Hockey: The Patrick family business
Published on February 21, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Patrick family tree is a big one - its roots are deep and permeate throughout professional hockey.
Three generations of Patricks - from Lester and Frank to Lynn and Muzz to Craig, Glenn and Dick - have shaped the way hockey is played in the past 100 years. The Patrick family is credited with many hockey innovations: player numbers, artificial ice rinks, line substitutions, and the establishment of both the playoffs and the minor league farm system.
The branches of that tree continue to grow. Curtiss and Ryan represent the fourth generation of Patricks trying to earn their place in hockey history as members of the Wheeling Nailers, Pittsburgh's minor league ECHL affiliate. Both 26 years old, the two cousins hope different career paths will take them to the NHL: Curtiss is trying to make it as a player, while Ryan hopes to make strides off the ice as the Nailers' Assistant Director of Hockey Operations/Media Relations.
"It's pretty neat to read all about the things they did back then," Curtiss said. "It's exciting to be part of professional hockey. My goal is to try to someday work my way up there to the NHL so I can be part of a fourth generation."
"My family has accomplished great things in the past. I could only dream that, some day, I could do something like that," Ryan said. "It's an honor to have this name, but I am just going to try and keep up with some of the stuff they have done. Maybe some day, I will be there [in the NHL]."
ECHL Stories from February 21, 2006
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- Bombers complete trade with Victoria - Dayton Bombers
- Ice Dogs weekly - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Thunder weekly - Stockton Thunder
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- L.A. Kings will practice at ipayOne Center - San Diego Gulls
- Two former fan favorites join Gulls - San Diego Gulls
- RoadRunners end Grizzlies run - Utah Grizzlies
- Tip-A-Condor a big success; First Family Fun Factor - Bakersfield Condors
- Titans upended by Royals 3-1 - Trenton Devils
- Lynx take down Pilots for fourth straight wins - Augusta Lynx
- Bombers offense explodes in 5-3 win - Dayton Bombers
- Blades win third straight in shootout with 3-2 effort over Grrrowl - Florida Everblades
- Ziedins ends Olympic quest - Stockton Thunder
- Wood assigned by Phantoms - Trenton Devils
- Royals Take Titans In Tuesday Tilt, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- ECHL leading scorer Bembridge loaned to Portland - Idaho Steelheads
- Royals Sign Defenseman Corey LeClair - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- ECHL Olympic Update For February 21 - ECHL
- Utah Grizzlies Michaud ECHL Goaltender Of The Week - Utah Grizzlies
- Hockey: The Patrick family business - Wheeling Nailers
- Virtue Returns in Time for Bobblehead - Wheeling Nailers
- Turon and Later Back from the AHL - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Grizzlies' Michaud Named Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender Of The Week - ECHL
- Lang earns ECHL In Glas Co Player of the Week honors - ECHL
- Augusta's Lang Named In Glas Co ECHL Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Falcons Celebrate Mardi Gras with ZOOperstars and Jersey Auction this Friday - Fresno Falcons
- Lynx weekly - Augusta Lynx
- Thunder Acquires Jeff Lang From Toledo - Stockton Thunder
- Storm Acquire Defenseman From Stockton - Toledo Walleye
- Victoria's Huxley Suspended Two Games - ECHL
- Stanley Cup is Coming Back to Columbia - Columbia Inferno
- The Bruins Are Coming - Florida Everblades
- Defenseman Makes Second Trip to AHL - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Noonan, Hurme On Coach's Show - Columbia Inferno
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