Robert Dirk
Born (1966-08-20) August 20, 1966
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for St. Louis Blues
Vancouver Canucks
Chicago Blackhawks
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Montreal Canadiens
NHL Draft 53rd overall, 1984
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 19861997

Robert Michael Dirk (born August 20, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Dirk played in the National Hockey League between 1987 and 1996.

Playing career

Dirk was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He was selected 54th overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. He would turn pro in 1986 and spend the next five seasons bouncing between the NHL club and the Peoria Rivermen, the Blues IHL affiliate. He would finally stick on the Blues roster full-time in 1990–91, appearing in 41 games before being moved to the Vancouver Canucks in a 6-player deal at the trade deadline.

Dirk would find a home on an up-and-coming Vancouver team. While his skating and skill level were limited, he was a big, bruising defensive defender well thought of for his heart and grit. He appeared in a career-high 72 games in 1991–92, recording 2 goals and 9 points along with 126 penalty minutes. In 1992–93, he set career bests with 12 points and 150 penalty minutes in 69 games. He spent his third full season with the Canucks in 1993–94, but the acquisition of Jeff Brown and Bret Hedican in a deal with St. Louis left Vancouver with too many bodies on defence, and he was dispatched to the Chicago Blackhawks for a draft pick at the trade deadline.

After only 6 games for Chicago, Dirk was moved again, this time to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, for the 1994–95 campaign. After a season and a half with the Ducks, he was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens in 1996. However, he would fracture his shoulder in his debut for Montreal and was never able to establish himself, appearing in only 3 games for the team.

Released by the Habs following the 1995–96 season, Dirk spent a year in the IHL before retiring and moving into coaching. He finished his career with 13 goals and 29 assists for 42 points in 402 career games, along with 786 penalty minutes.

Coaching career

On his retirement as a player in 1997, Dirk accepted a head coaching job in the UHL with the Winston-Salem Icehawks. He would spend three seasons in the UHL, one in Winston-Salem before joining the Saginaw Gears for two more years. He spent the 2000–2002 seasons with the WCHL Tacoma Sabercats, before being hired as the first head coach of the Texas Wildcatters of the ECHL.

Following his release from the Wildcatters in 2005, Dirk remained in Beaumont, Texas to take a job as the director of the Montagne Center, the home venue of the athletic squads for Lamar University. He then traveled to and from Houston, Texas to coach his son's bantam AA team. He was the coach for the Penticton Lakers Junior B team in the KIJHL, but has now moved on to coach various teams at the Okanagan Hockey Academy for players 14-18.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1982–83 Notre Dame Hounds SMHL 231678
1982–83 Kelowna Buckaroos BCJHL 273101343 135162134
1982–83 Regina Pats WHL 10000
1983–84 Regina Pats WHL 622101264 231121324
1984–85 Regina Pats WHL 6910344497 80004
1985–86 Regina Pats WHL 72196079140 103588
1986–87 Peoria Rivermen IHL 7651722155
1987–88 Peoria Rivermen IHL 5442125126
1987–88 St. Louis Blues NHL 701116 60112
1988–89 Peoria Rivermen IHL 2202254
1988–89 St. Louis Blues NHL 901111
1989–90 St. Louis Blues NHL 37112128 30000
1989–90 Peoria Rivermen IHL 2412379
1990–91 St. Louis Blues NHL 41134100
1990–91 Peoria Rivermen IHL 30002
1990–91 Vancouver Canucks NHL 1110120 600013
1991–92 Vancouver Canucks NHL 72279126 1300020
1992–93 Vancouver Canucks NHL 694812150 90006
1993–94 Vancouver Canucks NHL 65235105
1993–94 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 600026 200015
1994–95 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 3813442
1995–96 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 4412342
1995–96 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30006
1996–97 Detroit Vipers IHL 48281036
1996–97 Chicago Wolves IHL 3115626 30000
NHL totals 402132942772 3901156

Awards

  • WHL East Second All-Star Team – 1986
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