The RI Reds Heritage Society was formed early in 2000 and one of its first orders of business in the new millennium was to select the team’s “Player of the 20th Century.” To do so the group’s founders waded through records of more than 600 players who proudly wore the uniform during the team’s 51-year history.

In the end, the choice was not difficult. On Saturday night, April 1, 2000, the society honored Zellio “Topper” Toppazzini as Reds’ “Player of the Century” in ceremonies at the Providence Civic Center prior to a Providence Bruins AHL game. The richly deserved honor recognized Topper as the greatest Red of them all.

Topper, who passed away in 2001 at age 71, is the all-time leading scorer in Reds history. During his 12 years sporting the uniform, he amassed 279 goals, 448 assists and 727 points in 650 regular season games, and another 16-28-44 in playoff action. All are team records.

In 1955-56 the line of Topper, Paul Larivee and Camille Henry spearheaded the Reds to both regular season and Calder Cup championships. Topper earned career highs of 42 goals, 71 assists and 113 points in leading the AHL in scoring and in the playoffs he also added 7-13-20. Needless to say, he was selected to the AHL’s first-team All-Star squad. Later, in the early 1960s, the popular right-winger captained the club.

Topper came to a beleaguered Reds team in January of 1952. He joined defenseman Pat Egan and forward Jean Paul Denis from the New York Rangers in a swap for forward Jack Stoddard. The deal immediately energized the Reds who came on strong the rest of the season, only to lose in the Calder Cup finals to Pittsburgh, 4 games to 2.

But the best was yet to come. For 11 more seasons Topper was the man. Who can ever forget #15 with his long, graceful strides that seemed to produce effortless acceleration, his strong corner presence and, of course, his rink-length rushes and never-fail breakaways.

Topper was brought up in Copper Cliff, Ontario, but decided to make Rhode Island his home. He and his lovely wife, Shirley, raised five children and 12 grand children. After the Reds, Topper coached hockey at Providence College, was a dedicated youth hockey, and coach a highly-respected referee and mentor in the RI Interscholastic League for many years. He was also a successful sales representative for a local automotive parts company.

To be considered for this award in his name, an individual must have been involved with the club for at least five years; or must have achieved outstanding performance in their team association; or must have shown themself as a leader or goodwill ambassador for the Reds through involvement and outstanding service to the community.

Topper excelled in all of those categories and truly deserves recognition as the greatest player ever to wear the proud colors of the team – red, white and black.

Topper’s “Day in the Life”

In 1956, the Providence Journal-Bulletin, in anticipation of the championship that was to come and Zellio Toppazzini’s leadership and league-leading scoring, shadowed Topper with a camera, creating a pictorial recording his typical day on the way to the Calder Cup and his scoring title.

Tom Woodcock, born and raised in Providence, was inducted into the Trainers Wing of the NHL Hall of Fame in 2003. A three-time All-State selection out of Hope High School, he was signed to a pro contract by the Reds. Tom skated for several teams in the EHL before turning to training under the legendary George Army.

When NHL expansion came in 1967, Tom was hired as head trainer for the St. Louis Blues, a position he held for 16 years, including three trips to the Stanley Cup finals. In 1983, Tom took over as head trainer for the Hartford Whalers. The final stop in his career took him to San Jose in 1991. Tom’s final NHL training camp was his 40th. Over that time, he served in over 3,000 NHL regular season and playoff games.

Rick “Nifty” Middleton played just one season with the R.I. Reds but made it a memorable one, leading the 1973-74 team in scoring and being named AHL’s rookie-of-the-year. That led to 14 seasons in the National Hockey League, 12 of them with the Boston Bruins. The Bruins have long sinced retired his number 16 in recognition of his great scoring ability which included in 493 goals, 595 assists and 1088 points in 1119 NHL regular season and playoff games.

After retiring as a player, he has led the Bruins Alumni and its many charitable endeavors and coached the U.S. to the Paralympic (Sled Hockey) Games championship.

Vin Cimini’s early involvement with hockey came as a goalie at LaSalle Academy. In 1965, at age 18, he joined the Reds staff, serving as the youngest PR Director in professional hockey while a student athlete at Providence College. President of Cimini & Company, a Providence-based advertising agency, he brought fresh ideas and new energy to the Reds Heritage Society.

