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Russ Conway, you are missed.
Nifty Night: Hampton celebrates Bruins legend. Rick Middleton honored for community service.
Selectman Regina Barnes reads a proclamation from the town of Hampton honoring former Boston Bruins player Rick Middleton.
HAMPTON — When Bruins legend Rick Middleton moved to New Hampshire two decades ago, he said he was certain Hampton was where he wanted to be.
"My first and only choice was Hampton," said Middleton Tuesday as town and beach officials honored him on the Seashell Stage for having his No. 16 retired by the Bruins last fall. "This town has been very good to me."
Middleton, the Bruins' third all-time scorer with 402 career goals, has lived in Hampton since 1997, first at North Beach before moving to the west side of town. His number was retired and raised to the TD Garden rafters last October, which local officials decided was worth celebrating with Hampton's summer crowd. They named Tuesday "Nifty Night," Middleton's nickname being Nifty as a player. Tuesday, July 16, was chosen with Nifty's number in mind.
Selectman Regina Barnes read a proclamation from the town honoring and thanking him, while representatives from the Hampton Beach Village District presented him with their own plaque. Both mentioned Middleton's local community service that has included help raising money for Hampton's soup kitchens and the Hampton Youth Association.
A replica of the banner with his number hanging in the TD Garden rafters was raised to the back of the Seashell Stage. Middleton was introduced by renowned hockey writer Russ Conway, and former Bruins Ken Linseman and Andy Brickley came to watch the ceremony and waved from the Purple Urchin.
"I was honestly flabbergasted and surprised," said Middleton as he began to speak to those who gathered around the stage.
Middleton talked about his life's journey that led him to Hampton, starting with his first move to New England when he was 19 years old as a recent draftee of the New York Rangers. Those who gathered jokingly booed Middleton's New York affiliation as he explained he was in Rhode Island to play for the Rangers' minor league team. A year later, he was promoted to the NHL team in New York.
"Little did I believe three years later I would be back in New England for the rest of my life," said Middleton, who was traded in 1976 to the Bruins. He said he spent his years as a player living in Lynnfield and Topsfield, Massachusetts. He began looking at a life in New Hampshire in the 1990s after he started working for the Hooksett-based company CB Sullivan. He said he chose Hampton so he could live at North Beach and see his sons grow up to be surfers, though only his stepdaughter ever picked it up.
Middleton's sons have since moved from the area to other parts of the country, but he said his daughter Claudine is a bartender at the Purple Urchin, helping keep the Middleton roots still planted in Hampton.
"The Hampton connection is still very strong," said Middleton.
Barnes organized Nifty Night along with Conway, a journalist whose recognition includes the Hockey Hall of Fame's Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award.
Conway noted the prestige that comes with having one's number retired by the Bruins, saying there have been more than 1,000 people who have played for the Bruins.
"In 96 years they've retired just 10 numbers," said Conway. "He is up in the rafters forever."
Middleton drew fans both young and old to meet him Tuesday, some having watched him since they were young.
John McGrade, a longtime Bruins fan who recently moved to Hampton, brought hockey pucks he bought in 2011 when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup for Middleton to sign. He said he loved watching the Bruins play during Middleton's era because of the team's toughness, and he was always impressed with Nifty's scoring ability.
"He had great moves. So many goals," said McGrade. "He was awesome."
We let the village district sponsor this one
BRING BACK BARNES
Regina Barnes, an avid Boston Bruins supporter. Especially our local legends. 🇺🇸
BRING BARNES BACK
MARCH 11, 2025
Back in 2019
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