Although sometimes hampered by respiratory problems, Randy Pierce managed to wade his way through two successful campaigns with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHA from 1975 to 1977.
His selection by the Colorado Rockies in the 1977 Amateur Draft provided the rookie winger with the prospect of earning a regular NHL shift sooner than with more established clubs. The price to be paid, however, was to suit up for perennial losers, which was the case throughout his big-league career.
As a pro, he started out with the Hampton Gulls and the Phoenix Roadrunners before making the Rockies for the second half of the 1977-78 campaign. His early initiation came at the hands of Flyer centreman Bobby Clarke who bodychecked him solidly. Pierce made it to the bench where he soon collapsed and was taken to the hospital for recovery.
Such was the motif for his subsequent career. Plenty of hard knocks at the bottom of the league's standings. He struggled on with the Rockies for four more seasons. His personal highlight came when he tallied 39 points during the 1979-80 season. In 1982, he made the transition, along with the Rockies, to New Jersey where he played only three games before being sent to the minors.
The following year, he gave his NHL career one last stab by signing as a free agent with the last-place Hartford Whalers. During the course of his two seasons in Connecticut, he saw only limited action, spending most of his time with Binghamton of the AHL.
In 1985-86, Pierce put in one final campaign with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL before packing it in for good at the close of the season.
