Tim Friday


Timothy J. Friday is a retired ice hockey defenseman. He played in 23 games for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Friday has been on two championship teams, the RPI Engineers and the Adirondack Red Wings.

Professional career

Minor league hockey

After graduating from Marian High School in 1979, where he was a star player, Friday decided to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and join their Division I ice hockey team, the Engineers. He was known for being a responsible defenseman in his own end of the ice and for finding the space for a quick pass up to the forwards. He played for the Engineers all four years he was at R.P.I. and helped lead them to an NCAA Championship in 1985. Friday posted his best numbers in 1985, amassing 34 points in 36 games.

Reaching the NHL

After the celebration at Rensselaer settled down, the celebration for Friday continued when the Detroit Red Wings signed him as a free agent on May 27, 1985. However, the celebration would be short-lived. After playing just 23 games for Detroit, Friday was involved in a collision during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec 3, 1985. He injured his shoulder in the hit, but wanted to continue playing.
Detroit decided to take it easy with Friday's shoulder and sent him down to their minor league affiliate the Adirondack Red Wings for the remainder of the 1985–86 season. There, Friday again found his form and contributed 33 points in the remaining 43 games, to lead Adirondack into the playoffs where Adirondack counted on Friday's defensive play. He delivered, offering up six assists and helping Adirondack to their second American Hockey League championship in six games over the Hershey Bears. However, Friday never let on at any time during the season that his shoulder was getting worse and after winning the Calder Cup, decided to retire, barring further injury.

After hockey

Currently Friday is owner of Water Street Wine & Spirits in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Awards and honors