Bruce Racine
Encyclopedia
Bruce Maurice Racine is a retired professional hockey goaltender who played in the NHL
with the St. Louis Blues
.
Racine was drafted in the third round, 58th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
. Bruce played his youth hockey in the Ottawa Valley and spent one season in the CJHL with the Hawkesbury Hawks
before joining Northeastern University where he was a two-time All-American, He set school records for games played, minutes played and wins leading the Huskies to Beanpot
Championships in 1985 and 1988 and a Hockey East Championship in 1988.
After his collegiate career, he signed with Pittsburgh. Racine played with the Penguins farm team the Muskegon Lumberjacks
of the IHL, for parts of five seasons (with a break as the starting goaltender for the Albany Choppers
). In the 1988/89 season with the Lumberjacks he led the IHL in wins and shutouts and was named to the league's First All-Star team. In 1991 Racine was recalled to Pittsburgh for the playoffs and dressed for four playoff games. Racine was included in the Stanley Cup team picture, and given a Stanley Cup ring.
Racine then played under contract for the Toronto Maple Leafs
in the AHL
for two seasons with the St. John's Maple Leafs
.
Racine finally got his chance to play in an NHL game when he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues
in 1995. In the 1995/1996 season he started the year in the minors with the Peoria Rivermen
but eventually got the call to backup Grant Fuhr
. That year Fuhr set a record by playing in 79 games but coach Mike Keenan
often pulled Fuhr during games, allowing Racine to play in 11 games, posting a 0–3–0 record and a 3.13 GAA. Racine also played in one playoff game after Fuhr was sidelined with an injury.
Racine played another five years in the IHL with the San Antonio Dragons
, Fort Wayne Komets
, being named the team's MVP both seasons with Fort Wayne and setting franchise marks for goaltending. Racine spent one season under contract with the San Jose Sharks
playing for the IHL Kansas City Blades
. He finished his career playing one season for Lukko Rauma had a brief stint with Metallurg Novokuznetsk
and 2 seasons for Ilves Tampere in Finland
. He retired after the 2002/2003 season.
After retirement, he was an assistant coach at Northeastern University in the 2004/2005 season, and now lives in the St. Louis area, where he operates Racine Goalie Academy.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
.
Racine was drafted in the third round, 58th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. Bruce played his youth hockey in the Ottawa Valley and spent one season in the CJHL with the Hawkesbury Hawks
Hawkesbury Hawks
The Hawkesbury Hawks are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Junior A Hockey League.-History:...
before joining Northeastern University where he was a two-time All-American, He set school records for games played, minutes played and wins leading the Huskies to Beanpot
Beanpot
The Beanpot refers primarily to a men's ice hockey tournament among the four major college hockey schools of the Boston, Massachusetts area, held annually since the 1952-53 season. The tournament gives the winner bragging rights over its cross-town rivals, and the quest for this highly sought-after...
Championships in 1985 and 1988 and a Hockey East Championship in 1988.
After his collegiate career, he signed with Pittsburgh. Racine played with the Penguins farm team the Muskegon Lumberjacks
Muskegon Lumberjacks
The Muskegon Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Muskegon, Michigan.-Facts:-Season-by-Season record:Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in...
of the IHL, for parts of five seasons (with a break as the starting goaltender for the Albany Choppers
Albany Choppers
The Albany Choppers was an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League during the 1990–1991 season. The franchise originally existed as the Fort Wayne Komets, whose owner, David Welker, opted to move his franchise to Albany, New York and its brand-new...
). In the 1988/89 season with the Lumberjacks he led the IHL in wins and shutouts and was named to the league's First All-Star team. In 1991 Racine was recalled to Pittsburgh for the playoffs and dressed for four playoff games. Racine was included in the Stanley Cup team picture, and given a Stanley Cup ring.
Racine then played under contract for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
for two seasons with the St. John's Maple Leafs
St. John's Maple Leafs
The St. John's Maple Leafs were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada at Memorial Stadium from 1991–2001, and at Mile One Stadium from 2001–2005.-History:...
.
Racine finally got his chance to play in an NHL game when he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
in 1995. In the 1995/1996 season he started the year in the minors with the Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen
The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:...
but eventually got the call to backup Grant Fuhr
Grant Fuhr
Grant Scott Fuhr is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League and currently the goaltending coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame...
. That year Fuhr set a record by playing in 79 games but coach Mike Keenan
Mike Keenan
Michael Edward Keenan is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Calgary Flames, and former General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He is currently working as an analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG Network.Keenan was a player for the St...
often pulled Fuhr during games, allowing Racine to play in 11 games, posting a 0–3–0 record and a 3.13 GAA. Racine also played in one playoff game after Fuhr was sidelined with an injury.
Racine played another five years in the IHL with the San Antonio Dragons
San Antonio Dragons
The San Antonio Dragons were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League for two seasons in 1996–97 and 1997–98. The Dragons were based in San Antonio, Texas and played at the Freeman Coliseum and occasionally the Alamodome....
, Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
, being named the team's MVP both seasons with Fort Wayne and setting franchise marks for goaltending. Racine spent one season under contract with the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
playing for the IHL Kansas City Blades
Kansas City Blades
The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....
. He finished his career playing one season for Lukko Rauma had a brief stint with Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Metallurg Novokuznetsk is a professional ice hockey team from Siberia based in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. They are members of the Chernyshev Division in the Kontinental Hockey League.-History:-Champions:...
and 2 seasons for Ilves Tampere in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. He retired after the 2002/2003 season.
After retirement, he was an assistant coach at Northeastern University in the 2004/2005 season, and now lives in the St. Louis area, where he operates Racine Goalie Academy.