Bio

With a reputation for lightning fast skating and breathtaking stick handling, Russ Courtnall--with award-winning figure skater Christine "Tuffy" Hough-Sweeney--thrilled audiences with heart-pounding performances in Season 2.  

Russ will bring passion and precision to his performances on the ice as he returns to Battle of the Blades Season 3. Encouraged by his good friends Pamela Anderson and Wayne Gretzky, Russ is no stranger to the entertainment world. Born in Duncan, BC, and following in his older brother Geoff's footsteps, Russ was considered one of the top prospects coming out of the junior leagues and was selected seventh overall in the 1983 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1986-1987, Russ was the lead scorer for the Leafs with 29 goals and 73 points. After six years with the Leafs, Courtnall joined the Montreal Canadiens where his speed and style made him a fan favourite during the four years he spent there. In 1990-1991, Russ was the lead scorer for his team again with 26 goals and 50 assists. Russ went on to play for the Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings before retiring in 1999. 

During the course of 16 seasons in the NHL, Russ played over 1,000 games, finishing with 297 goals and 744 points. Russ and his brother Geoff were the first brothers to both play 1,000 games in the NHL. Russ currently lives in California with his wife Paris Vaughan (daughter of Sarah Vaughan) and their three children, Ally, Lawton and Brooklyn. He is a partner of the Vancouver-based athletic apparel company, FIRSTAR Sports. 

 

While on Battle of the Blades Season 2, Russ chose to donate his charity prize money to the Archie Courtnall Centre (Victoria Hospital Foundation) which provides specialized psychiatric, mental health and addictions services, including emergency assessment, short-term crisis intervention/stabilization, treatment planning and care for people with emergent psychiatric disorders. 

It is open 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week with an interdisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, psychiatrists and unit clerks. It was named in honour and in the memory of Russ Courtnall's father.  Russ' cast-mates PJ Stock and Kelly Chase from Season 2 were among the many celebrities that participated in the Third Courtnall Celebrity Classic golf tournament held in July 2011 that raised $900,000 for the Archie Courtnall Centre.