Tim Breslin

Timothy G. Breslin (December 8, 1967 – February 9, 2005) was an American professional ice hockey player. A left wing, Breslin played eight seasons in the International Hockey League (IHL) with the Phoenix Roadrunners and Chicago Wolves and part of a season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. He also played major league roller hockey in Roller Hockey International (RHI) with the Chicago Cheetahs.

Breslin attended Lake Superior State University. While a freshman he helped the Lakers win the school's first national championship in 1988. He served as an alternate captain in his senior season while also tying two school records, points in a game (7) and points in a series (10). Undrafted out of college, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent. He spent four years in their minor league system playing for Phoenix and South Carolina. After a brief stint in the RHI, he joined the Wolves as a free agent. As a member of the Wolves, Breslin was highly involved in charitable activities which led to him winning IHL Man of the Year honors in the 1996–97 season. He was a member of Chicago's Turner Cup champion team the following year.

Late in 2004 Breslin was diagnosed with cancer and died 11 weeks later on February 9, 2005, due to complications from appendiceal cancer. To honor him the Wolves created the Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award and the Tim Breslin Memorial Scholarship. As a way of helping his family financially, they hosted an exhibition game dubbed the Breslin Cup.

Early life Tim was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, on December 8, 1967, to James and Kathleen Breslin. He learned the game while playing with his brothers on a frozen pond near the family home and on a backyard rink his father made.

Playing career Amateur Breslin joined the Fighting Saints for his high school senior year and played an additional season after graduation. In his freshman season with the Lakers, Breslin contributed 6 goals and 20 points, as LSSU finished first in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). Advancing to the 1988 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, the Lakers defeated Merrimack College and University of Maine to reach the championship game. In the title game LSSU defeated St. Lawrence to earn its first National Championship. For the 1988–89 season Breslin improved to 7 goals while remaining at 20 points. In his junior season Breslin continued to produce at about the same pace, registering 8 goals and 25 points.

In his senior season Breslin was named one of the team's alternate captains. Playing on a line with future National Hockey League (NHL) player Doug Weight, Breslin had a break-out season. He set career highs in goals (25), assists (37), and points (62). Lake Superior State finished first in the CCHA, but was again defeated in the quarterfinals of the 1991 NCAA Tournament.

Professional Undrafted out of college, Breslin signed with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent. Breslin failed to make the team and Los Angeles assigned him to their International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate the Phoenix Roadrunners. He began his third professional season with the Roadrunners, but after five games he was reassigned to the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays. Breslin played nine games for the Stingrays, registering six points, before being recalled by Phoenix. Finishing the year with the Roadrunners, he registered 9 goals and 27 points in 50 games. At the conclusion of the season, Breslin's contract with the Kings expired. Prior to the start of the 1994–95 IHL season, Breslin signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Wolves. He was one of the first three players signed by the Wolves who began their first season as an IHL expansion team. In his first season with the Wolves, Breslin notched 7 goals and 28 points. Facing the Kalamazoo Wings in the first round, Chicago was swept in three straight games. Playing in his first professional playoffs, Breslin contributed two points playing in all three games. As a team the Wolves qualified for the playoffs in both seasons but failed to advance beyond the second round. At the conclusion of the 1996–97 season, Breslin was awarded the I. John Snider trophy as IHL Man of the Year, an award given to recognize outstanding community service.

In the off-season Breslin again re-signed with the Wolves. Chicago also brought in John Anderson to be the team's new head coach. Under Anderson, Breslin had posted a career high in assists with 26 and games played with 81. In the postseason the Wolves stormed through the first three rounds, losing only four games, to advance to the 1998 Turner Cup Finals. In game 1 of the finals against the Detroit Vipers, Chicago blew a two-goal lead early in the third period. They regained the lead with just over eight minutes to play. In the final minutes of the game, Breslin added an insurance empty net goal giving the Wolves a 4–2 victory. It was Breslin's only goal of the playoffs. For the 1998–99 season Breslin's production dipped to 7 goals and 21 points. On the first day of training camp the following year, Breslin announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Playing style Listed as a left wing, Breslin was capable of playing all three forward positions, an ability which gave his coaches flexibility and allowed him to play in any situation. Because of his versatility and role, he was often a member of his team's penalty killing unit.

Personal Breslin married Jami Rutili, and the couple had three children, Shane, Paige, and Chase. After retiring from professional hockey, he coached youth hockey and helped manage an Irish pub.

Death and legacy

After complaining of stomach pains for several days, Breslin was taken to a hospital on Thanksgiving of 2004. There he was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer and underwent surgery. He died eleven weeks later on February 9, 2005, due to complications from the cancer. The Wolves honored Breslin by wearing a helmet sticker shaped like a shamrock with his initials inside of it for the 2004–05 season. The game drew around 10,000 fans, with the Wolves' alumni defeating the Blackhawks' alums in a shootout. The Breslin Cup and associated events raised over $250,000 for the family. They also created a team award called the Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award, to be given annually to a player who "best typifies Breslin's on-ice spirit and team-first attitude", and a college scholarship, the Tim Breslin Memorial Scholarship, in his honor. Breslin was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1987–88 Lake Superior State University CCHA 386142018 ————— 1988–89 Lake Superior State University CCHA 427132034 ————— 1989–90 Lake Superior State University CCHA 468172520 ————— 1989–90 Lake Superior State University CCHA 4525376226 ————— 1991–92 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 458212912 ————— 1992–93 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 7914304455 ————— 1993–94 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 509182729 ————— 1993–94 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 93364 ————— 1994 Chicago Cheetahs RHI 658134 ————— 1994–95 Chicago Wolves IHL 717212862 31120 1995–96 Chicago Wolves IHL 6211112256 922412 1996–97 Chicago Wolves IHL 442101218 40224 1997–98 Chicago Wolves IHL 8110263690 2113422 1998–99 Chicago Wolves IHL 727142172 40004 IHL totals 50468151219394 41481242