Terry Richardson (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Terrance Paul Richardson (born May 7, 1953 in Powell River, British Columbia
) is a retired ice hockey
goaltender
. He was drafted 1st (11th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings
in the 1973 NHL draft
but went on to only play in a total of 20 NHL
games in his career.
got a taste of Richardson's skill when he began play with them in the 1971–72 season. He recorded three shutout
s that year with a 3.06 goals against average
(GAA). Although he wasn't the best goaltender in the Western Canada Hockey League
, he was the best the Bruins could afford. He was responsible for every win the Bruins would acquire the following season with a record of 31–22–5 compared to the team record of 33–22–15. However, some scouts from the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL saw Richardson play and believed that he had potential.
In 1973, Richardson was selected in the first round by the Red Wings, hoping that he could come in and help the struggling team with their various goaltending issues. Richardson played in nine games that year finishing with one win and four losses and a dismal 5.33 goals against average. He was sent down to the Virginia Wings
of the AHL
for conditioning and even was sent to Britain
for a short time to play for the London Lions
. The following year he returned to the Wings, but his skill did not. Richardson played only four games for the club and ended with a 6.83 GAA and one win before being sent back down to Virginia. The following season was no better, as the one NHL game that Richarson started ended in a loss with the score of 7–0 going to the Boston Bruins
. He spent the rest of that year playing of both the Springfield Indians
and the New Haven Nighthawks
of the AHL.
The Red Wings decided to give Richardson one last shot with their club as he would start five games in the 1976–77 season, but again would disappoint ended with one win and three losses. Richardson spent the rest of that year with the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League, leading them into the playoffs. However Kalamazoo would get knocked out in the second round. In 1977–78, Richardson played for the Kansas City Red Wings
of the Central Hockey League
where he played a full season but finished with a 27–32–2 record.
On July 26, 1978, Richardson was signed as free agent by the St. Louis Blues
, and found himself playing for their farm team, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles
. Here he would have his best season to date, finishing with a 30–7–3 record in 40 games and leading the Eagles to the top of the CHL. He would even get called up for a single game with the Blues, but again watched as puck after puck got by in a 9–1 loss a the hands of the Minnesota North Stars
.
In the summer of 1979, Richardson was involved in two trades. One from the Blues to the New York Islanders
(along with Barry Gibbs
) for future considerations on June 9 and from the Islanders to the Hartford Whalers
for Ralph Klassen
on June 14. He finished his career within the Whalers organization as he posted a 15–22–7 record in 46 games while playing again for the Springfield Indians in the 1979–80 season
.
Richardson is currently an amateur scout for the Washington Capitals
.
Powell River, British Columbia
Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, that part of the larger Georgia Strait between Texada Island and the Mainland...
) is a retired ice hockey
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...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
. He was drafted 1st (11th overall) by 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...
in the 1973 NHL draft
1973 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, the 11th National Hockey League draft was the first to be held on a separate day from other league activities on May 15, 1973, at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec so it would not overshadow the rest of the league meetings. Previously, the league had held the...
but went on to only play in a total of 20 NHL
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 in his career.
Playing career
The New Westminster BruinsNew Westminster Bruins
The New Westminster Bruins were a junior ice hockey team from the Western Hockey League. There were two franchises that carried this name:* 1971–1981...
got a taste of Richardson's skill when he began play with them in the 1971–72 season. He recorded three shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s that year with a 3.06 goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
(GAA). Although he wasn't the best goaltender in the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
, he was the best the Bruins could afford. He was responsible for every win the Bruins would acquire the following season with a record of 31–22–5 compared to the team record of 33–22–15. However, some scouts from the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL saw Richardson play and believed that he had potential.
In 1973, Richardson was selected in the first round by the Red Wings, hoping that he could come in and help the struggling team with their various goaltending issues. Richardson played in nine games that year finishing with one win and four losses and a dismal 5.33 goals against average. He was sent down to the Virginia Wings
Virginia Wings
The Virginia Wings were a professional ice hockey team based in Norfolk, Virginia of the greater Hampton Roads area. They were an affiliated farm team of the Detroit Red Wings, and a member of the American Hockey League for three seasons from 1972–73 to 1974–75. The Wings were previously known as...
of the AHL
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 conditioning and even was sent to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for a short time to play for the London Lions
London Lions
The London Lions based out of London, England was an independent professional ice hockey team that played 72 games during the 1973-74 season against the top European hockey teams. It was started by Detroit Red Wings owner Bruce Norris with a vision of building a league to be affiliated with the...
. The following year he returned to the Wings, but his skill did not. Richardson played only four games for the club and ended with a 6.83 GAA and one win before being sent back down to Virginia. The following season was no better, as the one NHL game that Richarson started ended in a loss with the score of 7–0 going to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. He spent the rest of that year playing of both the Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
and the New Haven Nighthawks
New Haven Nighthawks
The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
of the AHL.
The Red Wings decided to give Richardson one last shot with their club as he would start five games in the 1976–77 season, but again would disappoint ended with one win and three losses. Richardson spent the rest of that year with the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League, leading them into the playoffs. However Kalamazoo would get knocked out in the second round. In 1977–78, Richardson played for the Kansas City Red Wings
Kansas City Red Wings
The Kansas City Red Wings were a professional hockey team that operated in the Central Hockey League for two season, 1977–78 and 1978-79. They were the top farm team of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.-1977-78 season:...
of the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
where he played a full season but finished with a 27–32–2 record.
On July 26, 1978, Richardson was signed as free agent by the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
, and found himself playing for their farm team, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles
Salt Lake Golden Eagles
The Salt Lake Golden Eagles were a minor professional hockey team based in Salt Lake City, Utah from 1969 to 1994.They played in the Western Hockey League from 1969 to 1974, the Central Hockey League from 1974 to 1984 and the International Hockey League from 1984 to 1994...
. Here he would have his best season to date, finishing with a 30–7–3 record in 40 games and leading the Eagles to the top of the CHL. He would even get called up for a single game with the Blues, but again watched as puck after puck got by in a 9–1 loss a the hands of the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
.
In the summer of 1979, Richardson was involved in two trades. One from the Blues to the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(along with Barry Gibbs
Barry Gibbs
Barry "Gibby" Gibbs is a former professional ice hockey defenceman.-Playing career:...
) for future considerations on June 9 and from the Islanders to the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
for Ralph Klassen
Ralph Klassen
Ralph L. Klassen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 497 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Blues. He currently resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and works for Canada Post.-...
on June 14. He finished his career within the Whalers organization as he posted a 15–22–7 record in 46 games while playing again for the Springfield Indians in the 1979–80 season
1979–80 AHL season
The 1979–80 AHL season was the 44th season of the American Hockey League. Ten teams were scheduled to play 80 games each. The New Haven Nighthawks finished first overall in the regular season...
.
Richardson is currently an amateur scout for the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
.
Awards
- Named to International Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1976–77.
- Won the James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL)James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL)The James Norris Memorial Trophy was awarded annually by the International Hockey League to the goaltender, with the fewest goals allowed during the regular season. The trophy is named for James E. Norris, former owner of the Detroit Red Wings, in honor of his contributions to the IHL in its early...
, 1976–77. - Named to Central Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1977–78, 1978–79.
- Won the Terry Sawchuk Trophy, 1978–79. (Shared with Doug GrantDoug GrantDoug Munro Grant is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goalie who played for the Detroit Red Wings and St.Louis Blues in the National Hockey League....
)