Dean Prentice
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Dean Sutherland Prentice (October 5, 1932 – November 2, 2019) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 22 seasons between 1952–53 and 1973–74. He had 10 NHL seasons with 20 or more goals. Over his NHL career, Prentice played for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars.

Key Information

Early life

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Prentice helped the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters win the 1952 Memorial Cup.[1] At the time the Mad Hatters were the New York Rangers' farm team, and Prentice made the jump to the parent club the following season.

Playing career

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1960s photo of Dean Prentice for Detroit Red Wings

In the 1950s, Prentice, while on the NY Rangers, skated on a line with Andy Bathgate and Larry Popein. Prentice was 10th in the league with 358 points (163 goals)from 1955-56 through 1961-62.[2]

On February 4, 1963, Prentice was traded to the Bruins for Don McKenney and Dick Meissner.[2]

On December 27, 1964, in Chicago Stadium, Prentice, while playing for the Bruins, was hauled down on a breakaway by Stan Mikita. Initially knocked unconscious, Prentice came to and took the awarded penalty shot, scoring on Blackhawks' goaltender Denis DeJordy. Back on the bench, Prentice was unable to leave the bench for his next shift when his back and legs locked up. After being stretchered off and undergoing x-rays, it was revealed that Prentice had scored with a broken back.[3][4][1]

After the Rangers and Bruins failed to make the playoffs each season Prentice was there, he finally appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs after a trade in 1966 sent him to Detroit. In his first season with Detroit, the Red Wings won the first two games of the 1966 Stanley Cup Finals, before losing four straight. But it was Prentice who put up 10 points in 12 games during the Red Wings 1966 playoff run.[1]

The Penguins claimed Prentice from Detroit in the 1969 NHL Intra-League Draft.[1]

In the 1970 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis, Prentice scored the only goal for the West Division team in their 4-1 loss to the East Division. He was 37 years old at the time.

In October 1971 Prentice was traded from Pittsburgh to Minnesota for cash.[1]

Prentice played 1378 career NHL games, scoring 391 goals and 469 assists for 860 points.

In 1976, Prentice staged a comeback of sorts, coming out of retirement at 44 years old by suiting up for the Traverse City Bays of the United States Hockey League for 28 games.[4]

Coaching career

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In 1974-75, he became the head coach of the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks. In 1976-77, he became a player-coach of the Traverse City Bays of the USHL.

From 1980-82, Prentice served as an assistant coach with the University of Guelph.[5]

Personal life

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Prentice and his wife June had two daughters, Kelly and Kerry.

His brother, Eric, played five games for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1943–44 NHL season. Former Alberta premier Jim Prentice was Dean's nephew (and Eric's son). Prentice died on November 2, 2019, at the age of 87.[6][7] Grandsons Phil and Dan Brewer were also hockey players, with Phil reaching the ECHL and AHL level.[8]

Following his career, Prentice moved back to Ontario in 1977 and became Ayr's director of recreation.[9]

Legacy

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In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Prentice at No. 37 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.[10]

Career statistics

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1950–51 Guelph Biltmores OHA-Jr. 51 20 16 36 26 4 1 1 2 15
1951–52 Guelph Biltmores OHA-Jr. 51 48 27 75 68 23 21 10 31 28
1951–52 Guelph Biltmores M-Cup — — — — — 12 13 5 18 14
1952–53 Guelph Biltmores OHA-Jr. 5 1 1 2 16 — — — — —
1952–53 New York Rangers NHL 55 6 3 9 20 — — — — —
1953–54 New York Rangers NHL 52 4 13 17 18 — — — — —
1954–55 New York Rangers NHL 70 16 15 31 20 — — — — —
1955–56 New York Rangers NHL 70 24 18 42 44 5 1 0 1 2
1956–57 New York Rangers NHL 69 19 23 42 38 5 0 2 2 4
1957–58 New York Rangers NHL 38 13 9 22 14 6 1 3 4 4
1958–59 New York Rangers NHL 70 17 33 50 11 — — — — —
1959–60 New York Rangers NHL 70 32 34 66 43 — — — — —
1960–61 New York Rangers NHL 56 20 25 45 17 — — — — —
1961–62 New York Rangers NHL 68 22 38 60 20 3 0 2 2 0
1962–63 New York Rangers NHL 49 13 25 38 18 — — — — —
1962–63 Boston Bruins NHL 19 6 9 15 4 — — — — —
1963–64 Boston Bruins NHL 70 23 16 39 37 — — — — —
1964–65 Boston Bruins NHL 31 14 9 23 12 — — — — —
1965–66 Boston Bruins NHL 50 7 22 29 10 — — — — —
1965–66 Detroit Red Wings NHL 19 6 9 15 8 12 5 5 10 4
1966–67 Detroit Red Wings NHL 68 23 22 45 18 — — — — —
1967–68 Detroit Red Wings NHL 69 17 38 55 42 — — — — —
1968–69 Detroit Red Wings NHL 74 14 20 34 18 — — — — —
1969–70 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 75 26 25 51 14 10 2 5 7 8
1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 69 21 17 38 18 — — — — —
1971–72 Minnesota North Stars NHL 71 20 27 47 14 7 3 0 3 0
1972–73 Minnesota North Stars NHL 73 26 16 42 22 6 1 0 1 16
1973–74 Minnesota North Stars NHL 24 2 3 5 4 — — — — —
1976–77 Traverse City Bays USHL 28 5 22 27 20 — — — — —
NHL totals 1,378 391 469 860 484 54 13 17 30 38

