Steve Atkinson
| Steve Atkinson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Born |
October 16, 1948 Toronto, ON, CAN | ||
| Died |
May 6, 2003 (aged 54) Niagara Falls, ON, CAN | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for |
NHL Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Washington Capitals WHA Toronto Toros | ||
| NHL Draft |
6th overall, 1966 Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Playing career | 1968–1978 | ||
Stephen John "The Snail" Atkinson (October 16, 1948 – May 6, 2003) was a Canadian ice hockey player who played the positions of centre and right wing. Atkinson was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Barrie, Ontario.
Originally drafted in 1966 by the Detroit Red Wings, he was immediately traded to the Boston Bruins. Atkinson would join two expansion teams during his career. He was claimed by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft, and he spent four seasons with them. In the 1974 NHL Expansion Draft he would be claimed by the Washington Capitals. During his only season with the Capitals, he became the first player in franchise history to score on a penalty shot on February 1, 1975 against the Vancouver Canucks. Atkinson would also have a stint with the Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association.
Atkinson died of a heart attack on May 6, 2003 at the age of 54.[1]
Career Statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1964-65 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| 1965-66 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA | 39 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 12 | |||||||
| 1966-67 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA | 44 | 31 | 35 | 66 | 42 | |||||||
| 1967-68 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA | 50 | 37 | 36 | 73 | 61 | |||||||
| 1968-69 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1968-69 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CHL | 65 | 40 | 40 | 80 | 62 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 13 | ||
| 1969-70 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CHL | 63 | 29 | 23 | 52 | 63 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1970-71 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 57 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1971-72 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 67 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 26 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1972-73 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 61 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1973-74 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 70 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1974-75 | Richmond Robins | AHL | 22 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 15 | ||
| 1974-75 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 46 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1975-76 | Toronto Toros | WHA | 52 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1975-76 | Buffalo Norsemen | NAHL | 37 | 30 | 31 | 61 | 38 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1976-77 | Erie Blades | NAHL | 28 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1976-77 | Brantford Alexanders | OHASr | 11 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 6 | |||||||
| 1977-78 | Brantford Alexanders | OHASr | 33 | 15 | 28 | 43 | 4 | |||||||
| 1978-79 | Welland Steelers | OHASr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| NHL Totals | 302 | 60 | 51 | 111 | 104 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| WHA Totals | 52 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 22 | |||||||||
References
External links
- Steve Atkinson's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
- Steve Atkinson's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
- Steve Atkinson's biography at Legends of Hockey
- Steve Atkinson at Find a Grave
| Preceded by George Forgie |
Detroit Red Wings first round draft pick 1966 |
Succeeded by Ron Barkwell |