OHL Alumni Central

Stefan Ruzicka on the right with fellow OHL grad, Branko Radivojevic.

Stefan Ruzicka is now entering his third season in Russia’s KHL. The native of Slovakia and Ontario Hockey League grad has become a mainstay of HC Spartak Moskva (Moscow) and is under contract through the 2011-12 season.

Ruzicka played two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, 2003-04 and 2004-05, both with the Owen Sound Attack. He was the third overall pick in the 2003 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. Over 62 games, his 34 goals, 38 assists and 72 points in his first season were all league bests among rookies. The following season, his point total dropped to 70 points while once again appearing in 62 games with the Attack.

Stefan was taken by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round of the 2003 NHL draft, 81st overall. From 2005-06 to 2007-08, Ruzicka split his time between the NHL club and the American Hockey League’s Philadelphia Phantoms. In all, he played in 55 NHL games and 166 games in the AHL before jumping continents to play in the KHL.

Five times to date, Ruzicka has represented his homeland, Slovakia, on the international stage. In 2002 and 2003, he appeared at the Under-18 IIHF World Hockey Championships. In 2003, he contributed eight points in seven games as the Slovaks made it to the finals before losing out to Team Canada and, therefore, taking the silver medal. His eight points placed him 11th among tournament scorers and one point behind the great Evgeny Malkin.

In 2004 and 2005, Stefan played in the Under-20 IIHF World Hockey Championships. He contributed at a point per game pace over both tournaments with the team reaching the quarter finals in 2004 and sweeping the relegation round in 2005. In 2009, he played for the men’s version of Team Slovakia at the World Hockey Championships.

Check out Stefan Ruzicka’s profile page on the HC Spartak Moskva official website.

Stefan and well over 600 other Ontario Hockey League grads can be found on the OHL Alumni Central Big List. Stay tuned to The Big List to find where all your favourite grads are to be found in the great big world of professional hockey.

The New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers will face off in the first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. Appearing in the series will be 12 Ontario Hockey League alumni, 6 from the Devils and 6 from the Flyers. The Devils feature 4 OHL grads that played at least part of their careers with the Kitchener Rangers. The Flyers are represented best by graduates of the Peterborough Petes system with 2.

Here are the 12 OHL grads playing in this series. As always, click on each player’s name to view their profile page on their current team’s official website.

New Jersey Devils

Martin Skoula played two seasons with the Barrie Colts, 1997-98 and 1998-99. A first round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Martin played 5 seasons with the Avs before moving on to Anaheim, Dallas, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and the Devils. He came over from the Penguins at the trade deadline this season.

David Clarkson began his OHL career in 2001-02 with the Belleville Bulls. In 2002-03, David was traded to the Kitchener Rangers. He was a Ranger until the end of the 2004-05 season when his OHL career came to an end. Clarkson is now in his 4th season with the Devils.

Mark Fraser was a solid, stay at home, defenseman for the Kitchener Rangers in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Mark is in his first full season with the Devils, after appearing in 7 games with the big club in 2006-07.

Patrick Davis played in the OHL from 2003-04 to 2005-06. He played for the Kitchener Rangers until midway through his final season when he was traded to the Windsor Spitfires. Patrick has appeared in 9 regular season games with the Devils over the past two seasons but is on the roster going into the playoffs.

Andrew Peters played in the OHL from 1997-98 to 1999-00. His first two seasons were with the Oshawa Generals and his last was with the Kitchener Rangers. Andrew is in his first season with the Devils after 5 with the Buffalo Sabres.

Jamie Langenbrunner played two seasons with the Peterborough Petes in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Jamie came over from the Dallas Stars during the 2001-02 season and is now the captain of the Devils.

Philadelphia Flyers

Ryan Parent played for the Guelph Storm from 2003-04 to 2006-07. A first round draft pick of the Nashville Predators, Ryan has been in the Flyers organization since graduating from the OHL.

Mike Richards was a Kitchener Ranger from 2001-02 to 2004-05. A first round pick of the Flyers, Mike is in his 5th season with the team and wears the captain’s ‘C’.

Chris Pronger played two seasons with the Peterborough Petes way back in 1991-92 and 1992-93. His NHL career has taken him from Hartford to St. Louis to Edmonton to Anaheim to Philadelphia. This is his first season with the team.

Lukas Krajicek was a Peterborough Pete for three seasons from 2000-01 to 2002-03. Originally a first round pick of the Florida Panthers, Lukas has played in Florida, Vancouver and Tampa Bay before being traded to Philadelphia during the 2009-10 season.

Daniel Carcillo was a tough customer right from the start when he began his OHL career with the Sarnia Sting in 2002-03. He played with the Sting until midway through the 2004-05 season when he was traded midway through the season to the Mississauga IceDogs. 2004-05 was his final season in the OHL. A Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick, Daniel would see his first NHL action with the Phoenix Coyotes before becoming a Flyer during the 2008-09 season.

Jeff Carter played four seasons in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 2001-02 to 2004-05. A first round pick of the Flyers, Jeff has been a powerhouse for the team from the moment he graduated from the OHL.