Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame

Rick Paterson

Birth: February 10, 1958
Home Town: Kingston, Ontario
Inducted as: Athlete
Inducted for: Hockey,
Inducted in: 2012

Biography:

At fifteen, Rick was considered one of the finest minor hockey players in Ontario. During his junior career, he scored 365 points with the Cornwall Royals of the QMJHL and won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 1978 World Junior Championships. A Chicago Blackhawk third round selection in the 1978 Amateur Draft, Rick spent his entire playing career with that organization. Although a capable scorer in junior hockey, Rick’s role in professional hockey shifted to his defensive prowess. As a “shutdown specialist”, he was a solid penalty killer and generally played against the opponent’s top line.

Upon retirement, Rick served as as assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penquins from 1988 to 1993, a Head Coach with the International League Cleveland Lumberjacks before returning to the NHL as assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1997.

After the 1998-99 season, Rick spent the next five years as Tampa Bay’s Pro Scout. He joined the Anaheim Ducks as their head of Pro Scouting in 2005 and is currently their Director of Player Personnel. Throughout his career, Rick has collected four Stanley Cup rings: two with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992, one with Tampa in 2004, and one with Anaheim in 2007.