Russ Courtnall: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1965)}}

{{Infobox Ice Hockey Player <!-- Please Leave This Message On :: After using this template, please add player name to talk page @ Template:Infobox Ice Hockey Player -->

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}

| image = Russ_Courtnall_Stars.jpg

{{BLP sources |date=July 2023}}

| image_size = 200px

|{{Infobox position = [[Winger (ice hockey)|Right Wing]]player

| name = Russ Courtnall

| played_for = '''''[[NHL]]'''''<br>&nbsp;[[Toronto Maple Leafs]]<br>&nbsp;[[Montreal Canadiens]]<br>&nbsp;[[Minnesota North Stars]]<br>&nbsp;[[Dallas Stars]]<br>&nbsp;[[Vancouver Canucks]]<br>&nbsp;[[New York Rangers]]<br>&nbsp;[[Los Angeles Kings]]<br>

| image = Russ Courtnall.jpg

| shot =

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Courtnall in 2008

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1965|6|2}}

| birth_place = [[Duncan, British Columbia|Duncan]], [[British Columbia]], Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 175

| position = [[Winger (ice hockey)|Right wing]]

| nickname =

| nationalityshoots = CANRight

| played_for = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]<br>[[Montreal Canadiens]]<br>[[Minnesota North Stars]]<br>[[Dallas Stars]]<br>[[Vancouver Canucks]]<br>[[New York Rangers]]<br>[[Los Angeles Kings]]

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|1|2}}

| ntl_team = CAN

| birth_place = [[Duncan, British Columbia|Duncan]], [[British Columbia|BC]], [[Canada|CAN]]

| draft = 7^th7th overall

| draft_year = 1983

| draft_team = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]

| career_start = 1983

| career_end = 1999

| halloffame =

}}

'''RussRussell William Courtnall''' (born on [[JanuaryJune 2]], [[1965]] in [[Duncan, British Columbia]]) is a Canadian former [[Nationalice Hockey Leaguehockey]] player. He played in the [[National Hockey League]] for the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], [[Montreal Canadiens]], [[Minnesota North Stars]], [[Dallas Stars]], [[Vancouver Canucks]], [[New York Rangers]] and [[Los Angeles Kings]] between 1984 and 1999. Courtnall was born in [[Duncan, British Columbia]], but grew up in [[Oak Bay, British Columbia]].

==Professional career==

Coming out of junior hockey, Russ Courtnall was considered one of the top prospects in 1983 and the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] selected him seventh overall in the Entry Draft

Courtnall was born in [[Duncan, British Columbia]]. His father, Archie, had played professional hockey, and worked in the forestry industry on Vancouver Island.<ref name="Stickhandle">{{cite web|url=https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/ex-nhler-geoff-courtnall-learns-to-stickhandle-around-lifes-adversity|title=Ex-NHLer Geoff Courtnall learns to stickhandle around life's adversity|last=Kuzma|first=Ben|date=November 25, 2017|publisher=The Province|accessdate=July 3, 2023}}</ref> Archie had depression, and died by suicide in 1978.<ref name="Cowichan Valley">{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cowichan-valley-began-ex-nhler-geoff-courtnall/|title=Cowichan Valley 'where it all began' for ex-NHLer Geoff Courtnall|last=Robson|first=Dan|date=January 20, 2018|publisher=Sportsnet.ca|accessdate=July 3, 2023}}</ref> Coming out of junior hockey, he was considered one of the top prospects in 1983 and the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] selected him seventh overall in the [[1983 NHL Entry Draft]]. In the 1982–83 season with the Cougars, Courtnall scored 36 goals and 61 assists for 97 points in 60 games. After being drafted by the Leafs, Courtnall appeared in just 32 games with the Cougars, scoring 29 goals and 66 points before being called up to the Maple Leafs, who were in dire need of scoring help at the time. As a rookie with Toronto, he scored 12 goals and 22 points in 69 games. Although his goal production was not as high as the Maple Leafs had hoped for, his speed opened up opportunities, especially for his linemates.

In 1984, Courtnall also suited up for the Canadian Olympic team, which finished out of the medals at the [[Ice hockey at the 1984 Winter Olympics|1984 Winter Olympics]]. Upon returning, he rejoined the Maple Leafs. In the 1985–86 season, playing alongside fellow [[Notre Dame Hounds]] alumni [[Gary Leeman]] and rookie [[Wendel Clark]] on what was dubbed The Hound Line, Courtnall broke the 20-goal barrier, notching 22 to go along with 38 assists for 60 points. His offensive numbers improved the following year with 29 goals and 73 points.

