Jim Krulicki
Encyclopedia
James John Krulicki is a retired ice hockey
right winger
. He played in 41 National Hockey League
games for the New York Rangers
and the Detroit Red Wings
.
and Kitchener Rangers
of the OHA Junior League
. He was a prospect of the New York Rangers
and Krulicki was doing his best to get noticed by the parent club. Krulicki recorded back-to-back 20 goal seasons in 1966–67 and 1967–68, scoring 25 and 28 goals respectively, for a total of 108 points over those two seasons. This was the achievement Krulicki needed and he was brought up to play for the Omaha Knights
of the Central Hockey League for the 1968–70 season. In his first season with the Knights he only scored nine points, but followed that up in 1969–70 with a 28 point campaign. He helped the Knights reach first place in the regular season and win the Adams Cup
as league champions of the playoffs. After scoring 12 points in the 12 game playoff run, Krulicki was called up to the Buffalo Bisons
of the American Hockey League
for their playoff run. He scored another five points as the Bisons reached the finals and won the Calder Cup
after defeating the Springfield Kings four games to zero. Krulicki had just helped win championships for two different teams and had finally earned his chance at the NHL.
on March 2, 1971 for Dale Rolfe
. Krulicki finished out the season with Detroit scoring one assist. He opted to retire
at the conclusion of the 1970–71 season.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
right winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. He played in 41 National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
games for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
and the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
Minor league hockey
Krulicki grew up playing for his hometown Kitchener GreenshirtsKitchener Greenshirts
The Kitchener Greenshirts name has been used by five separate ice hockey teams playing in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. These include one 'Senior A' level hockey team, two 'Junior A' level teams, and two 'Junior B' level teams...
and Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener Rangers
The Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League that have called Kitchener, Ontario, Canada their home since 1963. The Rangers are a publicly owned hockey team, governed by a 40-person Board of Directors made up of season ticket subscribers. The Rangers hosted...
of the OHA Junior League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
. He was a prospect of the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
and Krulicki was doing his best to get noticed by the parent club. Krulicki recorded back-to-back 20 goal seasons in 1966–67 and 1967–68, scoring 25 and 28 goals respectively, for a total of 108 points over those two seasons. This was the achievement Krulicki needed and he was brought up to play for the Omaha Knights
Omaha Knights
The Omaha Knights were a minor league professional ice hockey team from 1959 to 1975, based in Omaha, Nebraska at the Ak-Sar-Ben arena. The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hockey League...
of the Central Hockey League for the 1968–70 season. In his first season with the Knights he only scored nine points, but followed that up in 1969–70 with a 28 point campaign. He helped the Knights reach first place in the regular season and win the Adams Cup
Adams Cup
The Adams Cup was awarded annually to the championship team in Central Hockey League.The CHL was a top-tier minor professional league that operated in the United States from 1963 to 1984. It was owned and operated by the National Hockey League...
as league champions of the playoffs. After scoring 12 points in the 12 game playoff run, Krulicki was called up to the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
for their playoff run. He scored another five points as the Bisons reached the finals and won the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
after defeating the Springfield Kings four games to zero. Krulicki had just helped win championships for two different teams and had finally earned his chance at the NHL.
Playing in the NHL
Krulicki started the 1970–71 NHL season with the New York Rangers and found the up tempo pace and lack of ice time in the NHL difficult. Krulicki scored only two assists in 27 games for the Rangers before being traded to the Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
on March 2, 1971 for Dale Rolfe
Dale Rolfe
Dale Roland Carl Rolfe is a former ice hockey defenceman. He spent his junior career with the Barrie Flyers through the 1956–57 and 1959–60 seasons...
. Krulicki finished out the season with Detroit scoring one assist. He opted to retire
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
at the conclusion of the 1970–71 season.
Awards
- Adams Cup Champion:1969–70 (Omaha Knights - CHL)
- Calder Cup Champion:1969–70 (Buffalo Bisons - AHL)