He is the founding chairman of the joint venture of the Reds Heritage Society and R.I. Hockey, Inc. that created the RI Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016. He has combined his skill sets with those of an all-volunteer Board and team of talented researchers, writers, graphic designers, photographers, videographers, and social media experts, to successfully chronicle and showcase Rhode Island’s rich hockey history and its pioneering influence on the growth of the game on the U.S. and global stage.

In the 1930s, George Army was a minor league baseball catcher and friendly with major league pitcher Jean Dubuc, who had a financial and management interest in the Reds. Dubuc was looking for a trainer in 1934 and offered the position to George. Despite knowing nothing about the skills required, George accepted and began a lifetime career of 46 years as the Reds trainer, lasting until his death at age 69 in January 1969.

During his self-taught, on-the-job learning process he became particularly proficient stitching facial wounds. Reds players, and even players on opposing teams, preferred having him stitch them instead of attending doctors.

George was not only was a leader in sports injury diagnosis and treatment, he was also a great teacher of the art of healing. Today, two of his local protégés, Tommy Woodcock and Pete Demers, have plaques in the Trainers Wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Dave arrived in Providence in 1965, after an outstanding 12-year career with the Bruins, Blackhawks, Rangers and Maple Leafs. Here, he became the primary leader of a team that had failed to make the AHL playoffs in three consecutive seasons.

Creighton was soon named player-coach, turning the team around in 1967-68 as leader of the club’s top line centering rookie Brian Perry and veteran Eddie Kachur. The line scored nearly half of the team’s total goals for the season, leading them to a third-place finish and into the second round of the playoffs.

Dave was named the league’s MVP, becoming only the second (and last ever) player-coach in AHL history to be so honored. He retired after several more successful seasons guiding the Reds as coach and general manager. He passed away at age 86 in December 2017.

Orland played only one campaign with the Reds, but it was memorable in several ways. He scored 64 points in 64 games during the 1961-62 season while becoming one of the most physically imposing players in the league. He firmly established himself with those traits with the NY Rangers in the mid-to-late 1960s before becoming a legend in Western Canada toward the close of his career, most notably with the Vancouver Canucks.

The Heritage Society honored Kurt for his off-ice leadership in harnessing necessary corporate sponsorships and funding for the British Columbia Junior Hockey League, which annually graduates 100-125 players into hockey scholarships for Division I hockey schools here in the USA.

Don began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins in 1954, leading the team in scoring and finishing second in “Rookie-of-the-Year” voting. Over the next seven seasons, the graceful, two-way star led Boston in scoring three more times. In 1960, the 9x NHL All-Star was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and then named team captain in 1961. He was later traded to the Rangers and Toronto where he helped the Leafs to the Stanley Cup in 1964.

Don, a consummate gentleman, joined the Reds and led them in scoring in 1968-69 with 74 points. In 1970, he joined his longtime Bruins teammate Fernie Flaman on the coaching staff of Northeastern University, serving nearly two decades as assistant coach and head recruiter. He later assumed the head coaching position and was inducted into the Huskies Hall of Fame in 1999. He sadly passed away in 2022 at age 88.

Tom had coaching and teaching credentials that were unimaginable at Burrillville (RI) High School, The Hill School in PA and at Providence College. Overall he guided his hockey, baseball and football teams to 843 wins and 25 championships. At Providence College, he was named the NCAA “Coach of the Year” after taking the Friars to the Final Four.

In the early 60’s, Reds owner Louis A. R. Pieri, himself a former teacher, coach and a perceptive judge of character and hockey acumen, offered Tom the Reds coaching job. Though flattered, Tom declined due to his commitment to his career as an educator – history teacher, principal and superintendent of schools. An inductee of 7 Halls of Fame, “Coach Tom” passed away in 2000 at age 90.

Jimmy was one of the most colorful and popular Reds players of all time after joining the club for its historic 1955-56 season. He became the Reds’ all-time penalty leader and was also annually one of the leading scorers in the league.

In retirement, “Rocky”, as he came to be called, was active with a variety of groups, especially as a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of greater Tampa. Most notably, Jimmy became a full-time assistant as an adviser and driver for George Steinbrenner, former owner of the New York Yankees. The legendary winger passed away in 2021 at age 89.

Paul came to the Reds in 1953, a product of the Trois-Rivieres Reds, one of a number of great players the Reds brought up from the development team they sponsored in the Quebec Junior Hockey League.

Paul immediately took a dominant role as a clever center and great scorer. His best year was in the Reds 1955-56 Calder Cup season, centering Zellio Toppazzini, the AHL’s scoring champion, and Camille Henry, who tallied 50 goals.

