Colin Patterson, although most people know him as a truly remarkable hockey player, was equally skilled at lacrosse. He represented Canada in the world championships in Baltimore, winning a bronze medal. Lacrosse made him, he says, “a better hockey player”, since the game requires similar skills, hand/eye coordination and conditioning. But when the lacrosse season ended, he turned to hockey.

Colin was born in Rexdale, and played his minor hockey with the MTHL. He left organized hockey to play for his high school, Thistletown Collegiate Institute (T.C.I.) – the year of the teachers’ strike. Sports programs were suspended. While sitting at home with nothing to do, he was visited by the coach and the manager of the Etobicoke Canucks Midget A team, who talked him into playing with them. The best decision he made, he claims. The Etobicoke Hockey Association pulled him back into the game.

During his second year with the Royal York Royals Provincial Jr. A team, he was scouted by Clarkson University. In spite of offers from many other American universities, he chose Clarkson, a small and appealing school with interesting programs and excellent coaching. There he sharpened his skills and was welcomed by the town with open arms.

At Clarkson he was spotted by scouts from the Calgary Flames, who had come over to recruit a teammate. The Flames wanted him to sign with them, foregoing his final year of university, but he was reluctant to do that. They finally worked an agreement – he signed for the coming season, and they would pay for his final year. He completed it over three summers, earning a degree in marketing and management. At Calgary, the skills he perfected in lacrosse made him a superb defensive forward.

In 1989, Colin played on a line with Doug Gilmore and Joe Mullen, and won the Stanley Cup. That same year, he was a finalist for the Selke Trophy. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 1991, and played with them for two seasons, followed by a year with HK Olimpija in Ljubjana, Slovenia, before retiring from hockey.

He was inducted into the Clarkson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Colin is president of Just-In Case Ltd, a firm that designs and manufactures eco-friendly portable fire suppression equipment, to safeguard people who live or work more than ten minutes from emergency response. He lives in Calgary with his wife Sherri, daughters Stephanie and Michelle, and son Derek.