Larry Rucchin

The older brother of Steve Rucchin, ice hockey star of the Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers and Atlanta Thrashers, Larry Rucchin moved to Italy after playing in youth and university hockey tournaments in Canada. He joined the HC Devils in Milano, coached by Ted Sator. During his time with the Devils, Rucchin won two Italian titles. Two seasons with Milano24 were followed by a moved to Germany in 1997, when Italian ice hockey was going through a difficult period. Rucchin played in the top German League with Dusseldorfer EG and Berlin Capitals.

Rucchin became a naturalised Italian in 1995, and became a member of the national ice hockey squad, and competed at the 1997, 1998 and 1999 World Ice Hockey Championships. In 1998, Italy played Canada, and the two Rucchin brothers opposed each other. That same year, Larry represented Italy at the Nagano Olympics. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2000 and stopped playing for a year, However, after 71 caps, he was called up for the 2001 World Championship squad but eventually his cancer returned, and he died in 2002, just a week after the birth of his daughter.