Pat Riggin

Last updated

Pat Riggin
Born (1959-05-26) May 26, 1959 (age 64)
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Right
Played for Birmingham Bulls
Atlanta Flames
Calgary Flames
Washington Capitals
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft 33rd overall, 1979
Atlanta Flames
Playing career 1978–1988

Patrick Michael Riggin (born May 26, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.

Contents

Playing career

Birmingham Bulls

Riggin began his professional career while still a teenager with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association. Riggin beat out veteran Ernie Wakely for the Bulls starting job, posting a 16-20-5 record. [1]

Atlanta/Calgary Flames

Riggin was drafted 33rd overall by the Atlanta Flames in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.

Riggin spent his rookie season backing up Dan Bouchard, and became the Flames' starter after Bouchard was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques in January 1981.

Riggin made his playoff debut in the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs, stopping 42 shots in the Flames' Game 2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. [2]

Riggin and Ken Houston were traded to the Washington Capitals on June 9, 1982 in exchange for Howard Walker, George White, a 1982 sixth-round pick, a 1983 third-round pick and a 1984 second-round pick.

Washington Capitals

With Washington, Riggin would platoon in the Capitals goal splitting duties with Al Jensen and both netminders excelled. They had a history before being teammates with both of them duelling during their Junior days to be the top goaltender in the OHA. Riggin was a First-Team All-Star with the London Knights in 1976-77 and Jensen a Second Team All-Star for Hamilton. The following year, the roles were reversed with Jensen taking top honours and Riggin on the Second Team. [3]

Riggin suited up for 38 games in 1982-83 and posted 21 wins and a 2.66 goals against average in 41 games during the 1983–84 season. Riggin and Jensen shared the William M. Jennings Trophy as the Capitals' goaltending duo allowed the fewest goals in the NHL that season. Riggin earned NHL Second All-Star Team honors that season for his efforts. [4]

Riggin played a career-high 57 games in the 1984-85 season, primarily in part to Jensen's knee injury. He placed among the league leaders for wins and goals against but fell short in the Stanley Cup playoffs. After being eliminated by the New York Islanders, Riggin joined Team Canada at the 1985 Ice Hockey World Championships, earning a silver medal.

Riggin sparked a minor controversy, as he cited his motivation for defeating the United States was primarily due to the influx of American talent establishing themselves on NHL rosters, which he felt was taking spots away from Canadian players. [5] Riggin's remarks were controversial, primarily due to the fact he played for an American based NHL franchise. Riggin addressed the controversy, citing he used poor choices of words in his interview. [3]

Riggin got off to a slow start to the 1986-87 season, recording two wins in his first seven games with a .827 save percentage. He would later be traded to the Boston Bruins.

Boston Bruins

Riggin was traded to the Bruins in exchange for Pete Peeters. He was part of another platoon situation with Doug Keans. Riggin played 39 games and led the team in wins and goals against, but only played in Game 1 of the Bruins playoff series with the Montreal Canadiens. Riggin was benched in favor of Bill Ranford for the rest of the series, in which the Bruins would be eventually eliminated.

Ranford and Keans were established as the Bruins goaltending tandem the following season, leaving Riggin as the odd-man-out. Riggin got into ten games with the Bruins before being assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Moncton Hawks.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Riggin was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 6, 1987, in exchange for Roberto Romano. Riggin was acquired by the Penguins to alleviate the workload of Gilles Meloche. Riggin made an immediate impact for his new club, posting a 8-6-3 record in 17 games following the trade.

Riggin struggled the following season, managing seven wins in 22 appearances. He was deemed expendable by the Penguins, following the emergence of young goaltender Frank Pietrangelo, and was assigned to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League.

Riggin announced his retirement from hockey at the end of the season.

Personal life

Riggin is the son of former Detroit Red Wings goaltender Dennis Riggin.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
1975–76 London Knights OMJHL 29———13858603.68—101060606.00—
1976–77 London KnightsOMJHL48———280913822.95—20108211976623.20—
1976–77 Ottawa 67's M-Cup —————————431—2441202.98—
1977–78 London KnightsOMJHL38———226614003.65—96215362703.03—
1978–79 Birmingham Bulls WHA 4616225251115813.78.880—————————
1979–80 Atlanta Flames NHL 25119213687323.20.894—————————
1979–80 Birmingham Bulls CHL 128227463202.57.920—————————
1980–81 Calgary Flames NHL4221164241115403.83.8831164—6293703.53.904
1981–82 Calgary FlamesNHL52191911293420724.23.871303—1941003.09.899
1982–83 Washington Capitals NHL381699216112103.36.881301—101804.75.862
1983–84 Hershey Bears AHL 3201185702.27.933—————————
1983–84 Washington CapitalsNHL4121142229910242.66.890513—230902.35.889
1984–85 Washington CapitalsNHL5728207338816822.98.886211—122502.46.872
1985–86 Washington CapitalsNHL72313692303.74.827—————————
1985–86 Boston Bruins NHL3917118227212713.35.869101—60303.00.870
1986–87 Boston BruinsNHL103515132903.39.877—————————
1986–87 Moncton Golden Flames AHL146507983412.56.892—————————
1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL178639885503.34.882—————————
1987–88 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL2278411697603.90.869—————————
1987–88 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 1813209564302.70—211—1101206.55—
NHL totals3501531205219,8721,135113.43.87925813—1,3367203.23.895

"Riggin's stats". The Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved 22 September 2017.

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References

  1. ↑ "Bullish Over Baby Bulls". Sports Illustrated Vault.
  2. ↑ "1981 NHL Quarter-Finals: CGY vs. PHI". Hockey Reference.
  3. 1 2 "Capitals Net Gain In Rivalry". Washington Post.
  4. ↑ "Pat Riggin biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  5. ↑ "The Strangest One of All: Absurd Goalie Monday: Pat Riggin". The Strangest One Of All. 26 July 2010.
Preceded by Winner of the Jennings Trophy
1984
(with Al Jensen)		Succeeded by
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