By P.J. Kennedy
Mention the 1929 vintage Rutherford Rink as a “breeding ground” and one’s thoughts will turn perhaps to chilled but plentiful rodents, pneumonia-risking fans with sore posteriors or spectators with double vision from viewing games around strategically placed posts! Yet in reality, University of Saskatchewan has played a role in the development of several “top notch” hockey coaches.
Former Huskie player (1969-71) and national Canadian Inter-university Athletic Union (CIAU) national championship (Huskies of 1983) team coach Dave King (1979-83) is undoubtedly the best known ice mentor. He went on to coach the Canadian National and Olympic teams as well as be head coach of Calgary and Columbus in the NHL and assistant coach with Montreal. In addition he coached in Japan and is currently head coach of Metallung Magnitogorsk. He had a 62-39-0 ledger coaching Huskies 1979-83. Less well known, but nevertheless a former Huskie bench boss, is Dave Chambers who fashioned a 23-13-0 record behind the Green and White bench from 1967-69. He used the CIAU as a stepping stone from the OHL as a junior coach at Guelph and Toronto St. Michaels ultimately to take a position as an assistant coach with Minnesota North Stars and then head coaching position with Quebec Nordiques (1990-92).
Former Huskie defenceman Dave Dunn (1966-70) completed an NHL playing career in 1976 with Toronto and moved into an assistant coaching position with Vancouver Canucks. Todd McLellan (1991) went from Huskie player to coaching at Swift Current and is now and assistant coach with Detroit Red Wings. Current head coach with the Red Wings is Mike Babcock (1982) who called the shots as bench boss for WHL teams in Moose Jaw and Spokane, for Cincinnati in the AHL, and then the NHL’s Anaheim Mighty Ducks from 2002-05 before taking up his head man duties at the motor city in spring 2005.
Brent McEwen, Bill Seymour and Dave Adolph all played Huskie hockey and then went on to coach the Dogs as well as work for other teams. Currently a scout for the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL, McEwen toiled for several years as general manager of the Saskatoon Blades. McEwen was behind the bench at Rutherford Rink from 1983-92 with 1990-91 in Norway when Seymour, who suited up as a player with the Dogs in 1965-66, moved from former assistant to head coach for the 1990-91 campaign. He, in turn, has coached Team Saskatchewan at Canada Winter Games in both 1983 and 1987 and was general manager of Team Canada at Universiade at Italy and an exchange coach for seven weeks in China. Seymour is currently Convenor of Canada West Men’s Hockey and Education Consultant with Saskatoon Blades. Dave Adolph who has been Huskies coach for more years (12) than any other man, and has guided his charges to over 100 victories, played with the Green and White in 1978 and from 1980-83. He coached at University of Lethbridge before accepting his current position with the Dogs in 1996.
Other notable former Huskies who went on to coaching success are Willie Desjardins (1979-83) current coach of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers and former Blades and Canadian National team coach, Wally Kozak (1964-67) who has coached in Japan and in recent years been a vital part of the Canadian National women’s team, and Peter Anholt (1982-84, 86) who after coaching at Seattle, Red Deer and Kelowna, currently leads the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. Indeed, current commissioner of the WHL, Ron Robison, who has a long resume of service within the WHL, is also a former Huskie, having performed for U of S in 1974. Dallas Thompson (1996-98) is current general manager of Prince George in the WHL. Another former Huskie coach is Lyn Bannister (1969-72) who had a later job as head coach at Mount Royal College in Calgary.
Others such as Lorne Frey (1969; 72-74), Marc Chartier (1982-86), and Glen Gulutzan (1993-94) have been junior, midget AAA, or minor professional bench bosses. Gulutzan, for example, has directed traffic from behind the pines for Fresno of the defunct West Coast Hockey League. Brian McGregor (1984) coached Kelsey Amaruks to Canadian College Athletic Association national playoffs won gold with Team Saskatchewan at Canada Winter Games. Perhaps one of the most powerful men in professional hockey has a connection to University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Alumnus Max McNab (1946) eventually became general manager of the Washington Capitals after a stellar minor professional league playing career that extended into several seasons with Detroit Red Wings.
It should be noted that Charlie Hay, former captain of Huskies and goaltending great, also coached for the Huskie women’s team. Indeed, Hay is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder for his tireless labours on behalf of Hockey Canada in the last decades of the 10th century. Another person who went from toiling on behalf of the women’s Green and White to major contributions for hockey is Shannon Miller. She went from Huskies to coaching the Canadian National women’s team and is currently coaching at the US university level.
