Bob Paradise

Robert Harvey Paradise (born April 22, 1944) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who appeared in a total of 368 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season games between 1971 and 1979. Internationally, Paradise played for the American national team at the 1969 and 1977 World Championships, as well as at the 1968 Winter Olympics. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bob Paradise
Born	(1944-04-22) April 22, 1944 (age 81) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Left
Played for	Minnesota North Stars Atlanta Flames Pittsburgh Penguins Washington Capitals
National team	United States
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1966–1979

Playing career

Paradise originally signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens after playing for the United States national team at the 1968 Winter Olympics and 1969 Ice Hockey World Championships. He was later traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1971, where he made his NHL debut. He also played for the Atlanta Flames, Washington Capitals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins before retiring in 1979. He was also a member of the US national team at the 1977 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament.

In a 2007 interview on The Sports Network, New York Islanders great Clark Gillies named Paradise as "the toughest guy you ever fought."^[1]

Personal life

Paradise grew up in Saint Paul where he earned all-state honors in football and hockey while attending Cretin High School in Saint Paul.^[2] He also turned down a professional baseball contract from the Boston Red Sox in 1965, choosing instead complete his education at St. Mary's College. While at the school, Paradise continued to develop his hockey skills, becoming an all-conference performer in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for four consecutive years.

Paradise is the son-in-law of United States Hockey Hall of Famer Bob Dill. His brother Dick Paradise is also a former professional hockey player.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1959–60	Cretin-Derham Hall High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1960–61	Cretin-Derham Hall High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1961–62	Cretin-Derham Hall High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1962–63	Saint Mary's College	NCAA-III		17	7	15	22	—		—	—	—	—	—
1963–64	Saint Mary's College	NCAA-III		15	7	14	21	—		—	—	—	—	—
1964–65	Saint Mary's College	NCAA-III		18	12	18	30	—		—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Saint Mary's College	NCAA-III		17	6	8	14	—		—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Muskegon Mohawks	IHL		42	5	6	11	47		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Minnesota Nationals	USHL		24	2	6	8	43		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	United States National Team	Intl		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Omaha Knights	CHL		61	3	14	17	98		12	0	2	2	27
1970–71	Montreal Voyageurs	AHL		72	0	9	9	107		3	0	0	0	0
1971–72	Cleveland Barons	AHL		4	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Seattle Totems	WHL		54	5	8	13	80		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		6	0	0	0	6		4	0	0	0	2
1972–73	Atlanta Flames	NHL		71	1	7	8	103		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Atlanta Flames	NHL		18	0	1	1	13		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		38	2	7	9	39		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		78	3	15	18	109		6	0	1	1	17
1975–76	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		9	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Washington Capitals	NHL		48	0	8	8	42		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Springfield Indians	AHL		14	0	4	4	18		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Washington Capitals	NHL		22	0	5	5	20		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		64	2	10	12	53		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Binghamton Dusters	AHL		16	0	1	1	12		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		14	0	1	1	4		2	0	0	0	0
NHL Totals				368	8	54	62	393		12	0	1	1	19

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968	United States	OLY		7	0	0	0	0
1969	United States	WC		8	0	0	0	30
1977	United States	WC		9	0	0	0	8
Senior totals				24	0	0	0	38

Transactions

• June, 1970 – Signed as a free agent by Montreal.
• May, 1971 – Traded to Minnesota by Montreal with the rights to Gary Gambucci for cash.
• June 6, 1972 – Traded to Atlanta by Minnesota for cash.
• January 4, 1974 – Traded to Pittsburgh by Atlanta with Chuck Arnason for Al McDonough.
• November 26, 1975 – Traded to Washington by Pittsburgh for Washington's 2nd round choice (Greg Malone) in 1976 Amateur Draft.
• October 1, 1977 – Traded to Pittsburgh by Washington for the rights to Don Awrey.