After his playing days, Paul coached in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In retirement, he was a partner in an insurance business and, for 20 years, served as the popular color commentator on the French radio and television broadcasts of the Montreal Canadiens. Paul passed at age 73 in 2003.

Terry was the heart-and-soul leader of the Reds from 1947 to the early 1960s, and was architect in building the 1955-56 Reds’ Calder Cup-winning team. He served in World War II as a major in the Queen’s Own Cameroon Highlanders, which landed on Sword Beach in the Normandy Invasion.

Before the war, Terry played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins and later teamed with his brother, Ken, with the Montreal Canadiens. He joined the Reds in 1947 as player-coach, leading the team to a Calder Cup title in 1948-49. Overall, he played for the Reds for seven seasons and coached them for six. Terry passed away at the age of 73 in 1993.

Ray joined the Reds for the 1966-67 campaign as a 23-year-old rookie. His presence made an immediate impact and he would go on to patrol the blueline for the Roosters over the next six seasons as part of a defensive unit that became one of the AHL’s best.

Ray provided heady and timely defensive play and productive offensive rushes, using his exceptional skating skills and rink sense to move the puck cleanly out of the defensive zone to advance play. In 1972, Ray made the jump to the fledgling WHA, skating for three seasons with the league’s Cleveland Crusaders. The mild-mannered Clearwater would play his final three seasons with the AHL’s New Haven Nighthawks and a brief stint as a head coach in the EHL.

In 1965, at age 24, Wayne Muloin joined the Reds via trade in the midst of the team’s worst three consecutive seasons of play. His signature strengths were the now long lost art of the dramatic hip check and his team leadership. They both served the Reds well.

Wayne and several other young defenders were greatly influenced by the presence of veterans Adam Keller and Moe Mantha and their development into a unit that led the Reds to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Wayne would spend the next nine seasons on NHL and WHA rosters with the California Seals, Minnesota North Star, Cleveland Crusaders and Edmonton Oilers before returning to Providence and the Reds as team captain in their final 1977 campaign.

Reds fans remember George’s blistering wrist shot that earned him 111 goals in his five seasons with the team. A top prospect of the Boston Bruins, George’s arrival came with great expectations. Two seasons earlier, he led the IHL in scoring with an eye-popping 60 goals and 124 points. In his rookie year with the Reds in 1961, he immediately became one of the AHL’s most lethal scorers, netting 30 goals and 41 assists.

Three season later, George sustained a horrific head injury. He lay in intensive care for three weeks before surgeons removed a massive blood clot from his brain. Seven weeks later, he was discharged. Remarkably, he returned to the ice the following season (1964-65) and surprised everyone by scoring 18 goals in his final season.

After hockey, George joined the sales team at Molson Brewing and donated his time to community projects, including play at charity hockey games in the Molson Old Tyme League and with the Toronto Italians Oldtimers.

Though Johnny Bower played only two seasons in goal for the Reds, he led the team to the 1956 and 1957 AHL regular season championships and the ‘57 Calder Cup. As Ranger property on loan, he was voted the AHL’s Most Valuable Player both seasons, adding a third the following year with Cleveland.

Later, of course, Johnny starred with the Toronto Maple Leafs and backboned the Leafs to four NHL Stanley Cup championships in the 1960’s, becoming an icon in Canadian sports. He became the most sought-after speaker for banquets and charity events, and his biography, “The China Wall,” is still a bestseller at bookstores throughout Canada. Johnny sadly passed in 2017 at age 93.

Bruce was a mere 23 years old when he joined the Reds as a Rangers farmhand during the team’s 1955-56 Calder Cup run. Played mostly on the line opposite Jimmy Bartlett and centered by Red Johansen, Bruce’s 27 earned him the AHL’s vote as “Rookie of the Year.”

Still Ranger property, the much beloved Cline was moved to the Springfield Indians. Over the next four seasons as a line mate with Bill Sweeney and Bill McCreary, both former Reds, he chalked up three more Calder Cup rings (1960, 61 and 62). Bruce played his final three seasons of professional hockey with the Hershey Bears before retiring with four championship rings.

Every now and then, a hockey teams finds itself with a versatile gem. For the Reds in the late 1950s through the mid-1960s, that Swiss Army Knife was Eddie MacQueen. His many talents were on full display at both forward and defense, allowed his coaches to spot play him wherever and whenever needed. And if he needed to, Ed could fight. If there were a “7th Player Award” back then, it would have surely gone to MacQueen.

