Rick Middleton is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 14 seasons. He was born on December 4, 1953, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Middleton began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) with the Oshawa Generals. He played for the Generals for three seasons, from 1971 to 1974, and was a standout player, scoring 77 goals and 91 assists in 154 games.
In 1973, Middleton was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round, 14th overall, in the NHL Amateur Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Rangers in the 1974-75 season and played for them for three seasons. Middleton was then traded to the Boston Bruins in 1976, where he would spend the rest of his career.
Middleton quickly became a fan favorite in Boston, known for his speed, skill, and scoring ability. He played on a line with center Peter McNab and left winger Bobby Schmautz, and the trio became known as the "Razzle Dazzle Line." Middleton's best season with the Bruins was in 1983-84 when he scored 47 goals and 59 assists for a total of 106 points. He was named a Second Team All-Star that season and finished second in the voting for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL's most valuable player.
Middleton was a consistent scorer throughout his career, scoring 40 or more goals in four seasons and 30 or more goals in eight seasons. He was also a skilled playmaker, recording 50 or more assists in three seasons. Middleton was known for his ability to score in clutch situations, and he scored several game-winning goals in the playoffs throughout his career.
Middleton retired from the NHL in 1988 at the age of 34. He finished his career with 448 goals and 540 assists for a total of 988 points in 1,005 games. He ranks third on the Bruins' all-time scoring list, behind only Ray Bourque and Johnny Bucyk. Middleton was inducted into the Bruins Hall of Fame in 2008 and had his number 16 retired by the team in 2018.
In addition to his NHL career, Middleton also represented Canada in international competition. He played for Canada in the 1977 and 1981 Canada Cup tournaments, winning a silver medal in 1981.
Overall, Rick Middleton was a highly skilled and consistent scorer throughout his NHL career. He was a fan favorite in Boston and is remembered as one of the greatest players in Bruins history.
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