Patrick Poulin
A dependable two-way forward who carved out a decade-long NHL career through grit and defensive responsibility, not just scoring.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: April 23·Generation X
Biography
Patrick Poulin's journey to the NHL was that of a classic first-round pick, selected 9th overall by the Hartford Whalers in 1991. The Quebec native brought a mature, two-hundred-foot game to the league from the start, a player coaches could trust in crucial defensive situations. Over eleven seasons, he became a journeyman of substance, contributing to teams in Hartford, Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Montreal. While never a flashy point producer, his value lay in his consistency, his work along the boards, and his penalty-killing acumen. Poulin's 634-game career stands as a testament to the longevity earned by players who master the less-glamorous, essential arts of the game, retiring in 2002 as a respected veteran.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Patrick was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Patrick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Patrick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 9th overall by the Hartford Whalers in the first round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.
- Played 634 regular-season games in the National Hockey League across four franchises.
- Recorded 221 career points (99 goals, 122 assists) during his NHL tenure.
Did You Know?
He shares his full name, Joseph Emelien Patrick Poulin, with his father.
He was teammates with Hall of Famer Chris Pronger during his stint with the Hartford Whalers.
After retirement, he served as an assistant coach for the QMJHL's Sherbrooke Phoenix.
“You earn your ice time by playing a complete game.”
