Pat Verbeek

Lore & Background

Verbeek grew up on a family farm in Petrolia, Ontario. He played minor hockey and junior hockey with the Petrolia Jets Jr.B. and Sudbury Wolves, where he set a franchise rookie record with 88 points and won the Emms Family Award. He was drafted 43rd overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1982. In 1985, his thumb was cut off by an auger in a farming accident but was saved after rehabilitation. He set a Devils franchise record with 46 goals in 1987–88. He was traded to the Hartford Whalers in 1989 and later became team captain. In 1994, he was part of a Buffalo nightclub incident that led to arrests and fines. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 1995, then signed with the Dallas Stars in 1996. He won the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999.

Reader's Guide

Pat Verbeek's significance lies in his unique combination of scoring and physicality over a long career. He is the only NHL player to achieve three 40-goal seasons while also accumulating over 200 penalty minutes in each of those seasons. His 500 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes place him among just three players in league history to reach both milestones. Despite these accomplishments, he is one of four 500-goal scorers eligible for but not inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His nickname 'Little Ball of Hate' was given in 1995 by Glenn Healy. After playing, he became a broadcaster, scout, and later general manager of the Anaheim Ducks. His career is marked by durability, playing over 1,400 games, and a reputation for working hard in high-traffic areas to score goals.

Did You Know?

• Verbeek's thumb was cut off by an auger in a 1985 farming accident but was saved.
• He is the only player with three 40-goal seasons and over 200 penalty minutes each.
• He won the Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars.
• He was arrested in a 1994 Buffalo nightclub incident along with six others.