Rick Middleton Nets Nifty Hat Trick in His Bruins Debut

Rick Middleton made an unforgettable first impression in Boston. Drafted 14th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, Middleton came up through the Oshawa Generals program and spent two solid seasons on Broadway before being traded to the Bruins in exchange for veteran Ken Hodge ahead of the 1976-77 campaign.

Determined to prove his worth in his new hockey home, Middleton made a dazzling debut. On October 7, 1976, in Boston’s season and home opener at the Boston Garden against the Minnesota North Stars, he recorded a hat trick, scoring three of Boston’s six goals in a commanding 6-2 win.

His first goal as a Bruin came at 15:21 of the second period, assisted by Jean Ratelle and Johnny Bucyk. It gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead and electrified the Garden crowd. Middleton struck again late in the third at 15:36, assisted by Gregg Sheppard and goaltender GerryCheevers. Less than three minutes later, he completed the hat trick on a feed from Don Marcotte. Amazingly, Middleton scored on all three of his credited shots.

It was his only hat trick of the season, but far from his last big moment in black and gold. Middleton went on to score 20 goals in 72 games that year and added five more in the playoffs, helping the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Final, where they ultimately fell to the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens.

Middleton’s NHL career spanned from 1974-75 to 1987-88, totaling 1,005 regular-season games and 114 playoff appearances with the Rangers and Bruins. He scored 51 goals in 1981-82 and topped 100 points twice, carving out a legacy as one of the most skilled wingers of his era.

The Rick Middleton Trade

On May 26, 1976, Rick Middleton was traded from the New York Rangers to the Boston Bruins straight up for Ken Hodge. Middleton went on to score 402 regular season goals for the Bruins, adding 45 more in the playoffs.

Ken Hodge would play just one full season with the Rangers, 1976-77, while appearing in 18 games for the Blue Shirts in 1977-78, his final games in the NHL. The one-time 50 goal scorer with the Bruins scored 21 in 1976-77 and added two more in 1977-78. Clearly, Boston won this trade.

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Rick Middleton [Video]

Rick Middleton Shines with Four-Point Night in Fiery Win Over North Stars (Feb. 26, 1981)

Boston Garden was buzzing as the Bruins hosted the Minnesota North Stars, but no one made a bigger impact than Rick Middleton. In a 5-1 Bruins victory that was equal parts highlight reel and penalty box parade, Middleton delivered a vintage performance.

In the first period, Middleton helped open the scoring by assisting on a shorthanded goal by Mike O’Connell. Later in the frame, he teamed up with Ray Bourque to set up Jean Ratelle, who notched what would be the final goal of his illustrious NHL career, fittingly on the powerplay.

While chaos unfolded around him in a game that featured a staggering 404 penalty minutes, still one of the most penalized games in NHL history, Middleton managed to stay clear of the rough stuff until late in the second. At 17:13, he and former teammate Joe Zanussi dropped the gloves, each earning five-minute majors. Keith Crowder, however, led the penalty parade with 43 PIM, a mark that still ranks in the top 25 all-time for a single game.

Middleton wasn’t finished. In the third period, he returned to the scoresheet with style, netting two shorthanded goals just 62 seconds apart. One came unassisted, the other with help from Ratelle. Both came while Mike O’Connell was in the box, and both beat Minnesota goalie Gilles Meloche. Interestingly, both Meloche and Bruins netminder Rogie Vachon had earlier picked up minor penalties of their own during one of the game’s many melees.

By the end of the night, Middleton had posted two goals and two assists, all on special teams. He finished +3 and fired four of Boston’s 27 shots. It was a performance for the ages, not only for its offensive brilliance but for its poise amid the mayhem.

About Rick Middleton

Rick Middleton played 1,005 regular season and 114 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1974-75 and 1987-88 with the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. Originally, he was a first round pick by the Rangers at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft out of the Oshawa Generals.

In 1973-74, between his junior days and NHL career, Middleton was awarded the Dudley Red Garrett Award as the AHL's top rookie. Playing for the Providence Reds, Rick scored 36 and assisted on 48 for 84 points in 63 regular season games. In the post season, he added 15 points in 15 games with the Reds losing the Calder Cup final to the Hershey Bears.

Left out of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Middleton has been honoured by the Boston Bruins with jersey number 16 retired by the club in 2018. From the start of his NHL career with the Rangers in 1974-75, Rick scored 20 or more goals in eleven consecutive seasons. He had eight years with 30 or more goals and topped out with a career high 51 in 1981-82.

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Rick Middleton [Video]