Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
Shoot: L
Born: 31 Jan 1949, Toronto ON
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Regular Season & Playoff Scoring Record (key)
| year | team | |||||||||||
| 1975-76 | Cincinnati | |||||||||||
| 1976-77 | Cincinnati | |||||||||||
| 1977-78 | Cincinnati | |||||||||||
| 1978-79 | Cincinnati | |||||||||||
| Totals: |
• Played professional lacrosse with the Rochester Griffins of the National Lacrosse League, 1974.
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Excerpts from Pro Hockey, WHA 1975-76 (by Dan Proudfoot)
There never was any question which sport dominated Rick Dudley's life — it always was lacrosse. Dudley didn't become serious about hockey until it came time to choose a profession and he detected a huge difference in salaries, in favor of the ice sport. Learning the new game wasn't easy, but Dudley ended up in Cincinnati in 1971, when Buffalo Sabres operated a farm team in the American Hockey League. He couldn't skate or shoot very well, but he did fight (aggressiveness was one trait that worked in both sports) and the Cinci fans loved him as he accumulated six goals and 272 minutes in penalties. In 1972-73 his progress continued with a decrease in penalties, down to 159 minutes, but an amazing jump to 40 goals. Naturally, Sabres rushed him into their own NHL uniform, and again he quickly learned how to score in his new company. The records show Dudley with 13 goals two years ago, and 31 last season. It was a severe blow to the Sabres when an injury to Dudley limited his ice time in the 1975 Stanley Cup finals. The biggest blow came later, when Dudley announced he was moving back to Cincinnati — with the WHA Stingers. "You never forget the kind of fans we had with our AHL team in Cincinnati," says Dudley. "‘It's great to get back." |
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Excerpts from Pro Hockey, WHA 1976-77 (by Dan Proudfoot)
When Rick Dudley left the minor league Cincinnati Swords in 1973, it was as a 40-goal scorer on his way up to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. And he was a smash hit with the Sabres, not only as a dynamic winger but off the ice as well, as a recording artist. But the 27-year-old Dudley never stopped insisting all of the time that he was in the NHL that he'd left his heart in Cincinnati. So in 1975-76 he returned and continued as though he'd never left, this time scoring 43 goals and 38 assists to lead the Stingers. "He's the kind of guy who has to score 96 goals if you score 95," says Jerry Rafter, Stingers' director of player personnel. "He can't stand losing or being second at anything." |
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Excerpts from Zander Hollander's Guide to Pro Hockey, 1978-79 (by Reyn Davis)
Underwent an off-season operation for the removal of bone chips from his knee ... Team captain ... Capable of the spectacular ... Relishes contact and fears no one ... A vegetarian ... Lives on a six-acre farm outside of Cincinnati ... Has an old, restored Model-T ... One-time lacrosse star ... Plays the left side of the Stingers' No. 1 line with Robbie Ftorek and Jamie Hislop ... Wears a beard and an afro ... Very alert individual |
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