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Canada Rick Middleton, widely known as "Nifty," is a former professional ice hockey player for the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins who made a significant impact on the sport, later transitioning into coaching and community involvement.
Rick "Nifty" Middleton serves as the VP Brand Ambassador at Members. He is also a partner in Ice Time Productions LLC, which recently signed a deal with Bungalow Entertainment to produce a documentary titled "Tough Sledding."
Rick Middleton is a partner in Orlanda Energy LLC, an LED lighting company, located in the Granite State. He has been in this role for six years.
Rick Middleton joined New England High School Sports Showcases, running high school hockey showcases beginning in June 2014.
Rick Middleton was involved with the Ace Bailey Foundation since its inception in 2001, and was awarded the 'Ace Bailey Good Guy' Award in 2015. He remained active with the charity until it closed in 2020.
Born on December 4, 1953, in Toronto, Canada, Richard David Middleton began playing organized hockey at the age of six. His early career saw him excel with the Oshawa Generals, where he led his league in scoring with 137 points in 62 games and earned the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s MVP in 1973. In 1973, he was drafted 14th overall by the New York Rangers in the NHL Amateur Draft. He spent the 1973–74 season with the AHL Providence Reds, where he was named Rookie of the Year and earned 84 points in 63 games. Middleton joined the Rangers for the 1974–75 season, scoring 22 goals in 47 games, despite a limited appearance due to injuries.
In 1976, Middleton was traded to the Boston Bruins, a move that marked a significant turning point in his career. With the Bruins, he became a star, scoring a hat trick in his first game on October 7, 1976, against Minnesota. His defensive skills developed under coach Don Cherry, transforming him into a two-way player. He achieved five consecutive seasons with at least 40 goals and 90 points, leading the Bruins to consistently strong records. His best statistical season was 1983–84, where he scored 105 points (47 goals, 58 assists), tying Ken Hodge’s team record for most points by a right winger. Middleton’s leadership was recognized in 1985 when he was named co-captain with Ray Bourque, a role he held until his retirement. In 1982, he won the Lady Byng Trophy for excellence and sportsmanship and was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team. He also represented Team Canada in the Canada Cup in 1981 and 1984, winning a gold medal in 1984. His number 16 jersey was retired by the Boston Bruins on November 29, 2018.
After retiring from the NHL in 1988 due to recurring headaches from a concussion sustained in 1986, Middleton continued his involvement in hockey and other ventures. He coached the United States 2002 Paralympic Sled Hockey team to a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Paralympics, a team later inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2022 and the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in 2024. He also founded Rick Middleton Enterprises, a wholesale catalog business for barber and beauty shops, and was a partner in an LED lighting company, Orlanda Energy LLC. Middleton served as a studio analyst for the New England Sports Network (NESN) from 2002 to 2007 and was inducted into the Oshawa Generals Hall of Fame in 2005, the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, and the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. He is currently the President of Boston Bruins Alumni and continues to engage in charity work, supporting local organizations like the Ace Bailey Foundation and Hampton’s soup kitchens.
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