The Rochester Americans are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Amerks Hall of Fame defenseman Richie Dunn. He was 59.
Dunn played parts of five seasons for the Amerks from 1985-86 to 1989-90 and put together one of the all-time great runs by a Rochester blueliner. In 276 career games, Dunn recorded 161 points on 41 goals and 120 assists, along with 226 penalty minutes. His 161 points rank him eighth all-time among Amerks defensemen. He also ranks seventh in both goals and assists among Rochester defensemen and served as a team captain during the 1988-89 season.
“I’m just devastated by the news. We lost a great Amerk and a great player. He was one of the nicest guys I ever got to play with,” recalled fellow Hall of Famer Jody Gage, who had the privilege of playing all five seasons alongside Dunn in Rochester.
“He was a great player, but he was an even better person that I was proud to call my friend, remembered Gage. “He always put the team first and that’s what made him such a good teammate. We were all better to have known him. My deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Kathy, his children and everyone that new Richie.”
After splitting the 1985-86 campaign between the Amerks and Buffalo Sabres, Dunn posted arguably his best season in 1986-87. In 64 games, he registered 32 points on six goals and 26 assists to lead all Amerks blueliners in scoring and was named to the AHL First All-Star Team. In the postseason, he collected seven points (1+6) in 18 games to help the Amerks win the Calder Cup championship.
Dunn upped his offensive contributions the following season, scoring an AHL career-high 12 goals and adding 35 assists to rank fifth on the team in scoring and tops among defensemen, earning a place on the AHL Second All-Star Team. He went on to add 58 more points (16+42) over 110 games over his final two seasons with the Amerks before retiring in 1990.
“Izzy was a steady and very reliable defenseman on the team as well as being a team leader,” said Paul Brydges, Dunn’s teammate for three seasons, including the 1987 Calder Championship squad.
But it was off the ice that Dunn was known most for. Teammates remembered him for being the guy with the infectious smile that could turn even the worst of times into one of the best.
“Off the ice he was humble, gracious and always had a smile and time for everyone,” added Brydes. Family came first for Izzy. I considered him not just a teammate, but a friend. I will miss him dearly.
“You can’t forget his smile,” said fellow defenseman Jim Hofford, a fellow Amerks Hall of Famer who was also a member of the 1987 Calder Cup championship team. “He was always giggling. He was just always smiling. And he was a great teammate.”
Dunn was among the most recent to be inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2016.
In addition to his Hall of Fame career with Rochester, Dunn spent significant time in the NHL, recording 176 points (36+140) in 483 career games with the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames and Hartford Whalers. He also won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenseman in 1984-85 as a member of the Binghamton Whalers.
“He was just a great teammate and person,” said former Amerks defenseman Steve Dykstra. “Heaven just added a great defenseman to God’s team.”