| Terry Ruskowski | |
| Birth Date: | 31 December 1954 |
| Birth Place: | Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 9 |
| Weight Lb: | 168 |
| Position: | Centre |
| Shoots: | Left |
| Played For: | Houston Aeros Winnipeg Jets Chicago Black Hawks Los Angeles Kings Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota North Stars |
| Draft: | 70th overall |
| Draft Year: | 1974 |
| Draft Team: | Chicago Black Hawks |
| Wha Draft: | 30th overall |
| Wha Draft Year: | 1974 |
| Wha Draft Team: | Houston Aeros |
| Career Start: | 1974 |
| Career End: | 1989 |
Terry W. Ruskowski (born December 31, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL), and for the Houston Aeros and Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Ruskowski's leadership on the ice was recognized with his tenure as captain of the Aeros, Black Hawks, Kings, and Penguins, the only player in major professional history to captain four clubs.
As a coach, Ruskowski was most recently the head coach and general manager for the Quad City Mallards of the ECHL.
In 2001, Ruskowski was named the head coach of the Laredo Bucks in Laredo, Texas, of the Central Hockey League. On March 18, 2009, he secured his 500th coaching win, as the Bucks defeated the Texas Brahmas of Fort Worth, 4-3, in the Southern Conference playoffs.[1]
In 2007, Ruskowski entered the final year of a four-year contract extension with the Bucks. Ruskowski told the Laredo Morning Times that his tenure was in the hands of Bucks chairman Glenn Hart, owner Julian "Kiki" DeAyala, and team president John Beckelhymer and that he had "full faith" that he will obtain his third contract with the club. He was shortly thereafter given a "lifetime contract" as the coach of the Bucks.
In May 2011, Ruskowski announced his resignation after ten years as the coach of the Bucks.[2] Ruskowski had compiled a 343–175–56 overall record in Laredo and was the CHL "Coach of the Year" during the 2005–06 season.[3] A year after Ruskowski's departure from the Bucks, the team, citing declining attendance and revenue reversals, disbanded.[4]
Ruskowski became the head coach and general manager of the Quad City Mallards in the ECHL in the 2013–14 season. On January 20, 2017, he was relieved of his duties.[5]
In 2010, Ruskowski was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.[6]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1971–72 | Swift Current Broncos | WCJHL | 67 | 13 | 38 | 51 | 177 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | Swift Current Broncos | WCJHL | 53 | 25 | 64 | 89 | 136 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Swift Current Broncos | WCJHL | 68 | 40 | 93 | 133 | 243 | 13 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 23 | ||
| 1974–75 | Houston Aeros | WHA | 71 | 10 | 36 | 46 | 134 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 15 | ||
| 1975–76 | Houston Aeros | WHA | 65 | 14 | 35 | 49 | 100 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 64 | ||
| 1976–77 | Houston Aeros | WHA | 80 | 24 | 60 | 84 | 146 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 67 | ||
| 1977–78 | Houston Aeros | WHA | 78 | 15 | 57 | 72 | 170 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | ||
| 1978–79 | Winnipeg Jets | WHA | 75 | 20 | 66 | 86 | 211 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 23 | ||
| 1979–80 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 74 | 15 | 55 | 70 | 252 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | ||
| 1980–81 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 72 | 8 | 51 | 59 | 225 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | ||
| 1981–82 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 60 | 7 | 30 | 37 | 120 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 53 | ||
| 1982–83 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 71 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 127 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 77 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 78 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 144 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1985–86 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 73 | 26 | 37 | 63 | 162 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 70 | 14 | 37 | 51 | 145 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 47 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| WHA totals | 369 | 83 | 254 | 337 | 761 | 52 | 18 | 36 | 54 | 174 | ||||
| NHL totals | 630 | 113 | 313 | 426 | 1,354 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 86 | ||||
Born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Ruskowski began his junior hockey career in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL - Tier II) in 1970–71, playing for the Humboldt Broncos. His leadership ability at age sixteen was evident, as was his ability and toughness. He helped to propel the Broncos to the league final that year.
From 1971 to 1974, Ruskowski played for the Swift Current Broncos where he became captain in his second and third year and helped to lead the team until it lost in the semi-finals in 1974. As well, he still holds the team record for most assists in one year, 93 assists in 1973–74. He could be expected to stick up for his teammates, a situation which led to many fighting penalties each year.
Ruskowski is married and has two daughters.