Pat Verbeek

Canadian ice hockey right winger known for his aggressive style and prolific scoring, played 20 NHL seasons and won Stanley Cup with Dallas Stars in 1999.

Patrick Robert Verbeek was born in Sarnia, Ontario in 1964. New Jersey Devils selected him 43rd overall in the 1982 NHL Draft. His 20-season career produced 522 goals and 541 assists for 1,063 career points. He won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 2000. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2021. His nickname Little Ball of Hate reflected his playing style — 5ft 9in and 190 pounds, he played physically against much larger opponents, accumulated over 2,900 career penalty minutes and backed down from nothing while simultaneously scoring at a 30-40 goal pace annually. He scored 40 or more goals in five different seasons. His combination of scoring ability with extreme physical play — he was simultaneously one of the most productive scorers and one of the most penalised players of the 1980s and 1990s — created a unique individual profile. He lost a thumb in a farming accident in 1985 and returned to play that same season.

Verbeek was an aggressive, hard-nosed right winger who combined skill with physical play despite his smaller stature. He possessed a powerful shot and excellent hands around the net, making him a consistent goal scorer throughout his career. His relentless forechecking and willingness to play in traffic earned him the nickname 'The Little Ball of Hate.'

Verbeek proved that smaller players could succeed in the NHL through determination, skill, and fearless play. His combination of offensive production and physical intensity became a template for undersized forwards in professional hockey.

• Stanley Cup (2000 with Dallas)
• Hall of Fame (2021)