Richard John "Rich" Preston (born May 22, 1952) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former forward.

Rich Preston
Preston watching a Flames pre-game skate
Born (1952-05-22) May 22, 1952 (age 72)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Houston Aeros (WHA)
Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
Chicago Black Hawks
New Jersey Devils
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1974–1987

Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Preston began his professional career in the World Hockey Association in the 1974-75 season with the Avco World Trophy champion Houston Aeros. He then played three more years with the Aeros before joining the Winnipeg Jets in 1978-79. The Jets won the Avco World Trophy in 1979 (the league's final year) and Preston was named Most Valuable Player of the WHA playoffs.

Preston started his National Hockey League career with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1980. He also played for the New Jersey Devils. He left the NHL after the 1987 season. Preston was an assistant coach for the Calgary Flames from the 2003-2004 NHL season until just after the 2008-2009 NHL season. Shortly after his dismissal from the Flames, Preston was hired as the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes head coach and general manager. After four years in Lethbridge without a single playoff game, Preston was fired from both roles before any team advanced past the first round of the 2013 WHL playoffs.[1]

Prior to his NHL career, Preston played for the University of Denver Pioneers.

He currently is serving as a scout for the Anaheim Ducks.

He is the son of Ken Preston, general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1958–1977 and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.[2]

Career statistics

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1969–70 Regina Pats SJHL 36 15 15 30 4
1970–71 University of Denver WCHA 17 0 1 1 0
1971–72 University of Denver WCHA 33 3 11 14 18
1972–73 University of Denver WCHA 39 23 25 48 24
1973–74 University of Denver WCHA 38 20 25 45 36
1974–75 Houston Aeros WHA 78 20 21 41 10 13 1 6 7 6
1975–76 Houston Aeros WHA 77 22 33 55 33 17 4 6 10 8
1976–77 Houston Aeros WHA 80 38 41 79 54 11 3 5 8 10
1977–78 Houston Aeros WHA 73 25 25 50 52
1978–79 Winnipeg Jets WHA 80 28 32 60 88 10 8 5 13 15
1979–80 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 80 31 30 61 70 7 0 3 3 2
1980–81 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 47 7 14 21 24 3 0 1 1 0
1981–82 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 75 15 28 43 30 15 2 4 6 21
1982–83 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 79 25 28 53 64 13 2 7 9 25
1983–84 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 75 10 18 28 50 5 0 1 1 4
1984–85 New Jersey Devils NHL 75 12 15 27 26
1985–86 New Jersey Devils NHL 76 19 22 41 65
1986–87 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 73 8 9 17 19 4 0 2 2 4
NHL totals 580 127 164 291 348 47 4 18 22 56
WHA totals 388 133 152 285 237 51 16 22 38 39

References

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  1. ^ "Rich Preston relieved of his duties", Lethbridge Hurricanes website
  2. ^ "Regina Leader Post". Archived from the original on 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
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