Dresden Kings Honour Chinnick’s
Dresden Jr Kings team president Dave Cameron with honoured almuni Gary Chinnick (left) and Rick Chinnick (centre)
The Dresden Jr Kings raised two new banners to the rafters on Friday night. Side by side, the number 7 and 8 of Rick and Gary Chinnick were unveiled during the club’s annual Alumni Night and Fish Fry.
The Chinnick brothers were two of the organization’s best, who helped put the Kings on the hockey map. Rick went on to a five year professional career including four games in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars in the 70’s.
Rick’s Jr C hockey career was spent with the Dresden Jr Kings – in memorable, and even historic fashion. The 1968-69 and 1969-70 Dresden Midgets were honoured at this year’s Dresden Sports Hall Of Fame. The 68-69 and 69-70 squads won back-to-back Ontario Minor Hockey Association ‘C’ championships. The 68-69 team was also UNDEFEATED – both Rick Chinnick and Ken Houston, both future NHL’ers played on the undefeated 1968-69 team.
Rick’s Jr A time was spent in Peterborough where he built a resume with the Petes, scoring 21 goals and adding 30 assists for 51 points in 1971-72 during his first season in the OHL. Those who hadn’t taken notice would be forced to the following season when Chinnick exploded for 86 points in 63 games – 42 goals and 44 assists – ultimately leading to hearing his name called at the NHL Draft.
Rick was drafted by Minnesota North Stars in Round 3 #41st overall in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
Chinnick’s first professional season was spent primarily with the New Haven Nighthawks, with whom he scored 18 goals and 33 points. During that campaign Chinnick earned a one-game call up with the North Stars and managed an assist in that game. The next year, 1974-75, Chinnick again spent the bulk of his time in New Haven, but he got up to Minnesota for three more games. Again he recorded just one assist. It would prove to be his second and final NHL point. Chinnick spent all of the 1975-76 season with the Nighthawks, a year in which his NHL rights were traded to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Bryan Hextall, Jr. Rick accumulated 59 goals and 72 assists for 131 points through 209 games in the AHL.
Rick spent the next two years with the Saginaw Gears of the International Hockey League, winning the IHL Turner Cup in 1977. Rick was an offensive force during his time in the IHL, racking up 145 PTS in 155 IHL games. Chinnick then retired following the 1977-78 season, only to come out of retirement in 1980 to play for his hometown Chatham Sr Maroons, where he scored 25 goals and 57 points. Rick became a junior hockey coach after his retirement, coaching Blenheim in the Ontario Junior C league.
Gary Chinnick spent 18 of his 22 years playing hockey, wearing a Dresden jersey. Gary spent four full seasons with the Jr. Kings, initially as a forward. Chinnick was converted into a defenceman after his first two years and would become the team captain of a tight bunch of trusted teammates.
Gary was known to be a tough, reliable, two-way player who was a leader for his club. Chinnick recalls playing with injuries constantly, especially in big game situations. Chinnick spent some time playing in the fabled Continental Hockey League for the Bothwell Barons, as well as the Chatham Sr Maroons.
“This is my hockey home,” Gary said, referring to Dresden. “I cherish my time here, being able to play with my brother as Jr King, all of the memories. This is a great, great hockey town.”
Number 7 and 8 will sit, appropriately, side by side, for years to come inside the Lambton-Kent Memorial Agricultural Centre.