Terry Ruskowski

Terry W. "Roscoe" Ruskowski (born December 31, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and coach, who 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, Blackhawks, Kings, and Penguins, the only player in major professional history to captain four clubs.

Terry W. 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 Center
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

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.[1]

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.

Ruskowski led the Bucks to the postseason in seven of his years as head coach. The team won President Cup championships in 2004 and 2006 and four consecutive Southern Conference titles. Ruskowski became a well-known figure in the Laredo community. On June 3, 2010, Ruskowski was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Laredo Rotary International in a ceremony at Texas A&M University.[2]

In May 2011, Ruskowski announced his resignation after ten years as the coach of the Bucks.[3] The decision to step down despite a lifetime contract came after declining attendance and depressed revenues to 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.[4] A year after Ruskowski's departure from the Bucks, the team, citing declining attendance and revenue reversals, disbanded.[5]

On June 28, 2011, Ruskowski became the coach of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees hockey team, based in McAllen, a staunch rival of the Laredo Bucks. Ruskowski had a two-year contract with the Bees.[6]

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.[7]

Honours

In 2010, Ruskowski was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.[8]

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 1354 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.

gollark: Or just whatever x whatever as long as they form a stairstep... hmm...
gollark: Nebulae x xenowyrms, that could be fun.
gollark: I would try and start a really long one, but I would inevitably get tired of it and just try and hunt for coppers or something.
gollark: I wonder what the highest-generation existent dragon is.
gollark: Ah.

References
  1. Joy Lindsay, "Ruskowski reaches milestone as Bucks clinch, Laredo Morning Times, March 19, 2009, p. 2B
  2. Laredo Morning Times, May 27, 2010, p. 9A
  3. "Coach Rosco True Laredo example" (editorial), Laredo Morning Times, June 12, 2011, p. 17A
  4. Dennis Silva, II, "Ruskowski's return still up in limbo", Laredo Morning Times, August 8, 2007
  5. Kenny Ryan, "Goodbye, Laredo Bucks: Bucks out after 10 years in city; finances, attendance at issue", Laredo Morning Times, May 2, 2012, pp. 1, 10A
  6. "Ruskowski introduced as Bees coach," Laredo Morning Times, June 29, 2011, p. B1
  7. "MALLARDS MAKE COACHING CHANGE, AXTELL NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH". ECHL. January 20, 2017.
  8. WHA Hall of Fame Members
Preceded by
Keith Magnuson		 Chicago Black Hawks captain
1979-82		 Succeeded by
Darryl Sutter
Preceded by
Dave Lewis		 Los Angeles Kings captain
1983-85		 Succeeded by
Dave Taylor
Preceded by
Mike Bullard		 Pittsburgh Penguins captain
1986–87		 Succeeded by
Dan Frawley
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