# Rudy Poeschek

Rudolph Leopold "Pot Pie" Poeschek (born September 29, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, and St. Louis Blues. He played defence, shot right-handed, and was known for his toughness.

## Career

Poeschek was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 12th round, 238th overall in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL for three years and there he established himself as a tough enforcer willing to drop his gloves with anybody. During the 1987–1988 season Poeschek finally played his first game with the Rangers. The following season he played in 52 games with the Rangers and registered a career high 199 penalty minutes.
Prior to the 1993–1994 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning picked up Poeschek and it was there that he developed his reputation as an enforcer to be reckoned with, dropping his gloves with the likes of Bob Probert and Craig Berube. Poeschek played four seasons with the Lightning before being picked up by the St. Louis Blues. He played a full year there along with parts of two other seasons and one more with the Houston Aeros of the IHL before retiring after 2000–2001 season.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1982–83 | Vernon Lakers | BCJHL | 54 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983–84 | Kamloops Junior Oilers | WHL | 47 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 93 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 1984–85 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 34 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 100 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 56 |
| 1985–86 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 32 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 92 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 40 |
| 1986–87 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 54 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 153 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 39 |
| 1987–88 | Colorado Rangers | IHL | 82 | 7 | 31 | 38 | 210 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 31 |
| 1987–88 | New York Rangers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1988–89 | Denver Rangers | IHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1988–89 | New York Rangers | NHL | 52 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 199 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1989–90 | Flint Spirits | IHL | 38 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 109 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 1989–90 | New York Rangers | NHL | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | Binghamton Rangers | AHL | 38 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 162 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | Moncton Hawks | AHL | 23 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 67 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 41 |
| 1990–91 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Moncton Hawks | AHL | 63 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 170 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 46 |
| 1991–92 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 78 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 189 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
| 1993–94 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 71 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 118 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994–95 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 25 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 57 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 88 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 1996–97 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 60 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 120 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 50 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 64 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1998–99 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–00 | Worcester IceCats | AHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–00 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 32 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–00 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 67 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 66 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 364 | 6 | 25 | 31 | 817 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |