{"id":33750,"date":"2018-08-01T09:36:04","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T13:36:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=33750"},"modified":"2018-08-01T10:15:40","modified_gmt":"2018-08-01T14:15:40","slug":"boston-bruins-to-retire-jersey-number-of-rick-middleton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2018\/08\/01\/boston-bruins-to-retire-jersey-number-of-rick-middleton\/","title":{"rendered":"Boston Bruins to retire jersey number of Rick Middleton"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Bruins<\/a> have announced that former right winger Rick\u00a0<\/strong>Middleton<\/strong> will have his number retired in the 2018-19 season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boston Bruins to retire jersey number of Rick Middleton<\/a><\/h1>\n

Middleton, who wore the number 16, played for the Bruins from\u00a0<\/span>1976-1988. During his time in Boston, Middleton, nicknamed “Nifty”,\u00a0finished with 402 goals and 496 assists in 881 games. The Toronto native wore the captain\u2019s ‘C’ alongside Ray Bourque<\/a><\/strong> following Terry O’Reilly<\/strong><\/a>‘s retirement.<\/p>\n

Middleton was drafted in 1973 by the New York Rangers<\/a> and traded to Boston three years later in a deal for Ken Hodge<\/a><\/strong>. Boston received a much younger and speedier player in Middleton, who would lead the team with Bourque, who’s number 77 is also retired by the Bruins. Middleton’s highest-scoring season came in 1981, when he notched 51 goals. He also won the Lady Byng trophy for that season as the player who displayed the most sportsmanship while playing.<\/p>\n

“It hit me like a sledgehammer. It’s a special, special honor,” Middleton said in an interview with the Bruins.<\/p>\n

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#NHLBruins<\/a> to retire Rick Middleton's #16 jersey: https:\/\/t.co\/oT1kc5B1ZV<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pyw7VTDRau<\/a><\/p>\n

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 31, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n