The Official Boston Bruins Alumni Blog

Rick "Nifty" Middleton Featured on "Outside the Fame"

1/16/2021

Outside the Fame catches up with one of the most electric and exciting goal scorers to ever wear a Boston Bruins uniform. Rick "Nifty" Middleton was a prolific and gifted hockey player who spent the best part of his career in black and gold and was a one man highlight reel.

Host Jayme Parker's candid conversation with Middleton covers his time on ice with the BIG BAD BRUINS and his career after he stopped lacing 'em up.

Middleton went on to coach the 2000 USA Men's Sledge (sled) Hockey Team to gold in the Paralympics. It was a Cinderella story of the tournament and is currently in development to become a movie.

Rick Middleton Interview on the "Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast"

11/6/2018

Rick "Nifty" Middleton has an entertaining discussion with Mark Willand on the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast.

Rick discusses the Bruins of the 70s and 80s, his early pro days with the NY Rangers and AHL Providence Reds, his upcoming jersey retirement and more.

Listen in the player above or on ITunes

Boston Bruins to Retire Rick Middleton's #16!

7/31/2018

BOSTON - Boston Bruins President Cam Neely announced today, July 31, that the team will honor Rick Middleton by retiring his number 16 jersey prior to the team's game against the New York Islanders on Thursday, November 29.

"It was a great honor to call Rick today and let him know that he will join the group of retired numbers in the TD Garden rafters," said Bruins President Cam Neely. "As a player and a person Rick embodies what it means to be a Bruin, and we are excited to celebrate his career with his family, friends and our fans on November 29th."

"Mr. Middleton's number 16 has long deserved to be raised to TD Garden's rafters," said Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs. "I look forward to participating in the events on November 29th as it will be a very special evening for Mr. Middleton and the entire Bruins organization."

See Full Article Here

Photo: Rick Middleton and Tommy Songin at Legends Classic Golf Event

10/18/2016

The Hockomock YMCA hosted their 7th Annual Legends Golf Classic at TPC Boston yesterday (October 11, 2016). They had legends from the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins joining guests on the course to have a great day. Proceeds from this event support the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Integration Initiative which allows children with special needs to participate alongside their typically developing peers, rather than separated from them. www.hockymca.org

The photo is of Bruins legends: Tom Songin and Rick Middleton (photo credit: Pure Style Photography)

Rick Middleton -- US Citizen!

3/30/2015

Congratulations to Rick "Nifty" Middleton -- US Citizen!

Rick Middleton Receives "Good Guy" Award from Ace Bailey Children's Foundation

3/11/2015

Rick Middleton with Barbara Pothier and Kathy Bailey at the Face Off for Ace event

From The Ace Bailey Foundation:

"At our 2015 Face Off for Ace we were proud to present the Ace Bailey Good Guy Award to Rick “Nifty” Middleton, a good and loyal friend of the Ace Bailey Children’s Foundation and a Boston Bruins fan-favorite. Rick always says, “yes” when asked to help-out with the foundation. Right from the start he pitched-in in any way that he could. He was at the very first event for our newly founded Ace Bailey Children’s Foundation in 2001, a hockey game sponsored by CVS. Since then he has been at every event, large or small, that has been held for Ace’s foundation. As President of the Boston Bruins Alumni, he gives his time to numerous charities during hockey season and to many events during the off season. He is personable, gentlemanly and kind-hearted.

Fans of the Boston Bruins are well aware of what a fine left-winger Middleton was for the team, coming on a trade with the Rangers for Ken Hodge during the 1975-76 season. He scored a hat trick in his first game with the Bruins and scored 998 points for the team over the next twelve years. During his best season of 1981-82, he won the Lady Byng Trophy for outstanding sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and a high standard of playing ability. He played on three NHL All-Star teams and for Team Canada in the Canada Cup of 1981. After his retirement he was a studio analyst for NESN from 2001-2007.

Because Rick does so much to help others, because he’s kind and generous and because he’s one heck of a nifty guy, we are honored and pleased to have presented him with the 2015 Ace Bailey Good Guy Award."

Photos from December 20 Game in Exeter, NH

12/31/2014

Boston Bruins Alumni Game -- Dec 20 in Exeter NH for the Richie McFarland Children's Center.

Middleton Speaks at Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Event

11/26/2014

Linda Vissat, (l) membership services director and Susanne Morreale-Leeber, president and CEO, Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, with former Boston Bruins star Rick Middleton Photo/Bonnie Adams

Marlborough – Business leaders from across the region gathered at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel Nov. 19 for the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce (MRCC) annual meeting luncheon.

The event featured guest speaker Rick Middleton, a former star for the Boston Bruins during 1976-1988. Middleton regaled the audience with stories of his impressive career that saw him score nearly 1,000 points. A three time all-star, Middleton also played for several years with the New York Rangers prior to joining the Bruins.

Middleton also commented on one of the most difficult Bruins games he ever played in – the infamous “too many men on the ice” game versus the Montreal Canadiens in 1979. During that game, he recalled, the Bruins were leading against their hated rivals with less than three minutes to go. But sadly, as all Boston fans know all too well, a line change gone wrong resulted in a “too many men on the ice” penalty. The Canadiens took advantage of the situation and went on to win the game in overtime, allowing them to advance to the Stanley Cup finals, and ultimately winning their fourth consecutive championship.

Middleton also recounted his experience as a coach for the US National Sled Hockey Team (Paralympics) in 2002. In spite of never coaching before and having no experience with sled hockey, Middleton was able to turn a team in disarray into one that won the gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake Paralympics.

“Working with them was the biggest thrill of my life in hockey,” he said. “Disability is the wrong word for them. They are phenomenal athletes.”

Prior to Middleton’s speech David McCay, of Mirick O’Connell and the chair of the MRCC Board of Directors, gave a brief overview of the chamber’s prior year.

Highlights included, he said, 70 new members who had joined; a total of $5,000 in scholarships given to local high school seniors; organizing the city’s Heritage Festival; and partnering with the city and Marlborough Economic Development Corporation on a myriad of events. The chamber also celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2014.

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