In 1982-83, Courtnall scored 36 goals and 61 assists for 97 points in 60 games. After being drafted by the Leafs, Courtnall appeared in just 32 games with the Cougars, scoring 29 goals and 66 points before being called up to the Maple Leafs, who were in dire need of scoring help at the time. As a rookie with Toronto, he scored 12 goals and 22 points in 69 games. Although his goal production was not as high as the Leafs had hoped for, his speed opened up opportunities, especially for his linemates.

In trying to force Courtnall to play a tougher brand of hockey, the club saw his offensive production decrease in the 1987–88 season. After just nine games into the 1988–89 season, on November 7, 1988, the Maple Leafs dealt Courtnall to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] for [[Enforcer (ice hockey)|enforcer]] [[John Kordic]]. Although Courtnall's stock had clearly gone down in the eyes of Maple Leafs' management, most observers felt Montreal got a steal in that trade.

In 1984, Courtnall also suited up for the Canadian Olympic team, which finished out of the medals at the Sarajevo Games. Upon returning, he rejoined the Maple Leafs. In 1985-86, Courtnall broke the 20-goal barrier, notching 22 to go along with 38 assists for 60 points. His offensive numbers improved the following year with 29 goals and 73 points.

In 64 games, Courtnall put up 39 points with the Canadiens, but his fast skating and stickhandling abilities made him a fan favourite. Courtnall played strongly in the [[playoffs]], where the Canadiens advanced to the [[1989 Stanley Cup Finals]] where they lost to the [[Calgary Flames]]. In 21 postseason games, Courtnall contributed eight goals and 13 points.

In trying to force Courtnall to play a tougher brand of hockey, the club saw his offensive production decrease in 1987-88. After just nine games in 1989-89, the Maple Leafs dealt Courtnall to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] for [[John Kordic]]. Although Courtnall's stock had clearly gone down tremendously, most observers felt Montreal got a steal in that trade.

Courtnall played for the Canadiens until 1991–92 season when on August 31, 1992, he was traded to the [[Minnesota North Stars]] for the 1992–93 season. In 84 games, he managed a career-high 36 goals and 43 assists for 79 points. He followed that up with an 80-point season in the team's first year of play in Dallas, and was selected to play in the [[1994 National Hockey League All-Star Game]]. Late in the 1994–95 season, on April 7, 1995, Courtnall was traded to the [[Vancouver Canucks]] where he teamed up with his brother, [[Geoff Courtnall]], for 13 games that year.

In 64 games, Courtnall put up 39 points with the Habs, but his fast skating and stickhandling abilities made him a fan favourite. Courtnall saved his best performance for the [[playoffs]], where the Canadiens advanced all the way to the [[Stanley Cup]] finals before losing to the [[Calgary Flames]]. In 21 post-season games, Courtnall contributed eight goals and 13 points.

On March 8, 1997, the Canucks traded Courtnall to the [[New York Rangers]], and on November 7, 1997, Courtnall signed as a [[free agent]] with the [[Los Angeles Kings]], where he played until his retirement following the 1998–99 season. He finished with 297 goals, 447 assists and 744 points in a 15-year NHL career.

Courtnall enjoyed another two-and-a-half years in Montreal before joining the [[Minnesota North Stars]] for the 1992-93 season. In 84 games, he managed a career-high 36 goals and 43 assists for 79 points. He followed that up with an 80-point season in the team's first year of play in Dallas. Late in the 1994-95 season, Courtnall was traded to the [[Vancouver Canucks]] where he teamed with his brother, [[Geoff Courtnall]], for 13 games that year.

Courtnall was a participant in both the second and third seasons of [[Battle of the Blades]], the latter as a last-minute replacement for the late [[Wade Belak]], but was eliminated early in the competition on both occasions.

In 1997-98, Courtnall signed as a [[free agent]] with the [[Los Angeles Kings]], where he played until his [[retirement]] following the 1998-99 season. He finished with 297 goals, 447 assists and 744 points in a 15-year NHL career.

