Michael Rupp
Encyclopedia
Michael Francis Rupp is an American
professional ice hockey
player currently playing for the New York Rangers
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
in Lakewood, Ohio
. He was originally drafted in the first round, 9th overall by the New York Islanders
in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft
. Unsigned, and still playing in the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL) with the Erie Otters
, he returned to the draft and was selected 76th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft
by the New Jersey Devils.
Mike played his first professional season in 2000–01
with the Albany River Rats
of the American Hockey League
(AHL), an affiliate of the Devils. Rupp made his NHL debut in the 2002–03 season with the Devils where he helped them win the Stanley Cup
, scoring the Cup-clinching goal. Rupp is only player in Stanley Cup history to have his first playoff goal be the Stanley Cup winning goal.
The following season in 2003–04, Rupp was traded by the Devils with a second round draft pick to the Phoenix Coyotes
for Jan Hrdina
on March 5, 2004. After the NHL lockout Rupp was traded by the Coyotes along with Jason Chimera
and Cale Hulse
to the Columbus Blue Jackets
for Geoff Sanderson
and Tim Jackman
on October 8, 2005. Columbus declined to submit Rupp (a restricted free agent) a qualifying offer in June 2006.
On July 9, 2006, Rupp signed a one-year, $450,000 contract to return to the New Jersey Devils. After a successful season establishing himself as a gritty hardworking player Rupp re-signed with the Devils on June 28, 2007, to a two-year contract.
On July 1, 2009, Rupp signed a two-year, $1.65 million dollar contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. While scoring his first career hat-trick
on November 30, 2009 against the New York Rangers
, Rupp scored his six, seventh, and eighth goals for a new career high just 28 games into the 2009–10 season
.
On July 1, 2011, Rupp signed a three-year contract worth $4.5 million with the New York Rangers
.
Mike and Christi have 3 children: Madeline (born December 2002), Mason (born November 30, 2004) and Max (born July 10, 2009).
in 1998.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player currently playing for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
of the National Hockey League
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...
(NHL).
Playing career
Rupp played high school hockey at St. Edward High SchoolSt. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)
St. Edward High School is private, all-male Catholic, college-preparatory high school located in Lakewood, Ohio, a western Cleveland suburb. It was founded in 1949 and is operated in the by the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana. It is one of three remaining...
in Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 52,131 at the 2010 making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland and Parma .Lakewood, one of Cleveland's...
. He was originally drafted in the first round, 9th overall by the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft
1998 NHL Entry Draft
The 1998 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 27 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. A total of 258 players were drafted.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
. Unsigned, and still playing in the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL) with the Erie Otters
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996...
, he returned to the draft and was selected 76th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft
2000 NHL Entry Draft
The 2000 NHL Entry Draft was held from June 24 to 25 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, following the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft on June 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild...
by the New Jersey Devils.
Mike played his first professional season in 2000–01
2000–01 AHL season
The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...
with the Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
of the American Hockey League
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...
(AHL), an affiliate of the Devils. Rupp made his NHL debut in the 2002–03 season with the Devils where he helped them win the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
, scoring the Cup-clinching goal. Rupp is only player in Stanley Cup history to have his first playoff goal be the Stanley Cup winning goal.
The following season in 2003–04, Rupp was traded by the Devils with a second round draft pick to the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
for Jan Hrdina
Jan Hrdina
Jan Hrdina is a retired Czech professional ice hockey player.- Playing career :Hrdina was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft in the 5th round, 128th overall....
on March 5, 2004. After the NHL lockout Rupp was traded by the Coyotes along with Jason Chimera
Jason Chimera
Jason Chimera is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Pre-NHL:Chimera played his junior career in the WHL, for Medicine Hat and Brandon...
and Cale Hulse
Cale Hulse
Cale D. Hulse is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. He was a defenceman.-Playing career:...
to the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for Geoff Sanderson
Geoff Sanderson
Geoff M. Sanderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger, most notably for the Hartford Whalers and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . Sanderson is currently a scout for the New York Islanders...
and Tim Jackman
Tim Jackman
Tim Jackman is an American professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was the first player from Minnesota State University, Mankato to be drafted after becoming the Columbus Blue Jackets' second round selection, 38th overall, at the...
on October 8, 2005. Columbus declined to submit Rupp (a restricted free agent) a qualifying offer in June 2006.
On July 9, 2006, Rupp signed a one-year, $450,000 contract to return to the New Jersey Devils. After a successful season establishing himself as a gritty hardworking player Rupp re-signed with the Devils on June 28, 2007, to a two-year contract.
On July 1, 2009, Rupp signed a two-year, $1.65 million dollar contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. While scoring his first career hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
on November 30, 2009 against the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, Rupp scored his six, seventh, and eighth goals for a new career high just 28 games into the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
.
On July 1, 2011, Rupp signed a three-year contract worth $4.5 million with the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
Awards and achievements
- 2002–03 - NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe 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...
Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1997–98 1997–98 OHL season The 1997–98 OHL season was the 18th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Eighteen teams each played 66 games. The Guelph Storm won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's. The Toronto St. Michael's Majors name is re-activated when they are awarded a franchise, they would play in the... |
Windsor Spitfires Windsor Spitfires The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
38 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Erie Otters Erie Otters The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996... |
OHL | 26 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 57 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 1998–99 1998–99 OHL season The 1998–99 OHL season was the 19th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The Belleville Bulls won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the London Knights.... |
Erie Otters | OHL | 63 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 102 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 25 | ||
| 1999–00 1999–2000 OHL season The 1999–2000 OHL season was the 20th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The Barrie Colts won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Plymouth Whalers.-Eastern Conference:-Western Conference:-Scoring leaders:... |
Erie Otters | OHL | 58 | 32 | 21 | 53 | 134 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 22 | ||
| 2000–01 2000–01 AHL season The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty... |
Albany River Rats Albany River Rats The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :... |
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... |
71 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Albany River Rats | AHL | 78 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Albany River Rats | AHL | 47 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL 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... |
26 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 51 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix Coyotes The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena.... |
NHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Danbury Trashers Danbury Trashers The Danbury Trashers were a United Hockey League ice hockey team located in Danbury, Connecticut. They played their home games at the Danbury Ice Arena.... |
UHL | 14 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 38 | ||
| 2005–06 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 39 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals.... |
Syracuse Crunch Syracuse Crunch The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter... |
AHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 76 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 92 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 2007–08 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 64 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 58 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
New Jersey Devils | NHL | 72 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 136 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
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... |
NHL | 81 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 120 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 81 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 124 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 497 | 49 | 40 | 89 | 656 | 43 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 35 | ||||
Personal life
His childhood ice hockey teams included the Parma Heights Wings Municipal Hockey Club, where he started playing at age 9. He then attended and played for St. Edward High School a college prepatory in Lakewood, OH where in just two years playing for the school he won two state championships (1994,1995). Rupp is a self professed Born Again Christian who became devoted to his faith after meeting his future wife Christi while he was playing in the OHL for the Erie Otters. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Devils Mike came to Southpark Mall in Strongsville, Ohio and showed the Cup and signed autographs for his home state fans. He played golf weekly with Tiger WoodsMike and Christi have 3 children: Madeline (born December 2002), Mason (born November 30, 2004) and Max (born July 10, 2009).
Heart Problems
Michael Rupp was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White SyndromeWolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome is a disorder of the heart in which the ventricles of the heart contract prematurely due to an accessory pathway known as the bundle of Kent. This accessory pathway is an abnormal electrical communication from the atria to the ventricles...
in 1998.