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Paul Fricker

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Paul Fricker
Born (1960-10-20) October 20, 1960 (age 64)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Michigan
Binghamton Whalers
Oklahoma City Stars
Salt Lake Golden Eagles
NHL draft 176th, 1980
Hartford Whalers
Playing career 1979–1985
Coaching career
Biographical details
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1986–1987Delta Flyers
2004–2011Seattle Thunderbirds (goalie)
2011–2013Vancouver Giants (goalie)
2014–PresentVancouver Giants (goalie)
Head coaching record
Overall29–23–0 (.558)

Paul David Allen Fricker is a Canadian retired ice hockey goaltender who was an All-American for Michigan.[1]

Career

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While born in Toronto, Fricker played his junior hockey in British Columbia, reaching the WHL for 1 game 1979. Because it was just a single game, Fricker was able to retain his college eligibility by not receiving payment for his services. That fall he began attending Michigan in the final recruiting class for Dan Farrell. Fricker played 35 games and helped the team recover from a dismal season the year before by winning 20 games and lifting the Wolverines up to 4th in the conference.[2] Though the team was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, Fricker had made enough of a name for himself to be drafted by the Hartford Whalers.[3]

Entering his second season, Fricker got a new head coach in Wilf Martin, however, the bench boss lasted just 4 games due to ill health and was replaced by John Giordano.[4][5] The change didn't seem to bother Fricker as he posted very similar marks to what he had the year before and was named an All-American. This time he was able to help the Wolverines win their first round matchup but were helpless against Michigan Tech in the second round and lost 2–9 on aggregate. After the season Fricker passed on his final two years of eligibility and signed a professional contract with the Whalers.

He began the next season in Hartford's minor league system, playing the bulk of the year with the Oklahoma City Stars before transitioning to the AHL in 1982. Fricker showed promise in his first full season with Binghamton, splitting time in net, but his numbers ballooned in 1984 and he was released by Hartford after the year. Fricker played 4 games the following year before calling it a career and returned home.

Fricker became the head coach for the Delta Flyers in 1986 but lasted just a season behind the bench. A few years later he founded 'The Goalie Store' a small business that manufactured custom ice hockey and lacrosse goaltending equipment. On the company website, Fricker would post articles giving tips about how to play the position and he was able to parlay that knowledge into eventually becoming the goaltending coach for the Seattle Thunderbirds. Fricker remained with Seattle for seven years before taking the same job closer to home with the Vancouver Giants.[6] He was let go 11 games into his third season after the team's terrible start.[7] Fricker was only gone from the Giants for a short time and he was brought back to his former post when there was no sign of improvement from the team's two starters. He continues to serve in that capacity as of 2021.

Statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1977–78 Vancouver Jr. Canucks PJHL — — — — 1800 174 0 5.80 — — — — — — — — —
1978–79 Richmond Sockeyes PJHL — — — — 1630 100 0 3.68 — — — — — — — — —
1978–79 Victoria Cougars WHL 1 1 0 0 40 3 0 4.50 .842 — — — — — — — —
1979–80 Michigan WCHA 35 20 12 2 2032 148 0 4.37 .883 — — — — — — — —
1980–81 Michigan WCHA 34 18 15 0 1955 128 0 3.93 .891 — — — — — — — —
1981–82 Oklahoma City Stars CHL 44 12 28 0 2363 187 0 4.75 .876 2 — — — — — — —
1981–82 Binghamton Whalers AHL 2 0 0 0 80 7 0 5.25 — — — — — — — — —
1982–83 Binghamton Whalers AHL 39 13 18 3 2127 130 1 3.67 .885 2 — — — — — — —
1983–84 Binghamton Whalers AHL 30 10 17 2 1731 149 3 5.16 .854 — — — — — — — —
1984–85 Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 4 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
NCAA totals 69 38 27 2 3987 276 0 4.15 .887 — — — — — — — —
AHL totals 71 23 35 5 3938 286 4 4.36 — — — — — — — — —

Head coaching record

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Team Year Regular season
G W L T Pts Finish
Delta Flyers 1986–87 52 29 23 0 58 3rd in Coastal Conference

Awards and honors

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Award Year
All-WCHA Second Team 1980–81 [8]
AHCA West All-American 1980–81 [1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  2. ^ "Through The Years" (PDF). Michigan Wolverines. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  3. ^ "Paul Fricker". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Michigan hockey coach steps down". The Milwaukee Sentinel. November 28, 1980.
  5. ^ Martha Crall (February 11, 1981). "It's official: Giordano named permanent icer coach". The Michigan Daily.
  6. ^ "Paul Fricker Named Giants Goaltending Coach". Vancouver Giants. May 30, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "Vancouver Giants part ways with goalie coach Paul Fricker after lacklustre start to WHL season". The Province. October 21, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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