==Career statistics==

==Transactions==

*November 7, 1989- Traded by the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in exchange for [[John Kordic]] and Montreal's 1989 6th round draft choice.

===Regular season and playoffs===

*August 31, 1992- Traded by the Montreal Canadiens to the [[Minnesota North Stars]] in exchange for [[Brian Bellows]].

{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! colspan="5"|[[Regular season]]

! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! colspan="5"|[[Playoffs]]

|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! [[Season (sports)|Season]]

! Team

! League

! GP

! [[Goal (ice hockey)|G]] !! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]] !! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]] !! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]

! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM

|-

| 1981–82

| Notre Dame Hounds AAA

| [[Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League|SMHL]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1982–83 WHL season|1982–83]]

| [[Victoria Cougars (WHL)|Victoria Cougars]]

| [[Western Hockey League|WHL]]

| 60 || 36 || 61 || 97 || 33

| 12 || 11 || 7 || 18 || 6

|-

| [[1983–84 WHL season|1983–84]]

| Victoria Cougars

| WHL

| 32 || 29 || 37 || 66 || 63

| — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1983–84

| [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canadian National Team]]

| Intl

| 16 || 4 || 7 || 11 || 10

| — || — || — || — || —

|-

| [[1983–84 NHL season|1983–84]]

| [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]

| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]

| 14 || 3 || 9 || 12 || 6

| — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1984–85 NHL season|1984–85]]

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 69 || 12 || 10 || 22 || 44

| — || — || — || — || —

|-

| [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86]]

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 73 || 22 || 38 || 60 || 52

| 10 || 3 || 6 || 9 || 8

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1986–87 NHL season|1986–87]]

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 79 || 29 || 44 || 73 || 90

| 13 || 3 || 4 || 7 || 11

|-

| [[1987–88 NHL season|1987–88]]

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 65 || 23 || 26 || 49 || 47

| 6 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 0

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1988–89 NHL season|1988–89]]

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 9 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4

| — || — || — || — || —

|-

| 1988–89||[[Montreal Canadiens]]

| NHL

| 64 || 22 || 17 || 39 || 15

| 21 || 8 || 5 || 13 || 18

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1989–90 NHL season|1989–90]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 80 || 27 || 32 || 59 || 27

| 11 || 5 || 1 || 6 || 10

|-

| [[1990–91 NHL season|1990–91]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 79 || 26 || 50 || 76 || 29

| 13 || 8 || 3 || 11 || 7

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92]]

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 27 || 7 || 14 || 21 || 6

| 10 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4

|-

| [[1992–93 NHL season|1992–93]]

| [[Minnesota North Stars]]

| NHL

| 84 || 36 || 43 || 79 || 49

| — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1993–94 NHL season|1993–94]]

| [[Dallas Stars]]

| NHL

| 84 || 23 || 57 || 80 || 59

| 9 || 1 || 8 || 9 || 0

|-

| [[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95]]

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 32 || 7 || 10 || 17 || 13

| — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1994–95

| [[Vancouver Canucks]]

| NHL

| 13 || 4 || 14 || 18 || 4

| 11 || 4 || 8 || 12 || 21

|-

| [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]]

| Vancouver Canucks

| NHL

| 81 || 26 || 39 || 65 || 40

| 6 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 2

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97]]

| Vancouver Canucks

| NHL

| 47 || 9 || 19 || 28 || 24

| — || — || — || — || —

|-

| 1996–97

| [[New York Rangers]]

| NHL

| 14 || 2 || 5 || 7 || 2

| 15 || 3 || 4 || 7 || 0

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98]]

| [[Los Angeles Kings]]

| NHL

| 58 || 12 || 6 || 18 || 27

| 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2

|-

| [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]]

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 57 || 6 || 13 || 19 || 19

| — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3"|NHL totals

! 1,029 !! 297 !! 447 !! 774 !! 557

! 129 !! 39 !! 44 !! 83 !! 83

|}

===International===

*June 9, 1993- Rights transferred to the [[Dallas Stars]] after the Minnesota North Stars relocated.

