Pat Stapleton (ice hockey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pat Stapleton |
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Stapleton with the Boston Bruins in 1962
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| Born | July 4, 1940 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | April 8, 2020 (aged 79) London, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Boston Bruins Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Cougars Indianapolis Racers Cincinnati Stingers |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| Playing career | 1959–1978 | ||
Patrick James "Whitey" Stapleton (July 4, 1940 – April 8, 2020) was a famous Canadian ice hockey player. He was known as "Whitey." Pat played as a defenceman, which is a player who helps protect their team's goal. He played for 15 seasons in two major hockey leagues: the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Black Hawks. Pat was also the father of Mike Stapleton, who also played in the NHL.
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Hockey Journey: Pat Stapleton's Career
Pat Stapleton started his hockey journey playing Junior B hockey. He then spent two seasons with the St. Catharines Teepees. With this team, he won the important Memorial Cup in 1960. This cup is a big championship for junior hockey teams in Canada.
After his junior career, Pat played in minor leagues. He signed with the Chicago Black Hawks. However, the Boston Bruins picked him up in a special draft. He began his National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Bruins in the 1961–62 season. He later played for the Portland Buckaroos and was named the best defenceman in their league.
Joining the Chicago Black Hawks
In 1965, Pat Stapleton joined the Chicago Black Hawks. He wore jersey number 7. He played for eight seasons with the Black Hawks. He was recognized as one of the best defencemen in the NHL. He was named a Second Team All-Star three times.
Pat helped the Black Hawks reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1971 and 1973. The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy of the NHL. In 1969, he set a new NHL record for defencemen. He made 50 assists in one season. An assist is when a player helps another player score a goal.
Playing for Team Canada
Pat Stapleton was a key player for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. This was a famous hockey tournament against the Soviet Union. Pat played very well in this series. Many people believe Pat Stapleton still owns the puck that Paul Henderson used to score the winning goal in that series. Pat says he has many pucks, and he believes the famous one is among them.
In 1973, Pat decided to leave the NHL. He signed a five-year deal with the Chicago Cougars in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The WHA was another major hockey league at the time. He became a player-coach for the Cougars, meaning he played and coached the team. In 1974, he was named a WHA first-team all-star. He also won the Dennis A. Murphy Trophy as the league's top defenceman.
Pat again represented Canada in the 1974 Summit Series. This time, he was the team captain. He helped his team with three assists in eight games. In 1974, Pat and two teammates even bought the Chicago Cougars team. The team was having financial problems.
After the Cougars team closed down, Pat played for the Indianapolis Racers. He played there for two seasons. He was named a second-team all-star in 1976. He then played one season for the Cincinnati Stingers before retiring in 1978. During his career, Pat scored 337 points in the NHL and 239 points in the WHA.
Life After Hockey
After retiring from playing, Pat Stapleton lived in Strathroy, Ontario. He was part of an advisory board for a junior hockey team there. There is even a hockey award named after him in Strathroy.
In 2008, Pat brought the famous 1972 Summit Series puck to a hockey game. He used it for a special faceoff. He said he had the puck on his stick when the game ended. He decided to pick it up instead of shooting it away. In 2010, he said he would keep the puck until the 40th anniversary of the Summit Series in 2012.
Pat Stapleton passed away on April 8, 2020, at 79 years old.
Honors and Recognition
On September 10, 2022, the Sarnia Arena was renamed the Pat Stapleton Arena. This was done to honor him in his hometown. His wife, Jackie, cut the ribbon. His son, Mike, spoke at the event. He said his family was very honored to have a rink named after his dad. He believed his dad would be very happy looking down from "hockey heaven."
In 2005, Pat was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. He was honored as a member of the 1972 Team Canada. In 2010, he was also inducted into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.
