Rich Chernomaz

Richard "Cherno" Chernomaz (born September 1, 1963 in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada) is a retired ice hockey right winger.

Forward Rick Chernomaz had great hands, quick speed and a deft ability to put the puck in the net. The one thing he did not have was size, and that worried some NHL teams. The Colorado Rockies used their second-round pick, 26th overall, to select Chernomaz in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft after he posted a 113-point season, on 49 goals and 64 assists in 72 games, as a member of the WHL's Victoria Cougars. In his final year of junior in 1982-83, Chernomaz scored an impressive 71 goals and 124 points.

By now, the Colorado Rockies franchise had moved to New Jersey and were renamed the Devils. Chernomaz got his shot with the New Jersey Devils in 1983-84, suiting up for seven games, scoring two goals and an assist. He got his first real look in 1986-87, when he played in 25 games, scoring six goals and ten points.

In 1987-88, Chernomaz joined the Calgary Flames, where he played 14 games over three years. He continued to play professional hockey in the minors before jumping to Europe where he starred in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for four years with the Schwenningen Wild Wings.

Chernomaz still lives in Germany, where he serves as head coach for Schwenningen.

Awards

 * 1993-94 Les Cunningham Award (American Hockey League Most Valuable Player).