Steven Rice
20th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.
As a junior player with the Kitchener Rangers, Steven Rice had NHL potential sitting squarely on his shoulders. The challenge would be to confirm if he could stand up to the weight of such expectations, especially once the New York Rangers secured his rights in the 1989 Entry Draft.
But at the close of the 91 season, the Rangers leapt at the chance to bring Mark Messier to Broadway. Part of the price was to send Rice to Edmonton. With the Oilers, Rice stepped into what is sometimes referred to as the young player's curse, the unenviable situation of replacing an incumbent superstar. In addition to this psychological baggage, he was also assailed with a series of injuries, including two concussions, a separated shoulder, and a broken hand.
He played 329 career NHL games, scoring 64 goals and 61 assists for 125 points.
Received these blue sharpie autographs IP. He was at the training camp for the Leafs in Hamilton in the late 90's.
I have an OHL card of Rice I always wanted to get signed. I wonder if anyone got his autograph via TTM.
ReplyDeleteKelly Gruber played for the Toronto Blue Jays.
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