiens to lead into the final series for the Stanley Cup, where the team but the Calgary Flames defeated. His point yield was better again in the next two and a half years and in the 1990/91 season pass him 50 templates. He again played for the Canadian national team, first at the Ice Hockey World Championship in 1991, where he on two assignments in one goal and three assists contributed, then - before the season starts - even for the Canada Cup in the Canadian squad.

In the summer of 1992 he was discharged Stars in exchange for Brian Bellows of the Minnesota North. After a personal best of 36 goals for the North Stars, the team moved to Dallas. When he reached the Dallas Stars with 57 templates and 80 points, two records of his career. Late in the season 1994/95 committed him the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Greg Adams, Dan Kesa and a draft law. For the Canucks, his brother Geoff Courtnall played as a playmaker.

In March 1997 he was discharged together with Esa Tikkanen to the New York Rangers, who for Sergei Nemchinov and Brian Noonan sent to Vancouver. After the season his contract ran out, and he signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings. There he played the last two seasons of his career.

NHL stats

Sporting successes

Personal Awards

• Participate in the NHL All-Star Game: 1994