Few know that the Reds acquired MacQueen from the Rangers for the great Johnny Bower. Eddie served the Reds well for eight seasons and became a local fan favorite, playing those spot positions, including utilizing his sizzling shot as point man on the Reds power-play. He finished hockey with six great seasons in Baltimore with ex-Reds coach Terry Reardon as his mentor. Ed passed away in 2019 at age 83.

Gil was certainly one of the greatest goaltenders in the AHL during the 1950s and 1960s. During his 14-year career in the league he won 346 regular season games and another 37 in playoff action. 41 of his victories were shutouts. Nicknamed “The Needle” because of his slight 5′-6″ stature, Mayer backstopped the Pittsburgh Hornets to Calder Cup championships in 1952 and 1955. Five times in a six-year span, Gil captured the Hap Holmes Award, presented to the AHL goaltender with the league’s best goals-against average and was a five-time All-Star.

After his seven seasons in Pittsburgh, Gil played seven more, his final two with the Reds, where he settled and raised his family. Not surprisingly, he finished that final season with a 2.91 goals-against average, below his already impressive 2.93 career record of 14 years. Gil sadly passed at age 86 in 2015.

Bob was an imposing, talented defenseman and unsung hero who played for eight different teams in his 13 seasons of pro hockey. That might label him as a journeyman blueliner, but his five full seasons with the Reds are indelibly implanted in the minds of local fans who remember the Reds success in the mid-1950s.

Bob was among the leaders of a stalwart group of defenseman who protected Johnny Bower in the nets and helped lead the Reds to an AHL first-place finish and their last Calder Cup title in 1955-56. Game after game, rush after rush, Bob was there to break up offensive threats by opposing teams with textbook technique – poke-checks, body-checks and blocked shots. He died in 2006 at age 85.

Ray, who joined the Reds from Cleveland in 1954-55, played an important role in the Reds resurgence out of the AHL basement to win the Calder Cup in 1955-56. That championship year, he scored two game-winning goals in the cup finals as the Reds swept the Barons, his former team.

In Ray’s eight seasons with the Roosters, the tall, speedy forward, who had converted from center to right wing, scored 111 goals and 236 points. Ray was named to the AHL All-Star game in 1961.

After retirement, Ray became an all-star civic leader in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. He was a regular volunteer for the United Way, assisting needy families in the community, and providing financial support to youth sports groups. Upon his passing at age 85 in 2017, Ray’s family established the “Ray Ross Perseverance Award” presented annually by the Heritage Society

Marty Gateman was a dependable, stalwart defenseman for the Reds when the team moved from the old RI Auditorium in 1972 to the downtown Providence Civic Center, now the Amica Mutual Pavilion. As a New York Ranger farmhand, he played four seasons with the Reds, helping them to reach the AHL’s Calder Cup finals in 1973-74.

After pro hockey, Marty spent 15 years coaching youth hockey in Smithfield and high school hockey at St. Raphael Academy, serving as a role model for hundreds of young hockey players. During his time as a representative and ambassador for the Coca Cola Company here in Providence, Marty spearheaded the company’s strong support of the Reds Heritage Society.

Tom was stick boy and locker room assistant for seven seasons for the Reds from 1951 through 1957, during which time he played hockey at St. Raphael Academy in nearby Pawtucket, RI. The longtime MC at our Reds Reunions was most especially proud of being part at the celebration of the team’s last Calder Cup championship in 1956.

After graduating from Providence College, Tom served in RI state government, retiring as associate director of the Department of Human Resources. He coached youth hockey and basketball and was a founding director of our RI Reds Heritage Society in 2000. He was also the founder and director of the Cranston Sports Collectors Show, the largest single-day event of its kind in the country. It continues to this day with proceeds donated annually to charity. Tom sadly passed away in 2022 at age 84.

Bob Leduc played seven full seasons (1965-72) with the Reds in the American Hockey League before moving to the World Hockey Association in 1973 with the Ottawa Nationals and later the Toronto Toros, where he served as the team’s player-coach during his final season there. Over his time with the Reds, the speedy and wildly popular left wing scored 135 goals and added 202 assists for 337 points.

Like many ex-Reds players, Bobby has been successful as a businessman in his post-hockey years. The father of two daughters owns a large retail complex in North Smithfield that includes a hardware and garden store, complemented by a gift shop.

