Ricci brought grit and skill to Peterborough
Former NHL centre is the only Pete named CHL Player of the Year
Mike Ricci’s style of play was equal parts finesse and grit.
Ricci was drafted to the Peterborough Petes in 1987 as a bantam player and dressed for the maroon and white across three seasons.
“It was kind of cool, I’ll be honest with you. I didn’t know anything about junior hockey,” said Ricci.
While with the Petes, Ricci played alongside guys who went on to have successful careers such as Jassen Cullimore, Tie Domi and Jody Hull. In 1989, he received his first taste of championship success as the Petes took home the J. Ross Robertson Cup following a series against the Niagara Falls Thunder.
Unfortunately, his competitive edge was slightly dulled right before the Memorial Cup as the sophomore developed chickenpox on his journey to Saskatoon, a memory that continues to haunt him.
“It was obviously one of my biggest disappointments, getting the chickenpox on my way to Saskatoon. It’s one of my biggest disappointments not being able to play my best at the Memorial Cup.”
In his final year with the Petes, Ricci won the CHL Player of the Year, a feat no other Pete has achieved.
Ricci was a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1990 NHL draft.
“I remember dreaming of winning a Stanley Cup. I didn’t know enough about the NHL draft but as it got close when you’re playing junior you start to realize,” he said.
He went on to have a substantial17-year NHL playing career dressing for the Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks and Arizona Coyotes. The defensive centreman won a Stanley Cup with the Avs in 1996.
“Obviously, hockey is the best sport in the world in my eyes, but it was a lot of fun hanging out with your best friends, going to the nicest restaurants, all the coolest bars,” he said.
Ricci admittedly enjoyed his social time later in life. However, he recalls being bashful while playing for Peterborough.
“When I got to Peterborough, I was a shy kid. I didn’t really know that much about being part of an organization and being a part of a town. Dick (Todd) always made me do stuff. He made me go to things and talk. I realized that helped me out later,” he said.
His equation for success, though not complicated, was instilled by his parents early in life.
“I was brought up that you have to work as hard as you can, play as hard as you can and play to win,” he said. “I’ve never been shy about saying, when I grew up my dad said, ‘It wasn’t just go out and have fun. You have to go out and win.’ I grew up in a family where it wasn’t enough to just have fun. You had to go and win the game.”
For Ricci it was never about the simpler wins either. He enjoyed playing against the league’s top producers such as Peter Forsberg.
“I was never really intimidated or afraid of anyone but, I’ll tell you, going against some of those skilled players was nerveracking,” he said. “You don’t want to end up minus-five against some of them. Playing against some of those players kept me up at night.”
In 2007, Ricci retired from playing hockey, a process he said he wouldn’t volunteer to go through twice.
“I remember my mom and dad working hard, couldn’t wait to pay off their house and retire. For professional athletes, we work as hard as we can so we can’t retire, once that happened it was tough times,” he said.
“Some days I wake up after one of those good sleeps and you think about what time practice is, and then I realize I ain’t putting on the equipment, I’ll be putting on a track suit. It still happens.”
Ricci rejoined the Sharks organization as an adviser in 2007, eventually stepping into the role of player development coach. Most recently he was promoted to assistant coach. In his new position, Ricci has been forced to re-evaluate how he previously and personally handles losing.
“You know, people always say ‘Don’t get too high when you win, don’t get too low when you lose,’ but I think most professional athletes are fine with the not getting too high when you win part. I think it’s not wanting to kill someone after a loss. It took a couple of games to realize that part.”
He self-identifies as a stickler for details and habits but maintains he enjoys having fun and being in the locker room, humbly describing himself as “OK” at his job.
Ricci, a one-of-a-kind player, had complete dedication to his craft and commitment to excellence, precisely what he wants to be known for.