Richard “Ric” James Seiling

Ric Seiling played his minor hockey in Elmira, and he won many Ontario Minor Hockey Association Championships. At the age of fifteen, he played Junior B hockey for the Elmira Sugar Kings who won their first league playoff championship. He was drafted to the Hamilton Fincups who won the 1975-76 Memorial Cup for Canada’s Major Junior A Championship. He was selected to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. The following year the franchise became the St. Catharines Fincups and represented Canada in the very first World Junior Championship, held in Czechoslovakia, and earned a silver medal.

Seiling was selected in the first round (14th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL in the 1977 Amateur Draft, and was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the sixth round of the World Hockey Association that same year. He joined the Buffalo Sabres for the 1977-78 season, making his mark as an all-round player on regular shift, power play and penalty killing. In January of 1981 he was hit in the left eye with a hockey stick and played another six years with only sight in his right eye.

Twice in his nine years, Seiling was voted the Sabres “Unsung Hero” and also received the “Charlie Barton Award” for the player who demonstrated a desire and dedication to the sport. He also received the “Star of Stars” for having the most accumulated points during the season for the three star selections after each home game.

Prior to the 1986 season, Seiling was traded to the Detroit Red Wings and played the 1986-87 season there and going to the NHL semi-finals. He concluded his professional playing career as a playing Assistant Coach for the Adirondack Red Wings in the 1987-88. He was responsible for developing young Red Wing prospects for the parent NHL Red Wings.

During his playing career as a right wing and center, Seiling played 738 NHL games, earning 387 points, including 179 goals and 208 assists. Seiling remained involved with the game at an amateur and Minor Pro level as a Coach and Director of Player Personnel in the NAJHL, OHL, CoHL, and the CHL.

Photograph Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto