Rick Blight

Rick Blight
Born	(1955-10-17)October 17, 1955 Portage la Prairie, MB, CAN
Died	Portage la Prairie, MB, CAN
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Vancouver Canucks Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft	10th overall, 1975 Vancouver Canucks
WHA Draft	19th overall, 1974 Michigan Stags
Playing career	1975–1983

Richard Derek "Rick" Blight (October 17, 1955 – April 3, 2005) was a professional hockey player.

A native of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Blight had a long and varied career in the sport of hockey, playing the position of Right Wing for teams in the NHL, MJHL, WCHL, CHL, and the AHL hockey leagues. At 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m) and 195 lb (88 kg), Blight was selected by the Michigan Stags (round 2 #19 overall) in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft and the Vancouver Canucks (round 1 #10 overall) in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. The name Blight is of Cornish origin.

Playing career

Blight was the Canucks' top scorer over his first three years in the NHL, finishing fifth, first and second in team scoring in 1975, 1976 and 1977 with a total of 187 points.

Blight, who also played hockey in Switzerland, was the recipient of the WCJHL Rookie of the Year Award in 1973, and was a member of the CHL Second All-Star Team in 1981.

Blight retired from playing hockey in 1983 and began a career as a stockbroker and marketing consultant, as well as managing his family farm in his native Manitoba. In 1995, Blight was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

On April 3, 2005, Blight disappeared. Two weeks later, on April 18, after a Canada-wide search, Blight was found dead in a field on his farm near Lake Manitoba, with his pickup nearby. Blight had committed suicide. He was 49 years old.

Awards and achievements

• 1973: WCJHL Rookie of the Year
• 1981: CHL Second All-Star Team
• “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970–71	Portage Terriers	MJHL		47	20	19	39	33
1971–72	Portage Terriers	MJHL		45	32	35	67	73
1971–72	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL		1	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL		68	31	62	93	70		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL		67	49	81	130	122		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL		65	60	52	112	65		5	2	3	5	6
1975–76	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		74	25	31	56	29		2	0	1	1	0
1976–77	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		78	28	40	68	32		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		80	25	38	63	33		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Dallas Black Hawks	CHL		15	8	7	15	7		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		56	5	10	15	16		3	0	4	4	2
1979–80	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		33	12	6	18	54		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Dallas Black Hawks	CHL		74	46	49	95	122		6	0	3	3	9
1980–81	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		3	1	0	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Cincinnati Tigers	CHL		37	16	23	39	21		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Wichita Wind	CHL		16	18	14	32	18		7	3	0	3	6
1982–83	Moncton Alpines	AHL		19	8	7	15	6		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		47	17	24	41	8		12	2	3	5	4
1982–83	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		2	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				326	96	125	221	170		5	0	5	5	2

Personal

His niece, Halli Krzyzaniak was a member of the Canadian National Under 18 team that participated in a three-game series vs. the USA in August 2011.

References

• News of death

External links

• Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com
• Rick Blight's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Rick Blight's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Rick Blight's biography at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
• Rick Blight's Memorial on Find-a-grave.com

Preceded by Bob Dailey

Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick 1975

Succeeded by Jere Gillis