Awards

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Prentice was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1960 after finishing with NHL career highs in goals (32) and points (66). He appeared the NHL All-Star Game five times (1957, 1961, 1963, 1970), the final time at age 37.[1]

See also

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References

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Dean Prentice

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Dean Prentice is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger known for his durable and consistent 22-season career in the National Hockey League from 1952 to 1974. [1] Born in Schumacher, Ontario, he established himself as a reliable scorer during an era of Original Six dominance before the league expanded, playing across five teams and achieving notable success as a secondary offensive contributor. [2] He earned recognition for his longevity, including multiple 20-goal seasons and the ability to score effectively even late in his career. [3] Prentice began his NHL tenure with the New York Rangers, where he spent 11 seasons and posted his career-high of 32 goals in 1959–60, earning a spot on the NHL Second All-Star Team that year. [1] He later suited up for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings—with whom he reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1966—Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars. [2] Selected to five NHL All-Star Games, he was respected for his steady play and work ethic throughout his 1,378 regular-season games. [3] After retiring as a player, Prentice transitioned into coaching and administrative roles, including stints as head coach and general manager in the American Hockey League and later as recreation director in Ayr, Ontario. [3] He passed away in 2019. [1]

Early life

Youth and junior career

Dean Prentice was born on October 5, 1932, in Schumacher, Ontario, Canada. [3] [4] He grew up in a hockey-oriented family, with his older brother Eric "Doc" Prentice having played five games in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1943-44 season. [5] [3] Prentice played his junior hockey with the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters in the Ontario Hockey Association Junior league. [3] He enjoyed a strong 1951-52 season, recording 48 goals and 75 points in 51 regular-season games while helping the team advance through the playoffs. [3] His scoring prowess continued into the national championship tournament, where he tallied 13 goals and 18 points in 12 games as the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters won the 1952 Memorial Cup. [3] This junior success marked his emergence as a promising talent ahead of his transition to professional hockey. [4]

NHL playing career

New York Rangers (1952–1963)

Dean Prentice joined the New York Rangers for the 1952–53 season, marking the start of his NHL career after success in junior hockey.[1] He spent 11 seasons with the team through the partial 1962–63 campaign, appearing in 666 regular-season games and recording 186 goals, 236 assists, and 422 points.[2] During this period, he established himself as a reliable left winger and consistent offensive contributor, though he was sometimes overshadowed by linemate Andy Bathgate, a future Hall of Famer.[1] The Rangers did not win the Stanley Cup at any point during his tenure with the team.[2] Prentice's standout individual season came in 1959–60, when he achieved a career-high 32 goals and 66 points in 70 games, leading to his selection to the NHL Second All-Star Team as a left winger.[2] He also earned berths in the NHL All-Star Game in 1957, 1961, 1962, and 1963.[2] Across his Rangers years, he contributed to several 20-goal campaigns, reflecting his scoring consistency in an era of lower offensive totals league-wide.[2] In recognition of his contributions to the franchise, Prentice was ranked No. 37 among the 100 greatest New York Rangers players (through the 2008–09 season and the first 901 players in team history) in the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats.[6] His time in New York ended on February 4, 1963, when he was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Don McKenney and Dick Meissner.[2]

Boston Bruins (1963–1966)

Dean Prentice joined the Boston Bruins midway through the 1962-63 season after being traded from the New York Rangers on February 4, 1963. [2] Over his tenure with Boston through the 1965-66 campaign, he appeared in 170 regular-season games, recording 50 goals, 56 assists, and 106 points. [2] [3] His most productive full season came in 1963-64 with 23 goals and 39 points in 70 games, though his output was later hampered by injury. [2] A defining moment occurred on December 27, 1964, during a road game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium. [7] Prentice blocked a shot by Stan Mikita at the blue line and broke away toward the net, only to be hauled down from behind by Mikita, crashing heavily into the end boards. [7] Referee Frank Udvari awarded a penalty shot for the clear breakaway foul. [7] After being briefly unconscious and revived with smelling salts, Prentice rose despite severe pain, skated in from center ice, made a move, and scored the penalty shot goal past goaltender Denis DeJordy. [7] [8] He returned to the bench but soon could not move, requiring a stretcher off the ice; x-rays later confirmed a broken back from the impact, leading to six months in a body cast. [7] [8] Prentice recovered sufficiently to return for the 1965-66 season but was traded to the Detroit Red Wings on February 16, 1966. [2] His time in Boston proved shorter than his 11-season run with the Rangers. [2]

Detroit Red Wings (1966–1969)

Prentice joined the Detroit Red Wings midway through the 1965–66 season after being traded from the Boston Bruins on February 16, 1966, along with Leo Boivin, in exchange for Gary Doak, Ron Murphy, Bill Lesuk, and future considerations. [1] The move marked his first significant exposure to NHL playoff success following years with teams that rarely qualified for postseason play. [1] In the 1966 Stanley Cup Finals, the Red Wings won the opening two games against the Montreal Canadiens to take a 2–0 series lead, but Montreal rallied to win the next four games and capture the championship. [1] Prentice contributed 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points across 12 playoff games that spring. [1] [9] Over his tenure with Detroit spanning parts of four seasons from 1965–66 through 1968–69, Prentice played 230 regular-season games, scoring 60 goals and adding 89 assists for 149 points. [1] [9] He did not appear in the playoffs again during his time with the team. [9]

Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–1971)

Prentice was claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Detroit Red Wings in the 1969 NHL Intra-League Draft on June 11, 1969. He spent two seasons with the expansion-era Penguins, appearing in 144 regular-season games and tallying 47 goals, 42 assists, and 89 points. [2] In 1970, Prentice was selected to represent the West Division in the NHL All-Star Game held on January 20 in St. Louis. [10] He scored the lone goal for the West Division, tying the game at 1-1 early before the East Division pulled away for a 4-1 victory. [10] [11] This marked his fifth and final All-Star appearance.

Minnesota North Stars (1971–1974)

**On October 6, 1971, Dean Prentice was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for cash.[2] He spent the final three seasons of his NHL career with the North Stars, from 1971–72 through 1973–74.[2] During this period, he appeared in 168 regular-season games, recording 48 goals, 46 assists, and 94 points.[2] His most productive years with the team came in 1971–72 (20 goals and 47 points in 71 games) and 1972–73 (26 goals and 42 points in 73 games), though his playing time diminished significantly in 1973–74.[2][9] Prentice retired from the NHL following the 1973–74 season, having played just 24 games that year.[2] At the conclusion of his 22-season NHL career, he had accumulated 1,378 games played, 391 goals, 469 assists, 860 points, and 487 penalty minutes, ranking 51st all-time in games played at the time of his retirement.[2]

Post-playing career

Coaching and administrative roles

After concluding his NHL playing career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1974, Dean Prentice transitioned into coaching roles in minor professional and collegiate hockey. He served as head coach of the New Haven Nighthawks in the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 1974–75 season. In 1976–77, at age 44, Prentice came out of retirement to act as player-coach for the Traverse City Bays in the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he appeared in 28 games and recorded 5 goals and 22 assists for 27 points. Prentice later joined the University of Guelph as an assistant coach from 1980 to 1982. Following his return to Ayr, Ontario in 1977, he took up the position of director of recreation for the town. These roles marked his shift from professional playing to contributing to hockey development and community sports administration.

Personal life

Family and later years

Prentice was married to June Elizabeth Prentice (née Collier) for 65 years. [12] The couple had two daughters, Kelly Brewer and Kerry Faus. [12] In his later years, Prentice took particular joy in time spent with his family. [12] Prentice's brother, Eric Prentice, also played briefly in the National Hockey League. [3] His nephew, Jim Prentice, served as Premier of Alberta. [13] Two of Prentice's grandsons, Phil Brewer and Dan Brewer, played minor professional hockey. [3] After returning to Ontario in 1977, Prentice became Recreational Director for the community of Ayr. [12]

Death

Circumstances and tributes

Dean Prentice died on November 2, 2019, at the age of 87 in Cambridge, Ontario, surrounded by his family. [14] [12] Family, friends, and the hockey community mourned his passing, remembering him for his humility, dedication, and contributions both on and off the ice after his 22-season NHL career. [14] Sue Foxton, mayor of North Dumfries, paid tribute to Prentice's character, describing him as having a "heart of gold" and noting that despite his status as an NHL star, "you would never know it to meet him" as he remained "just a humble, down to earth guy" who readily volunteered whenever something needed to be done and "worked his heart out." [14]
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