Rick MacLeish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rick MacLeish |
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MacLeish with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1973
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| Born | January 3, 1950 Lindsay, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | May 30, 2016 (aged 66) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Philadelphia Flyers Hartford Whalers Pittsburgh Penguins Detroit Red Wings |
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| NHL Draft | 4th overall, 1970 Boston Bruins |
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| Playing career | 1970–1984 | ||
Richard George MacLeish (born January 3, 1950 – died May 30, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a forward who played for 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Rick played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings.
He spent 12 of his seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. During his time there, he helped the Flyers win the Stanley Cup two times in a row. They won in 1974 and 1975.
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Early Hockey Days
Rick MacLeish started playing ice hockey when he was young in Cannington, Ontario. He even went to the famous Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with his team in 1962.
He then played junior ice hockey for the Peterborough Petes from 1967 to 1970. His great skills caught the eye of professional teams.
Joining the NHL
The Boston Bruins picked Rick as the fourth overall player in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. This was a big achievement for him.
After playing for a short time with the Oklahoma City Blazers, Rick was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He joined the Flyers during the 1970–71 season. In his first 26 games with them, he scored two goals and made four assists.
Becoming a Star Player
The 1972–73 season was a huge year for Rick MacLeish. This was also when the Flyers earned their famous nickname, "the Broad Street Bullies." This name came from their tough and aggressive style of play.
Rick became the first player on the Flyers to score 50 goals in a single season! He also made 50 assists, bringing his total points to 100. This made him one of the top scorers in the league that year.
Playoff Success
In the playoffs that year, the Flyers won their first series against the Minnesota North Stars. They then faced the strong Montreal Canadiens. Rick and the Flyers surprised everyone by winning the first game in Montreal in overtime. Even though they lost the series, it showed how good the Flyers were becoming.
In the 1973–74 season, Rick's scoring was still strong. He scored 32 goals and made 45 assists. But he really shined in the playoffs. He led all players with 13 goals and 9 assists. The Flyers went on to win their first ever Stanley Cup! Rick scored the only goal in the final game that won them the championship.
Another Stanley Cup Win
The next season was also very successful. Rick scored 38 goals and made 41 assists. Once again, he led his team in playoff scoring. The Flyers won their second Stanley Cup in a row! This was a special win because it was the last time a team made up only of Canadian-born players won the trophy.
The 1975–76 season was tough for Rick because of an injury. He played in fewer games but still managed to score 22 goals and make 23 assists. Unfortunately, he couldn't play in the playoffs that year.
All-Star Seasons
The following year, Rick led the Flyers in scoring for the first time. He scored 49 goals and made 48 assists. This great performance earned him an invitation to the NHL All-Star Game. He was invited again the next year too.
In a game in April 1978, Rick had a scary moment when he slid into another player's skate. He got a cut on his neck that needed many stitches. But he was back playing just a few days later!
Later Career and Retirement
After the 1980–81 season, Rick was traded from the Flyers to the Hartford Whalers. He played there for a short time.
Then, during the 1981–82 season, the Whalers traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played a bit in Switzerland after leaving the Penguins.
Rick rejoined the Flyers for the 1983–84 season. Later that season, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He retired from playing hockey at the end of that season.
Playing Style
Rick MacLeish was known for his smooth and fast skating. He developed this style from years of "river skating" when he was young. He was also famous for his accurate wrist shot, which helped him score many goals. He was the Flyers' first true "sniper," meaning he was excellent at scoring goals.
One of his favorite moves was to carry the puck over the blue line, quickly move to the left, and then shoot the puck back to the right, surprising the goalie.
Later Life
After retiring from hockey, Rick enjoyed his hobby of owning racehorses. He passed away on May 30, 2016, at the age of 66, after battling health issues in a Philadelphia hospital. He was survived by his wife, Charlene, and his two daughters, Brianna and Danielle.
Tribute
When Rick MacLeish passed away, many people shared their sadness. Paul Holmgren, the president of the Philadelphia Flyers team, said that Rick was one of the Flyers' legends. He remembered Rick as a good father, grandfather, teammate, and friend. He also said that Rick's happy and friendly personality was always clear to everyone who knew him.
Images for kids
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MacLeish with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1973