Stan first received notoriety in 1956 as a top Boston Bruins prospect and scoring champion with the Kitchener Canucks of the Ontario Junior Hockey Association where he centered Willie O’Ree. Stan followed O’Ree to Boston but was farmed to the Reds in 1959 where he would be named the AHL’s “Rookie of the Year”. He would go on to star here for five seasons, most notably centering the team’s famous B-line with sharpshooters Jimmy Bartlett and Pierre Brilliant. He played 359 regular season and playoff games, scored 130 goals and added 257 assists.

Clearly one of the top players of his time, Baluik surprised the club and took another path in 1964 when he retired from the game to become head golf pro at the new Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln. He remained there for over 50 years, capturing both the Rhode Island and Vermont Open titles and mentoring hundreds of young high school and college golfers along the way.

Serge was a speedy, fearless forward who could score and set up line mates. During parts of six seasons with the Reds, he also stood tall as an outstanding defensive, back checking forward and a skillful penalty killer. Serge ended his career captaining the Columbus Checkers in the IHL before making his year-round home here in Rhode Island.

Serge scouted for the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens, but his biggest contribution after his playing days was to youth and high school hockey. He was especially proud of the on-ice success of his sons, Rene and Sean, and leading his Edgewood Midget team staring NHLers David Emma, Rob Gaudreau and Steven King to the National Championship in 1984. Serge also built special relationships with both players and parents during his many years coaching at Cumberland High School. Serge sadly left us in 2023 at age 84.

Ross played parts of nine seasons in goal with the Reds before being acquired by the Boston Bruins in 1971. That season with the Boston Braves, the Bruins’ AHL farm team, he and Dan Bouchard shared the “Hap Holmes Award” with the league’s lowest goals against average. Called up by the Bruins in 1972-73, he distinguished himself by winning 14 consecutive starts, an NHL record at that time.

After retirement, Ross became a local restaurateur and then served 19 years as manager of Schneider Arena at Providence College and serving as the Friars’ goalie coach for a time. Over the years, Ross organized youth hockey clinics and coached at the youth level and at Lincoln High School. Ross has also worked tirelessly at raising college scholarship funds for needy senior high school hockey players. Those scholarships, totaling nearly 100, were provided from proceeds generated by the annual Chris Brooks Memorial hockey and golf tournaments, named in memory of his late son.

Tom Army, son of legendary Reds trainer, George Army, joined the Reds’ publicity office in the mid-1950s after starring as a high-scoring forward at Providence College where he captained and helped launch the rebirth of Friars varsity hockey in 1952. He served the Reds in several front office public relations capacities, including as a color analyst for the team’s radio broadcasts alongside legendary play-by-play announcer, George Patrick Duffy.

Tom was deeply dedicated to youth hockey for more than four decades as a youth coach, hockey school pioneer, and co-creator his hometown East Providence Hockey Association. He also was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the RI Reds Heritage Society and a catalyst for a membership which, at it peak, boasted over 700 members throughout the United States and Canada. Tom passed away in 2023 at the age of 93.

Mr. Pieri, as he was always affectionately called, was the dynamic, colorful owner of the Reds from the late 1930s until his death at age 70 in 1967. A graduate and three-sport athlete at Brown University, he was a high school teacher who turned his interests to entrepreneurial endeavors in the 1930s and became one of the great sports promoters of the twentieth century.

Mr. Pieri began his business career as general manager of the old RI Auditorium, eventually purchasing both the building and the Reds. During his tenure, the Reds won four Calder Cups and he was lauded not only by his fellow owners, but also by his players, with whom he built many lifelong friendships.

Importantly, he was also a silent, but generous contributor to the community. He was an avid and interested supporter of local youth, high school and college hockey. On the year of his passing, in tribute to his many contributions to the American Hockey League and professional hockey in the United States, the AHL established the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award, presented annually to its “Coach of the Year”.

George, who was born in in Rochester, NY, was one of the most beloved Rhode Islanders of his generation. He was owner of the Reds from 1969 through 1976 and, as president of Bonanza Bus Lines, he was a driving force in the development of downtown Providence and the construction of the Providence Civic Center. In doing so he committed the Reds to move from the deteriorating RI Auditorium, built in 1926, to the sparkling new facility, now known as the Amica Mutual Pavilion, in 1972.

