Stern, Ronnie

A sparkplug of a player who was always among the league-leaders in penalty minutes, Stern was an energetic wing with every team he played for. Ronnie had a good 13-year NHL career and played in 638 career games before retiring following the 1999-2000 season.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Jan. 11, 1967

Career Highlights:
Stern was an outstanding junior hockey player in Canada before playing in the NHL; he captained the Longueuil (QMJHL) to the Memorial Cup in 1987. Selected in the 4th round (70th overall) in the 1986 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, Ronnie played sparingly during his first couple of seasons. A rough-and-tumble player, Stern racked up the penalty minutes while in the minors (294 in 55 games with Flint in 1988, and 280 in 45 games with Milwaukee in 1989). In 1989-90, Stern began the season in the IHL, but was called up to the Canucks midseason. He never returned to the minors. That year, he appeared in 34 games for Vancouver, scoring 5 points and picking up 208 penalty minutes!

The following year, Stern continued to mix it up for the Canucks and the Calgary Flames (he was traded midseason), picking up a combined 240 penalty minutes in 44 games. In 1991-92, Stern was even rougher and had a career-high (and team-leading)338 penalty minutes. He did offset this dubious distinction somewhat by scoring touch a career-high 13 goals. The Flames finished 31-37-12 and missed the playoffs. Ronnie remained with the Flames for the next few years. In the 1993-94 season with Calgary he recorded career highs in points (29) and assists (20). That year, Stern again led the team in penalty minutes, and the Flames, with a 42-29-13 record, captured the team's first Pacific Division title. They lost in the playoffs to the Vancouver Canucks in a tight seven-game series. The following year, the Flames (24-17-7) repeated as Pacific Division champions, but again lost in the first round of the playoffs in a seven-game series, this time to the San Jose Sharks. In 1996-97, Stern was the alternate captain for the Flames, but his career suffered a setback when a knee injury sidelined him for the entire 1997-98 season.

In 1998-99, Stern signed with the San Jose Sharks and played two seasons with the team. Ronnie led his team in penalty minutes (with 151) in 1999-2000; and at the age of 31, he played in 67 games. Though he had only 4 goals and 5 assists, he was credited with playing a pivotal role in getting the Sharks into the playoffs. Following the '99-00 season, Stern retired, having played in 638 career NHL games. He also played in 40 playoff games. In postseason play, Ronnie scored 6 goals and 7 assists, and incurred 108 penalty minutes.

Origin:
St. Agathe, Quebec

Career Dates:
Stern played right wing in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks in 1987-1991. He was traded to the Calgary Flames during the 1990-91 season, and played for the Flames from 1991-1998, and with the San Jose Sharks in 1998-2000.

Position:
right wing

Physical description:
6'0", 195 pounds
right-handed

Career Statistics:
In the NHL:
Games: 637

Goals: 75
Assists: 86
Points: 161

Power play goals: 2
Short-handed goals: 3
Game-winning goals: 9

Shots: 763
Shooting percentage: 9.8

Penalty minutes: 2,077
Plus/minus rating: -44

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