Pat Verbeek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pat Verbeek |
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Verbeek in 2014
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| Born | May 24, 1964 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Right wing | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shot | Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | New Jersey Devils Hartford Whalers New York Rangers Dallas Stars Detroit Red Wings |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | 43rd overall, 1982 New Jersey Devils |
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| Playing career | 1982–2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Patrick "Pat" Martin Verbeek (born May 24, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is currently the general manager for the Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL). Pat Verbeek played for five different teams during his 20-year career. He won the famous Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.
Pat Verbeek was known by the nickname "Little Ball of Hate". This nickname was given to him in 1995 by Glenn Healy. It came after his teammate, Ray Ferraro, was called the "Big Ball of Hate". Verbeek is one of the few NHL players who have scored 500 goals in their career.
Contents
Pat Verbeek's Hockey Journey
Starting Out in Minor Hockey
Pat Verbeek grew up playing minor hockey in Petrolia, Ontario. When he was just 15 years old, he joined the OHA Petrolia Jets Jr.B. club in the 1979–80 season. This was the start of his exciting hockey journey.
Joining the New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils picked Pat Verbeek as the 43rd player in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He helped the Devils reach the playoffs for the first time in the 1987–88 season. During that season, he scored 46 goals, which was a team record at the time. This record stood until the 2005–06 season.
Overcoming Challenges: A Thumb Injury
On May 15, 1985, Pat Verbeek had a serious farming accident. One of his thumbs was cut off by a machine called an auger. Luckily, his father and brother helped save his thumb. After a lot of hard work and recovery, Verbeek was able to return to playing hockey. This showed his amazing determination.
Moving to Other Teams and Winning the Stanley Cup
After the 1988–89 season, the Devils traded Verbeek to the Hartford Whalers. In his first year there, he led the team in goals. The next season, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP). In 1991, he was chosen for the NHL All-Star team. The following season, Verbeek became the Whalers' captain.
After a short time with the New York Rangers, he joined the Dallas Stars in 1996. With the Stars, he achieved a huge dream: he won his first Stanley Cup championship in 1999.
Reaching Milestones with the Red Wings
During the 1999–2000 season, Pat Verbeek signed with the Detroit Red Wings. While playing for Detroit, he reached some incredible milestones. He scored his 500th career goal and passed the 1,000-point mark. He also moved into the top 25 players for career goals. He later returned to Dallas for his final NHL season in 2001–02.
Verbeek is the only NHL player to score 40 or more goals and have over 200 penalty minutes in the same season three times. This shows he was both a great scorer and a tough player.
Life After Playing Hockey
Becoming a Scout and Assistant General Manager
After he stopped playing, Pat Verbeek worked as a part-time TV commentator for the Red Wings' away games. He is the only player in NHL history to have over 500 career goals and more than 2,500 career penalty minutes. In September 2006, he left his broadcasting job to become a scout for the Red Wings.
Later, his former teammate, Steve Yzerman, asked him to work as an assistant general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Pat Verbeek worked with Yzerman for many years. Eventually, they both returned to Detroit. On May 6, 2019, Verbeek was named an assistant general manager for the Detroit Red Wings.
Leading the Anaheim Ducks
On February 3, 2022, Pat Verbeek was named the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks. In this role, he helps manage the team and make important decisions about players.
Pat Verbeek's Family Life
Pat Verbeek and his wife, Dianne, have five children. They have one son named Kyle and four daughters: Stephanie, Kendall, Haley, and Georgeanne. The family lived in Birmingham, Michigan, when Verbeek was with the Red Wings. They later moved to Newport Beach, California.
A famous hockey player, Patrick Kane, lived with the Verbeek family in 2003. Kane had moved to Detroit, Michigan, to play for a youth hockey team. Kane has said that Verbeek was a mentor to him and even inspired his own playing style.
Awards and Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars.
- Selected to play in two NHL All-Star Games: in 1991 and 1996.
Images for kids
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Verbeek in 2014
