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

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Regular season and playoffs

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    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

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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

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  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. ^ a b "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.
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Preceded by Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick
1999
Succeeded by


  NODES
INTERN 3
Note 1