Luca Cereda

Luca Cereda (born September 7, 1981) is a Swiss former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted in the first round, 24th overall, of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his first training camp with the Leafs, Cereda was diagnosed with a heart murmur due to a defect in his aortic valve.^[1][2] Apart from exhibition games^[3] with the Leafs before the diagnosis, he never appeared in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. After his recovery from his heart surgery, he played in the Leafs' minor league team for a few years and returned to Switzerland in 2004 to play in the National League instead. He ended his playing career in 2008 due to heart problems and began coaching.^[4] In 2017, Cereda succeeded Gordie Dwyer to become the head coach of HC Ambrì-Piotta.^[4][5]

Luca Cereda
Born	(1981-09-07) September 7, 1981 (age 43) Sementina, Switzerland
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position	Forward
NHL draft	24th overall, 1999 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	1998–2007

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996–97	HC Ambrì–Piotta	SUI U20		35	13	8	21	26		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	HC Ambrì–Piotta	SUI U20		28	17	27	44	24		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	GDT Bellinzona	SUI.5
1998–99	HC Ambrì–Piotta	SUI U20		3	4	3	7	20		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NDA		38	6	10	16	8		15	0	6	6	4
1998–99	GDT Bellinzona	SUI.4
1999–2000	HC Ambrì–Piotta	SUI U20		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NLA		43	1	5	6	14		9	0	1	1	2
2001–02	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		71	5	8	13	23		11	2	1	3	10
2002–03	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		78	7	18	25	26		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		22	0	2	2	8		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	SC Bern	NLA		9	1	3	4	22		15	4	0	4	4
2004–05	SC Bern	NLA		37	1	1	2	2		11	0	1	1	2
2005–06	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NLA		42	6	16	22	51		7	1	1	2	4
2006–07	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NLA		30	3	14	17	26		—	—	—	—	—
NDA/NLA totals				199	18	49	67	123		57	5	9	14	16
AHL totals				171	12	28	40	57		11	2	1	3	10

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998	Switzerland	EJC		6	1	1	2	4
1999	Switzerland	WJC		6	1	0	1	10
1999	Switzerland	WJC18		7	2	8	10	10
2000	Switzerland	WJC		7	2	4	6	14
2003	Switzerland	WC		7	0	2	2	2
2004	Switzerland	WC		5	0	0	0	2
Junior totals				26	6	13	19	38
Senior totals				12	0	2	2	4

References

1. "Leafs' prospect may require surgery for heart valve". CBC Sports. 27 September 2000. Retrieved 12 April 2021. A heart murmur was detected during training camp and it was later determined to be a faulty leaflet in the aortic valve which pumps blood from the heart.
2. Shoalts, David (23 September 2000). "Heart murmur sidelines Cereda". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 12 April 2021. There are three main valves in the aorta, which is the main trunk of the systemic arteries that carry blood from the left side of the heart to the arteries of all limbs and organs except the lungs. The faulty valve is not functioning.
3. "Sundin scores OT winner as Leafs beat Oilers". CBC Sports. 15 September 2000. Retrieved 12 April 2021. Three rookies -- Don Maclean, Adam Mair and Luca Cereda -- all scored power-play goals but it was captain Mats Sundin who clinched a 4-3 Leaf victory.....
4. "Actualité - Ambri confirme Luca Cereda en tant que coach". Planète Hockey (in Swiss French). 28 April 2017. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
5. "Confirmed - Luca Cereda is HC Ambrì-Piotta's new head coach". swisshockeynews.ch. H. C. Ambrì-Piotta. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Nik Antropov	Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick 1999	Succeeded by Brad Boyes