Terry Ruskowski

Terry Ruskowski
Born	(1954-12-31) December 31, 1954 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	168 lb (76 kg; 12 st 0 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Houston Aeros Winnipeg Jets Chicago Black Hawks Los Angeles Kings Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota North Stars
NHL draft	70th overall, 1974 Chicago Black Hawks
WHA draft	30th overall, 1974 Houston Aeros
Playing career	1974–1989

Terry W. Ruskowski (born December 31, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL), and for the Houston Aeros and Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Ruskowski's leadership on the ice was recognized with his tenure as captain of the Aeros, Black Hawks, Kings, and Penguins, the only player in major professional history to captain four clubs.

As a coach, Ruskowski was most recently the head coach and general manager for the Quad City Mallards of the ECHL.

Coaching career

In 2001, Ruskowski was named the head coach of the Laredo Bucks in Laredo, Texas, of the Central Hockey League. On March 18, 2009, he secured his 500th coaching win, as the Bucks defeated the Texas Brahmas of Fort Worth, 4-3, in the Southern Conference playoffs.

In 2007, Ruskowski entered the final year of a four-year contract extension with the Bucks. Ruskowski told the Laredo Morning Times that his tenure was in the hands of Bucks chairman Glenn Hart, owner Julian "Kiki" DeAyala, and team president John Beckelhymer and that he had "full faith" that he will obtain his third contract with the club. He was shortly thereafter given a "lifetime contract" as the coach of the Bucks.

In May 2011, Ruskowski announced his resignation after ten years as the coach of the Bucks. Ruskowski had compiled a 343–175–56 overall record in Laredo and was the CHL "Coach of the Year" during the 2005–06 season. A year after Ruskowski's departure from the Bucks, the team, citing declining attendance and revenue reversals, disbanded.

Ruskowski became the head coach and general manager of the Quad City Mallards in the ECHL in the 2013–14 season. On January 20, 2017, he was relieved of his duties.

Honours

In 2010, Ruskowski was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1971–72	Swift Current Broncos	WCJHL		67	13	38	51	177		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Swift Current Broncos	WCJHL		53	25	64	89	136		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Swift Current Broncos	WCJHL		68	40	93	133	243		13	5	23	28	23
1974–75	Houston Aeros	WHA		71	10	36	46	134		13	4	2	6	15
1975–76	Houston Aeros	WHA		65	14	35	49	100		16	6	10	16	64
1976–77	Houston Aeros	WHA		80	24	60	84	146		11	6	11	17	67
1977–78	Houston Aeros	WHA		78	15	57	72	170		4	1	1	2	5
1978–79	Winnipeg Jets	WHA		75	20	66	86	211		8	1	12	13	23
1979–80	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		74	15	55	70	252		4	0	0	0	22
1980–81	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		72	8	51	59	225		3	0	2	2	11
1981–82	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		60	7	30	37	120		11	1	2	3	53
1982–83	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		71	14	30	44	127		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		77	7	25	32	89		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		78	16	33	49	144		3	0	2	2	0
1985–86	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		73	26	37	63	162		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		70	14	37	51	145		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		47	5	12	17	76		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		3	1	1	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
WHA totals				369	83	254	337	761		52	18	36	54	174
NHL totals				630	113	313	426	1,354		21	1	6	7	86

Personal life

Born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Ruskowski began his junior hockey career in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL - Tier II) in 1970–71, playing for the Humboldt Broncos. His leadership ability at age sixteen was evident, as was his ability and toughness. He helped to propel the Broncos to the league final that year.

From 1971 to 1974, Ruskowski played for the Swift Current Broncos where he became captain in his second and third year and helped to lead the team until it lost in the semi-finals in 1974. As well, he still holds the team record for most assists in one year, 93 assists in 1973–74. He could be expected to stick up for his teammates, a situation which led to many fighting penalties each year.

Ruskowski is married and has two daughters.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database