Enrico Ciccone was one of the most popular players in Tampa Bay Lightning. He even had his own show at a local radiostation in Florida. In spite of all that he was traded to Chicago for Igor Ulanov and Patrick Poulin. The boss in Tampa  - Phil Esposito - had had enough of Enrico's outbursts. He never learned to control his temper.

Got it in the genes
"I've got it in the genes", the 6'1" tall and 220 lbs heavy Italian-Canadian says. "My personality changes when I'm getting on the ice". It's this kind of personality that has created trouble for Ciccone. Like when he played for Kalamazoo Wings in the IHL and got into a fight with a photographer while taking a "rest" in the sin-bin. Ciccone was arrested. In Chicago they hope that the 26-year-old will calm down, in company with greats such as Chelios, Suter and Amonte etc, but yet again he crossed the border last season when getting into fights with both guards and spectators after recievi ng a Game Misconduct against Colorado in the Playoff's. He might have it in the genes.

Soccer or Icehockey
"My father - Antonio - is Italian. He's warm-blooded", Enrico says. Enrico who played soccer until his 17th birthday. He even played for the Canadian Juniors as a goalie before choosing hockey as main sport. Being as big and strong as Enrico was, lead to that he was installed in the Police/ ToughGuy -Role pretty fast, first in the QMJHL and then the NHL, where he made his debut in 91/92 with the Minnesota NorthStars. As a defenseman, he  has to act totally different from other fighters, that usually are Wingers. "A tough Blueliner and a tough forward is totally different" he explains. "Especially towards the ends of the games. If we are one man short, and just has 4-5 blueliners left, I just can't go in there and pick a fight and then be out for five minutes. If you're a forward they can't say anything, because there are, most of the time, other guys who can play

Has learned from mistakes
Before this season, Ciccone said that he has learned from his mistakes, at least considering the behavior on the ice. Chicago wants him to cut the penalties down and start using his body as Jeff Beukeboom or Ed Jovanovski does. "You fight for the team, never for yourself. Where I am in my career now, I have to control myself, have to be cautious. The refs know who I am. I try not to think of  the fights. If I do, it will hamper my play. I haven't got pictures at home showing my fights. I'd rather have someone telling me I had a good game". New ways of Ciccone? We'll see if he keeps what he promises!

Note: Enrico was during the summer of 1997 traded by Chicago to Carolina Hurricanes for Ryan
Risidore and a draftpick.