Richard Clune

Richard Clune, also known as 'Rich' or 'Dicky', (born April 25, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. Clune played in 423 AHL games and 139 National Hockey League (NHL) games during his career.

Richard Clune
Marlies-vs-stars---060218 27651751417 o (42307201214).jpg
Clune with the Toronto Marlies in 2018
Born (1987-04-25) April 25, 1987
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Los Angeles Kings
Nashville Predators
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Draft 71st overall, 2005
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2007–2022

Playing career

Junior

Clune was drafted in the second round of the 2003 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection (29th overall) by the Sarnia Sting. During the 2003–04 season, Clune scored three goals and 16 points in 58 games. In 2004–05, his second year with the Sting, Clune finished the season with 21 goals and 34 points in 68 games, fourth most on the team, as well as winning the Bobby Smith Trophy, emblematic of the OHL's scholastic player of the year.[1] In April 2005, Clune represented Canada at the World Under-18s in the Czech Republic;[1] Canada won a silver medal, losing in the gold-medal game to the United States.[2]

In the 2005–06 season Clune was named Sarnia's team captain. At the end of the season, he demanded a trade.[3] On September 20, 2006, Clune was traded to the Barrie Colts for Mike Roelofsen and three draft picks.[4] Clune had his best season offensively, scoring a career-high 32 goals and 46 assists for a career-best 78 points in 67 games.

Professional

Clune was drafted in the third round (71st overall) at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars on July 30, 2005.[5] On March 25, 2007, Clune signed a three-year entry-level contract with Dallas Stars.[6] Clune was invited to the Stars' 2007 training camp, but was re-assigned to Dallas's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Stars, on September 21.[7] Clune ended the 2007–08 season splitting time between Iowa and the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL.[5]

On July 21, 2008, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Lauri Tukonen.[5] After suffering a chest injury at training camp on October 6, 2008,[8] Clune was not assigned to the Kings' affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, until November 19, 2008.[9] The following season, Clune started the season on injured reserve with the Kings after suffering a groin pull.[10] After being activated, he was assigned to Manchester on October 9, 2009.[11] He was recalled in February 2010 and played in his first NHL game for the Kings versus the Edmonton Oilers on February 11.[12] In his second game, he scored two points versus the Colorado Avalanche.[13] He was returned to Manchester on February 16.[14] During the 2010 playoffs, Clune made four brief appearances in their first-round loss to the Vancouver Canucks,[13] but is noted for his fight in Game 5 with Rick Rypien.[15] In the off-season Clune re-signed with the Kings to a one-year contract.[13] He spent the entire 2011–12 season with the Monarchs, registering 6 goals and 15 points in 56 games. Clune re-signed with the Kings to a two-year contract.[16]

Prior to the 2012–13 lockout-shortened season, Clune was picked up off waivers from the Kings by the Nashville Predators on January 15, 2013.[17] Clune played in his 100th NHL game on March 1, 2014 versus the Winnipeg Jets.[18] Having established a fourth line role with the Predators, Clune was re-signed to a two-year contract extension to begin in the 2014–15 season.[19] Clune featured in a single game under new head coach Peter Laviolette before he was reassigned to the AHL with affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals for the duration of the year. After he was placed on waivers in the off-season with no claim, Clune was placed on unconditional waivers to buy out the final year of his contract and secure a release to free agency on June 27, 2015.[20]

On July 5, 2015, Clune signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.[21] Clune produced 5 points in 8 games to open the 2015–16 season with the Marlies, before he was signed to a one-year two-way contract with the parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on October 29, 2015.[22] On July 4, 2016, as a free agent from the Maple Leafs, Clune opted to continue playing with the Marlies, signing a new one-year AHL deal.[23] On March 1, 2021, Clune was named team captain of the Marlies.[24] Clune played seven seasons with the Marlies, captaining the club in his final two years, before announcing his retirement from his 16 year professional career on August 4, 2022. It was announced that Clune would remain within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization as a member of the player development staff.[25]

Personal life

Clune grew up in the Beaches area of Toronto, Ontario. His father, Tom Clune, played college hockey in the United States before making a career of it in Europe.[26] During the 2014–15 season, Clune began taking acting classes. In the 2017 offseason, he filmed roles in two short films. His younger brothers, Matt and Ben, are screenwriters.[27]

Clune is of Irish and southern Italian descent.

Clune has written of his struggle with substance addiction. A documentary feature on his life was released in 2020.[28][29]

Clune's great-uncle was Robert Clune, a bishop in the Archdiocese of Toronto.[30]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2003–04 Sarnia Sting OHL 58 3 13 16 72 5 0 1 1 0
2004–05 Sarnia Sting OHL 67 21 13 34 103 — — — — —
2005–06 Sarnia Sting OHL 61 20 32 52 126 — — — — —
2006–07 Barrie Colts OHL 67 32 46 78 151 8 3 4 7 8
2006–07 Iowa Stars AHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2007–08 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 19 1 9 10 41 — — — — —
2007–08 Iowa Stars AHL 38 3 5 8 137 — — — — —
2008–09 Manchester Monarchs AHL 35 3 6 9 87 — — — — —
2009–10 Manchester Monarchs AHL 44 4 10 14 126 — — — — —
2009–10 Los Angeles Kings NHL 14 0 2 2 26 4 0 0 0 5
2010–11 Manchester Monarchs AHL 66 8 14 22 222 7 0 3 3 6
2011–12 Manchester Monarchs AHL 56 6 9 15 253 4 0 0 0 14
2012–13 Manchester Monarchs AHL 35 2 5 7 98 — — — — —
2012–13 Nashville Predators NHL 47 4 5 9 113 — — — — —
2013–14 Nashville Predators NHL 58 3 4 7 166 — — — — —
2014–15 Nashville Predators NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2014–15 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 62 6 11 17 181 — — — — —
2015–16 Toronto Marlies AHL 49 8 16 24 146 15 1 2 3 34
2015–16 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 19 0 4 4 22 — — — — —
2016–17 Toronto Marlies AHL 37 3 7 10 87 5 1 1 2 14
2017–18 Toronto Marlies AHL 47 3 1 4 75 — — — — —
2018–19 Toronto Marlies AHL 15 1 0 1 14 — — — — —
2019–20 Toronto Marlies AHL 16 3 1 4 28 — — — — —
2020–21 Toronto Marlies AHL 33 3 1 4 50 — — — — —
2021–22 Toronto Marlies AHL 59 4 8 12 110 — — — — —
AHL totals 593 57 94 151 1607 31 2 6 8 68
NHL totals 139 7 15 22 327 4 0 0 0 5

International
Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2004 Canada Ontario U17 6 1 8 9 6
2004 Canada U18 5 0 1 1 33
2005 Canada WJC18 6 2 2 4 12
Junior totals 17 3 11 14 51

Awards and honours
Award Year
OHL
Bobby Smith Trophy 2005
AHL
Calder Cup (Toronto Marlies) 2018 [31]

References
  1. "Clune Named OHL Scholastic Player of the Year". Ontario Hockey League. May 12, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  2. "Canada Takes Silver at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship". Hockey Canada. April 24, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. Burnside, Scott (March 12, 2013). "Rich Clune fighting a bigger battle". ESPN. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  4. "Sting And Colts Complete A Pair Of Deals". Sarnia Sting. September 14, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  5. "Dallas Stars acquire Lauri Tukonen from L.A. Kings for Richard Clune". The Hockey News. The Canadian Press. July 21, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  6. "Richard Clune". American Hockey League. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  7. "Bruins send top pick Hamill back to junior". The Globe and Mail. September 21, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. Hammond, Rich (October 25, 2008). "Kings have many options at center". Daily Bulletin. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  9. "Clune activated from IR; assigned". Los Angeles Kings. 2008-11-19. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2009-02-12 – via NHL.com.
  10. Elliott, Helene (September 30, 2009). "Kings' roster: Richard Clune starts season on injured reserve". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  11. Elliott, Helene (October 9, 2009). "Kings activate Clune, assign him to Manchester". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  12. Hoornstra, J. P. (February 11, 2010). "NHL: Clune finds his way to the Kings". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  13. "Kings Agree With Four". Los Angeles Kings. July 18, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  14. "Kings assign Richard Clune to Manchester to get him playing time". Los Angeles Times. February 16, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  15. McIntyre, Gordon (April 23, 2010). "Murray calls O'B a 'clown'". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  16. "Kings sign Cliche and Clune". WMUR9 ABC. June 15, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  17. "Nashville Predators pick up Rich Clune on waivers". Nashville Predators. 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2013-01-15 – via NHL.com.
  18. Cooper, Josh (March 1, 2014). "Nashville Predators' Rich Clune perseveres to play in 100th game in NHL". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  19. "Predators extend Rich Clune's deal 2 years". CBC News. The Associated Press. July 17, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  20. Mahiban, Dhiren (June 28, 2015). "Preds' Clune clears waivers, buyout coming". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  21. "Marlies Sign Rich Clune". Toronto Marlies. July 5, 2015. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015.
  22. "Maple Leafs sign F Clune". The Sports Network. 2015-10-29. Retrieved 2015-10-29.
  23. Toronto Marlies (2016-07-04). "Rich Clune remains with Toronto Marlies". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  24. "Rich Clune Named Toronto Marlies Captain". OurSports Central. 2021-03-01.
  25. "Marlies captain Rich Clune announces his retirement". Toronto Marlies. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  26. "Clune brings aggression to Colts offence". Huntsville Forester. November 3, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2022 – via muskokaregion.com.
  27. Cooper, Josh (September 11, 2017). "Acting like a pro: Whether on the ice or on screen, Rich Clune is comfortable playing his role". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  28. Clune, Rich (July 2, 2015). "The Battle". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  29. Shackleton, Allan (May 11, 2020). "Documentary Hi, My Name is Dicky profiles Beach resident and pro hockey player Rich Clune's road to overcoming personal challenges". Beach Community Metro News. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  30. "Most Reverend Robert Bell Clune". Tribute Archive. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  31. "Marlies bring a hockey championship to Toronto, win Calder Cup". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
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