Aside from hockey, George was well known for his work with the United Way and his many philanthropic contributions, including a leadership role in creating a performing arts facility at St. Andrews School in his hometown of Barrington. He held his adopted state in high esteem. With his children, Anne and Jim, as its advisers, he established a donor advised fund at the Rhode Island Foundation, which has helped to support the work of the Heritage Society for many years. George passed in 1976 at age 75

Harvey joined the Reds from the NHL Boston Bruins system at he start of the 1947-48 season, helping them to the AHL’s Eastern Division championship that same year. One year later, his goaltending was a major factor in the Reds’ Eastern Division and Calder Cup championships. His goals-against average that season was a sparkling 3.16. With Harvey in goal, the Reds also made the playoffs in 1949-50 and 1951-52, and again won the Calder Cup in 1955-56 as his long career in goal was winding down.

After his career with the Reds, Harvey worked extensively in youth hockey throughout Rhode Island, establishing the state’s first hockey schools and helping to develop a new generation of talented young players. Five of those players were his own sons, all of whom went on to play professional hockey with four making it to the NHL. Harvey sadly passed away at age 79 in 2004.

Buster Clegg was an All-State defenseman at Burrillville High School and later starred and captained the University of New Hampshire hockey team in 1958-59. A consummate professional, he was named General Manager of the Reds in 1966-67 following several front-office assignments after joining the Reds for the 1959-60 season.

After his service with the Reds, Buster became a successful marketing executive and became deeply involved with youth hockey as a coach and member of several boards of directors over a span of 30 years. In the early 1970’s he was one of the founders of his hometown’s Barrington Youth Hockey Association.

In 2000, he was the catalyst in the formation of the RI Reds Heritage Society, for which he served as its founding president for twenty years.

Eddie was the business manager and comptroller of the Reds for 31 years under the ownerships of the Louis A. R. Pieri family and George Sage. He was a graduate of Norwich Free Academy and Bryant College and served in the US Army during WWII. While at the RI Auditorium and later at the Providence Civic Center, Eddie was involved in virtually every aspect of the facility’s events. Besides hockey, he also served in business management for basketball, boxing, stage shows, ice shows and circuses.

In addition to his work with the Reds and the venues, Eddie was extremely active in community service. A longtime Barrington resident, Eddie passed away in 2015 at age 96.

Fernie spent parts of 17 seasons with the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He served as team captain of the Bruins for many years and was the team’s very first player representative. He played in six All-Star games over his long NHL career.

Fernie arrived in Providence in 1961 with a reputation as a smart, seasoned leader and take-no-prisoners defender. “The Bull”, as he was known, served five years with the Reds, first as player-coach, then as general manager. During his tenure as player-coach, he led the team to three successive Calder Cup playoff appearances, including a first-place finish in the AHL’s Eastern Division in 1962-63.

In 1972, began a 19-year run as head coach of Northeastern University’s varsity hockey team. He was named US College Hockey’s AHCA “Coach of the Year” in 1982.

George became the Reds’ team publicist in 1945 after serving in the US Coast Guard during World War II. Over the next twenty-five years he became the popular “Voice of the Reds” on radio. Old-time fans still recall his protracted declaration of each and every Reds goal, “He scorrrrrrrrrrres!”

At the Auditorium, George Patrick was a jack-of-all-trades, serving as publicist for virtually all of the building events. For a time left his position to serve as road manager for Ed Feigner’s “The King & His Court” 4-man softball team.

George was a volunteer in sports for many years. In winter he coached boys’ varsity high school basketball and in summer different levels of youth baseball, recording over 600 career victories. He coached baseball for a time at Bryant College and, in 1980, guided his Darlington American (Pawtucket) All-Star Team to the Little League World Series.

Chuck was among the most durable players ever to wear a Reds uniform. The former Boston Bruin and NY Ranger played in 649 games and 10 full seasons with the Reds, second only to longtime friend and teammate, Topper. Overall, in regular season play, he scored 139 goals and 436 points – the fourth highest total in team history.

Chuck’s hockey career ended tragically in the 1959 season when, as player-coach of the North Bay Trappers, he was accidentally hit by a stick in his left eye, a blow that cost him his eye. Ironically, he later became a respected linesman for AHL games in Providence.

Youth, high school and college refereeing came next. “He was always in charge and respected by the young players,” said Russ McGuirl, a veteran referee who often partnered with Chuck. “If play got too rough, he could be very stern, or at other times very fatherly. Whatever it took, the kids learned important values of sportsmanship from Chuck.” Chuck passed away in 2024 at age 91