{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:50em"

|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

|-

| [[1984 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1984]]

| [[Canada men's national junior ice hockey team|Canada]]

| [[World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|WJC]]

| 7

| 7

| 6

| 13

| 0

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[Ice hockey at the 1984 Winter Olympics|1984]]

| [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]]

| [[Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics|OG]]

| 7

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 2

|-

| [[1991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1991]]

| Canada

| [[World Ice Hockey Championships|WC]]

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 0

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| [[1991 Canada Cup|1991]]

| Canada

| [[Canada Cup|CC]]

| 8

| 0

| 2

| 2

| 0

|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan=3|Senior totals

! 17

! 2

! 8

! 10

! 2

|}

==Personal life==

*April 7, 1995- Traded by the Dallas Stars to the [[Vancouver Canucks]] in exchange for [[Greg Adams]], [[Dan Kesa]] and Vancouver's 1995 5th round draft choice.

Courtnall is married to Paris Vaughan, an actress who was the adopted daughter of jazz singer [[Sarah Vaughan]]. They have three children: oldest daughter [[Ally Courtnall|Ally]], a model who played soccer and ran track for the [[UCLA Bruins]]; son Lawton, who played college ice hockey at [[Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey|Western Michigan]]; and youngest daughter [[Brooklyn Courtnall|Brooklyn]], who played college soccer for the [[USC Trojans women's soccer|USC Trojans]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/next-generation-in-courtnall-clan-steps-onto-the-international-stage-for-canada-5155292|title=Next generation in Courtnall clan steps onto the international stage for Canada|last=Dheensaw|first=Cleve|date=2022-03-13|newspaper=[[Times Colonist]]|access-date=2024-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/archives/la-me-sarah-vaughan-19900405-snap-story.html|title=Sarah Vaughan, 'Divine One' of Jazz, Dies at 66|date=1990-04-05|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|last=Oliver|first=Myrna|access-date=2024-12-13}}</ref>

*March 8, 1997- Traded by the Vancouver Canucks, along with [[Esa Tikkanen]], to the [[New York Rangers]] in exchange for [[Sergei Nemchinov]] and [[Brian Noonan]].

==See also==

*November 7, 1997- Signed as a free agent with the [[Los Angeles Kings]].

* [[List of family relations in the NHL]]

* [[List of NHL players with 1,000 games played]]

== Trivia References==

{{Reflist}}

* Courtnall formed the "[[Athol Murray College of Notre Dame|Hound Line]]" with [[Gary Leeman]] and [[Wendel Clark]] while helping the Leafs come within a game of the semi-finals.

==External links==

* Today, Courtnall resides in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife, and 3 kids.

* {{Ice hockey stats|nhl=8446208|legends=10302}}

{{s-start}}

[[Image:Russ Courtnall TML.jpg|300px]]

{{succession box | before = [[Gary Nylund]] | title = [[List of Toronto Maple Leafs draft picks|Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick]] | years = [[1983 NHL Entry Draft|1983]] | after = [[Al Iafrate]]}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Courtnall, Russ}}

== External links ==

[[Category:1965 births]]

*[http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10302 Legends of Hockey Bio]

[[Category:Living people]]

*[http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=1126 Russ Courtnall's Hockey Database profile]

[[Category:Battle of the Blades participants]]

[[Category:Canadian ice hockey players|Courtnall,right Russwingers]]

[[Category:BritishDallas ColumbiaStars sportspeople|Courtnall, Russplayers]]

[[Category:VancouverCanadian Canucksexpatriate ice hockey players|Courtnall, Russin the United States]]

[[Category:TorontoIce Maplehockey Leafspeople players|Courtnall,from RussBritish Columbia]]

[[Category:MontrealIce Canadienshockey players|Courtnall, Russat the 1984 Winter Olympics]]

[[Category:DallasLos StarsAngeles players|Courtnall,Kings Russplayers]]

[[Category:NewMontreal York RangersCanadiens players|Courtnall, Russ]]

[[Category:LosMinnesota AngelesNorth KingsStars players|Courtnall, Russ]]

[[Category:Victoria20th-century CougarsCanadian alumni|Courtnall, Russsportsmen]]

[[Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks|Courtnall, RussAll-Stars]]

[[Category:NHL first-round draft picks]]

[[Category:New York Rangers players]]

[[fr:Russ Courtnall]]

[[Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Canada]]

[[Category:Sportspeople from Duncan, British Columbia]]

[[Category:Toronto Maple Leafs draft picks]]

[[Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players]]

[[Category:Vancouver Canucks players]]

[[Category:Victoria Cougars (WHL) players]]