Ric Seiling

Richard James Seiling (born December 15, 1957) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He spent the majority of his 738-game National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Buffalo Sabres, but also played one season for the Detroit Red Wings. After his retirement he became a successful harness racer, coach and broadcaster.

Ric Seiling
Born (1957-12-15) December 15, 1957
Elmira, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft 14th overall, 1977
Buffalo Sabres
WHA Draft 55th overall, 1977
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 19771988

Junior career

Seiling, at 16, joined the Hamilton Fincups of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League at the start of the 1974–75 season. He spent three seasons with the franchise, which moved to St. Catharines in 1976, amassing 117 goals and 142 assists in 189 regular season games. The Fincups played in the 1976 Memorial Cup, where Seiling posted three goals and nine points in three appearances, leading all players in scoring and earning a berth on the Memorial Cup all-star team.

The following season, his last in junior, Seiling was selected to play for Canada's national junior squad, winning a silver medal while scoring three goals and three assists in seven games. Teammates on the Canadian roster that year included future number one draft picks Dale McCourt and Rob Ramage, as well as Ron Duguay, John Anderson, Dave Hunter and Al Secord.

NHL career

Seiling was drafted 14th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1977 NHL amateur draft. Seiling played all 80 games during his rookie season of 1977–78, scoring 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points. His goal total increased for the next three seasons, when he peaked with a career-high 30 in 1980–81. He spent five more seasons with the Sabres, but was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings on October 7, 1986 where he played his final year in the NHL. He totaled 179 goals and 208 assists for 387 points in his career. He also picked up 573 penalty minutes. In 62 playoff games he had 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points.

Seiling was sent to the American Hockey League's Adirondack Red Wings in 1987–88, and retired after a season spent as a player-assistant coach.

Coaching career

He returned to coaching in 1994 with the Utica Blizzard of the Colonial Hockey League, leading the team to a 31–38–5 record and an eventual first round loss in the postseason. Seiling even donned the Blades as an emergency replacement, but failed to record a point.

The following year he took the reins of the Ontario Hockey League's Owen Sound Platers, but was replaced midway through the year.

He spent parts of the next three seasons behind the bench in the Central Hockey League, first with San Antonio and later with the Tulsa Oilers.

During the inaugural season of the NWHL's Buffalo Beauts, Seiling was the co-coach along with Shelley Looney. For the 2016–17 Buffalo Beauts season, Seiling was named the general manager. He was fired on December 7, 2018.[1]

Broadcasting

Seiling is a color analyst for the Rochester Americans broadcasts on MSG Western New York and WROC.

Personal life

Seiling has four children: Melody, Krystal, Zachary and Jeremy. He is the younger brother of fellow long-time NHL player Rod Seiling.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1974–75 Hamilton Fincups OMJHL 6833306374 171351825
1975–76 Hamilton Fincups OMJHL 5935518649 1414132719
1976–77 St. Catharines Fincups OMJHL 625061111103 14661236
1977–78 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8019193833 80227
1978–79 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7820224256 30112
1979–80 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8025356054 145496
1980–81 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7430275780 82242
1981–82 Buffalo Sabres NHL 5722254758 41122
1982–83 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7519224141 102356
1983–84 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7813223542 30002
1984–85 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7316153186 54154
1985–86 Buffalo Sabres NHL 6912132574
1986–87 Detroit Red Wings NHL 74381149
1987–88 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 7016132934 92244
1994–95 Utica Blizzard CoHL 10000
NHL totals 738179208387573 6214142836

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
1977 Canada WJC 731410
Junior totals 731410

References

Preceded by
Bob Sauvé
Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
1977
Succeeded by
Larry Playfair
Preceded by
Position created; Shelley Looney (co-coach through 2016)
Buffalo Beauts head coach
2016-2018
Succeeded by
Cody McCormick
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