Product Code Database
Russell William Courtnall (born June 2, 1965) is a Canadian former ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings between 1984 and 1999. Courtnall was born in Duncan, British Columbia, but grew up in Oak Bay, British Columbia.
In 1984, Courtnall also suited up for the Canadian Olympic team, which finished out of the medals at the 1984 Winter Olympics. Upon returning, he rejoined the Maple Leafs. In the 1985–86 season, playing alongside fellow Notre Dame Hounds alumni Gary Leeman and rookie Wendel Clark on what was dubbed The Hound Line, Courtnall broke the 20-goal barrier, notching 22 to go along with 38 assists for 60 points. His offensive numbers improved the following year with 29 goals and 73 points.
In trying to force Courtnall to play a tougher brand of hockey, the club saw his offensive production decrease in the 1987–88 season. After just nine games into the 1988–89 season, on November 7, 1988, the Maple Leafs dealt Courtnall to the Montreal Canadiens for enforcer John Kordic. Although Courtnall's stock had clearly gone down in the eyes of Maple Leafs' management, most observers felt Montreal got a steal in that trade.
In 64 games, Courtnall put up 39 points with the Canadiens, but his fast skating and stickhandling abilities made him a fan favourite. Courtnall played strongly in the playoffs, where the Canadiens advanced to the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Calgary Flames. In 21 postseason games, Courtnall contributed eight goals and 13 points.
Courtnall played for the Canadiens until 1991–92 season when on August 31, 1992, he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for the 1992–93 season. In 84 games, he managed a career-high 36 goals and 43 assists for 79 points. He followed that up with an 80-point season in the team's first year of play in Dallas, and was selected to play in the 1994 National Hockey League All-Star Game. Late in the 1994–95 season, on April 7, 1995, Courtnall was traded to the Vancouver Canucks where he teamed up with his brother, Geoff Courtnall, for 13 games that year.
On March 8, 1997, the Canucks traded Courtnall to the New York Rangers, and on November 7, 1997, Courtnall signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings, where he played until his retirement following the 1998–99 season. He finished with 297 goals, 447 assists and 744 points in a 15-year NHL career.
Courtnall was a participant in both the second and third seasons of Battle of the Blades, the latter as a last-minute replacement for the late Wade Belak, but was eliminated early in the competition on both occasions.
| 1981–82 | Notre Dame Hounds AAA | SMHL | — | — |
| 1982–83 | Victoria Cougars | WHL | 33 | 6 |
| 1983–84 | Victoria Cougars | WHL | 63 | — |
| 1983–84 | Canadian National Team | Intl | 10 | — |
| 1983–84 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 6 | — |
| 1984–85 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 44 | — |
| 1985–86 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 52 | 8 |
| 1986–87 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 90 | 11 |
| 1987–88 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 47 | 0 |
| 1988–89 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 4 | — |
| Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 15 | 18 | |
| 1989–90 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 27 | 10 |
| 1990–91 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 29 | 7 |
| 1991–92 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 6 | 4 |
| 1992–93 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 49 | — |
| 1993–94 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 59 | 0 |
| 1994–95 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 13 | — |
| 1994–95 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 4 | 21 |
| 1995–96 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 40 | 2 |
| 1996–97 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 24 | — |
| 1996–97 | New York Rangers | NHL | 2 | 0 |
| 1997–98 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 27 | 2 |
| 1998–99 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 19 | — |
| 1984 | Canada | WJC | 7 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 0 |
| 1984 | Canada | OG | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 1991 | Canada | WC | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 1991 | Canada | Canada Cup | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
|
|
