Darcy Rota

Darcy Irwin Rota (born February 16, 1953 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a retired professional ice hockey player who spent eleven seasons in the National Hockey League. He resides in the city of Coquitlam, and currently serves as president of the Coquitlam Express of the British Columbia Hockey League.

Playing career

Darcy's formative years including Bantom / Midget level hockey were in Prince George, British Columbia. Rota played his junior hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WCHL, helping the club reach the Memorial Cup in 1971 and 1972. A dangerous sniper, he led the WCHL in goals in 1972–73, notching 73 in just 68 games en route to a 129-point season. Following the season, he was selected 13th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft.

Rota stepped straight into the Blackhawks' roster in 1973–74, and turned in a solid rookie season with 21 goals and 33 points in 74 games. Over the next several seasons, Rota developed into a solid, gritty, two-way player who made a solid contribution at both ends of the ice, although he didn't develop into the type of scorer it was thought he could be when he was drafted. He scored at least 20 goals in each of his first four seasons in Chicago, with his best year as a Black Hawk coming in 1976–77 when he co-lead the team with 24 goals.