- Mike Duco
-
Mike Duco 
Born July 8, 1987
Toronto, ON, CANHeight 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb) Position Left wing Shoots Right NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teamsVancouver Canucks
Rochester Americans (AHL)
Florida PanthersPlaying career 2008–present Michael Duco (Born July 8, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the National Hockey League's (NHL) Vancouver Canucks organization. Duco played his major junior hockey with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. After his junior career he was signed as a free agent by the NHL's Florida Panthers. After three years in their system the Panthers traded his rights to Vancouver for Sergei Shirokov.
Contents
Playing Career
Ontario Hockey League
Duco began his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career late in the 2003–04 season with the Kitchener Rangers.[1] In five games Duco registered one goal and two assists and added another assist in three playoff games.[2] In his first full season Duco recorded 24 goals and 50 points in 62 games. He also registered a +16 rating, eight power play goals, and two shorthanded goals. At seasons end Duco was named to the OHL's All-Rookie Second Team.[1][2] Prior to the 2005–06 season Duco was invited to the Edmonton Oilers training camp.[3] He failed to make the team or be given a contract and returned to Kitchener.[4] There his overall production dipped to 22 goals and 44 points, but he increased his power play goal total to 11.[1] In the post-season Duco added 2 goals and an assist in 5 games.[2] The following year he was again invited to Oilers camp where he was unable to gain a contract and was assigned back to the Rangers.[5] During the 2006–07 season Duco registered his third straight 20 goal season, but his production dropped for a second consecutive season registering 40 points. In the playoffs Duco notched a goal and an assist in nine post-season games.[2] In the off-season Duco was invited to the Florida Panthers training camp in Kitchener. His performance at this camp earned him an invite to the Panthers main training camp, where he played in one pre-season game and was signed to an entry-level contract.[6] Duco was reassigned to Kitchner for his overage season and set career highs in goals, 32, points, 54, and penalty minutes (PIM), 173.[1][2]
Professional
Duco played his first professional season with the Panthers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Rochester Americans in the 2008–09 season. He finished the year with 14 goals, 28 points and 141 PIMs.[2] Duco ranked fifth on the team in goal scoring while leading the club in penalty minutes.[7] The following season Duco began the year with Rochester but was called up by the Panthers where he made his NHL debut on December 2, 2009 in a game against the Colorado Avalanche.[8] He finished the year playing in 10 NHL games with out recording a goal or an assist but notched 50 PIMs, in the AHL he recorded 9 goals and 19 points in 59 games.[2] In the off-season he was re-signed by the Panthers to a one-year deal.[9] In the 2010–11 season Duco had a professional career high with 20 goals in 67 games for the Americans, but managed to play in only two games for the Panthers.[2] His 20 goals led Rochester.[10] At the end of the season Duco became a restricted free agent and the Panthers tendered him a qualifying offer.[11] During the off-season, on July 9, 2011 his rights were traded by the Panthers to the Vancouver Canucks for the rights to Russian winger Sergei Shirokov.[12] Five days later he signed a contract with Vancouver.[13]
Playing style
At 5 foot 10 inches tall Duco is small for a power forward, but plays an aggressive physical style with a willingness to fight. He plays an energetic game, finishing his checks, and can be an agitator. Former coach Peter DeBoer said that Duco doesn't play small but rather plays like a player a foot taller.[1][14]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Player's Profile Mike Duco". Hockey's Future. CraveOnline Media, LLC. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/mike_duco. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Player Card Mike Duco". National Hockey League. http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8471941. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ "6 - LW Mike Duco". The Hockey News. http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockeynews/hockey/player.cgi?5022&showAllMoves=1. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ Brownlee, Robin (2005-09-16). "The first cut is the deepest ...". Edmonton Sun. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Edmonton/2005/09/16/1219995-sun.html. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ "Oilers assign Mike Duco to Kitchener". Edmonton Oilers. 2006-09-20. http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=431213. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ Gorten, Steve (2007-10-09). "Give Vokoun Time, Luongo Says". Sun Sentinel. p. C 1.
- ^ "2008-09 Rochester Americans (AHL)". Hockey DB. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000032009.html. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ "Weiss' Hat Trick, SO Winner Lifts Florida To Wild Win Over Avs". KIRO-TV.com. 2009-12-02. http://www.kirotv.com/sports/21792212/detail.html. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ "Kenndal McArdle, Mike Duco and Tyler Plante Sign". The Miami Herald. 2010-07-15. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/flapanthers/2010/07/kenndal-mcardle-mike-duco-and-tyler-plante-sign.html. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ "2010-11 Rochester Americans (AHL)". Hockey DB. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000032011.html. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ "Panthers Make Qualifying Offers to Seven Players". Florida Panthers. 2011-06-27. http://panthers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=567488. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ "Canucks Acquire the Rights of F Duco from Panthers". TSN. 2011-07-09. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=371383. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ "Canucks sign right wing Mike Duco". Vancouver Canucks. 2011-07-15. http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=569402&cmpid=rss-News. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
- ^ Acquavita, Ryan (2011-03-16). "It's difficult for opponents to size up Panthers' Duco". Sun Sentinel. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-03-16/sports/fl-panthers-notebook-0317-20110316_1_mike-duco-pete-deboer-jacob-markstrom. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
External links
Categories:- 1987 births
- Living people
- Canadian ice hockey forwards
- Chicago Wolves players
- Florida Panthers players
- Ice hockey people from Ontario
- Kitchener Rangers alumni
- Rochester Americans players
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