Mark Recchi
The average height of an NHL player is about 6'1 today. Even back in 1989, you would not find many 5'10 players around, let alone someone an eventual Hall of Famer or even someone who scored more points except for 11 players when he retired in 2011. That player was Mark Recchi.
The only player who scored more points and was shorter than him was Marcel Dionne; Marcel was 5'9 but played between 1971 and 1989.
Recchi was drafted by the Pittsburg Penguins in the fourth round in 1988. He became a star shortly after. He won three Stanley Cups and scored 1,533 points in a 22-year career. He is the oldest player to score a goal, a game-winner even, in the Stanley Cup Finals at 43.
Quotes
He didn’t look like a hockey player, The league was getting bigger. Rex was short. And coaches always thought he was out of shape, but he wasn’t. He just had this incredibly thick build. He was always in great condition. But everything about his appearance fooled people.
Phil Bourque
I was always told I was too small, At every level of hockey, I heard it. All I ever wanted was to prove people wrong every year. Call it a chip on your shoulder if you want. Whatever it was, it pushed me forever.
Mark Recchi
References
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Hockey-Reference
