Fans of the old junior hockey team St. Catherines Black Hawks of the OHA must have felt they were witnessing the future of hockey when Rick Adduono played there in the early 1970s. He was a spectacular player, leading the league in assists and points in 1973-74, although injuries derailed his NHL draft year.
If Adduono seemed more driven than some players at that age it may have been out of necessity. He was married with a child at the age of 16 before he even started junior hockey. He knew he needed to provide his family with a future, and he envisioned that through hockey.
The Boston Bruins made him their 60th overall draft selection in 1975, and signed him to a pro contract. He played in the minor leagues exclusively save for one game with th B's. After leading the AHL in scoring in 1977-78, he signed on with the WHA's Birmingham Bulls and enjoyed his only full season of big league hockey in 1978-79. The WHA folded following that season. Adduono tried joining the NHL's Atlanta Flames, but aside from three more scoreless game his career was destined for the minor leagues.
Adduono never gave up on the game of hockey. He went to Austria and bounced around the minor leagues before turning to coaching.
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