Rick Lanz
| Rick Lanz | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
September 16, 1961 Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for |
Vancouver Canucks Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Blackhawks |
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| National team |
 Canada
|
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| NHL Draft | 7th overall, 1980 Vancouver Canucks |
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| Playing career | 1980–1993 | ||
Richard Roman Lanz (born September 16, 1961 in Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia) is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League and is best known for his time with the Vancouver Canucks. He was born in Czechoslovakia, but his family defected to Canada following the invasion by the Soviet Union in 1968. He grew up in London, Ontario.
Lanz was selected 7th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks following an excellent junior career with the Oshawa Generals in which he was named the club's top defenceman in three consecutive seasons. He also received the opportunity to represent Canada at the 1980 World Junior Championships.
He immediately broke into the Canucks roster in 1980–81 at the age of just 19 and had a fine rookie year, posting 29 points in 76 games. Unfortunately, the 1981–82 season would prove to be a setback, as he tore knee ligaments 39 games in, forcing him to miss the rest of the regular season and the entire playoffs. The situation would prove doubly disappointing as he was forced to miss the Canucks' surprising march to the Stanley Cup Finals that spring.
In 1982–83 Lanz returned to the ice and hit his stride as an NHL player, recording 10 goals and 48 points, good for 6th on the club. He was also selected to represent Canada at the 1983 World Championships, where he helped the team win a bronze medal. He would follow this up with his finest NHL season in 1983–84, as he posted 18 goals and 57 points (both narrowly missing club records for defencemen) and was named the team's top defenceman. He was especially effective on the power play, and his 14 power-play goals tied for the league lead among defencemen with Edmonton Oilers superstar Paul Coffey.
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