The CIS can be proud of how many hockey leaders have been developed in part here at University of Saskatchewan in both the men’s and women’s programmes.
This is #5 in a series of Huskie Hockey History excerpts from Kennedy’s forthcoming book Dogs on Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan with research by the author and Bill Seymour and Kerri Archibald.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
"More Huskies in the NHL”
By P.J. Kennedy
In “Huskie History Notes #1: Huskies in the NHL”, which appeared in the 21-22 October Huskies men’s hockey game programme, it was noted how Two Calder Cup winners as National Hockey League (NHL) rookies of the year, Eddie Litzenberger and Billy Hay, were former Huskies. Dave Dunn who toiled for Vancouver and Toronto also played for the Green and White as did former Montreal Canadiens broadcaster Dick Irvin.
Were there others? Indeed, several others who played hockey at University of Saskatchewan then found employment in the NHL, including Earl Miller (1924-26) who performed for Chicago and Toronto from 1927 through 1932, Eddie McCalmon (1924-25) who strapped on the blades for Chicago and the defunct Philadelphia Quakers from 1927 to 1931, and Gerry ‘Doc’ Couture (1943-45) who played for Detroit, Montreal and Chicago during a ten year period, 1944-54. Another Huskie alumnus, Charlie Mason (1929-31), played in the NHL with New York Rangers, the defunct New York Americans, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks starting in 1934. Max McNab (1946) who played 128 games with Detroit Red Wings 1947-51 later became a general manager with Washington Capitals.
Canadian Olympic and National team member Robin Bartel who played for the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks from 1985-1987 performed at Rutherford Rink in 1983. Ken Lovsin (1986-88), played with the 1990-91 Washington Capitals and Todd McClellan who had played for New York Islanders in 1987-88 came to Saskatoon for the 1991 season.
Although Huskie netminder Jim Shaw made it to the World Hockey Association with Toronto Toros in the 1970s, only Ross McKay made it all the way to the NHL as a goalkeeper. McKay who suited up for 67 CIAU games in 1985-88 played a single NHL contest with Hartford Whalers in 1990-91.
It should be noted that non-playing or non-coaching NHL employees who had been involved with Huskie hockey include current Chicago trainer Troy Parchment and Carolina Hurricane trainer Peter Friesen as well as Lori Boesch who managed the women’s team and then went on to be NHL Director of Special Events, based in New York City.
Thus there are sixteen non-coaches who have made it into the NHL who also performed for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. For a non-developmental league, the CIS and in particular the Huskies have done a great deal to contribute to our national winter sport at the highest level.
This is #4 in a series of Huskie Hockey History Notes from Kennedy’s forthcoming book Dogs on Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan with research by the author and Bill Seymour and Kerri Archibald.
In “Huskie History Notes #1: Huskies in the NHL”, which appeared in the 21-22 October Huskies men’s hockey game programme, it was noted how Two Calder Cup winners as National Hockey League (NHL) rookies of the year, Eddie Litzenberger and Billy Hay, were former Huskies. Dave Dunn who toiled for Vancouver and Toronto also played for the Green and White as did former Montreal Canadiens broadcaster Dick Irvin.
Were there others? Indeed, several others who played hockey at University of Saskatchewan then found employment in the NHL, including Earl Miller (1924-26) who performed for Chicago and Toronto from 1927 through 1932, Eddie McCalmon (1924-25) who strapped on the blades for Chicago and the defunct Philadelphia Quakers from 1927 to 1931, and Gerry ‘Doc’ Couture (1943-45) who played for Detroit, Montreal and Chicago during a ten year period, 1944-54. Another Huskie alumnus, Charlie Mason (1929-31), played in the NHL with New York Rangers, the defunct New York Americans, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks starting in 1934. Max McNab (1946) who played 128 games with Detroit Red Wings 1947-51 later became a general manager with Washington Capitals.
Canadian Olympic and National team member Robin Bartel who played for the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks from 1985-1987 performed at Rutherford Rink in 1983. Ken Lovsin (1986-88), played with the 1990-91 Washington Capitals and Todd McClellan who had played for New York Islanders in 1987-88 came to Saskatoon for the 1991 season.
Although Huskie netminder Jim Shaw made it to the World Hockey Association with Toronto Toros in the 1970s, only Ross McKay made it all the way to the NHL as a goalkeeper. McKay who suited up for 67 CIAU games in 1985-88 played a single NHL contest with Hartford Whalers in 1990-91.
It should be noted that non-playing or non-coaching NHL employees who had been involved with Huskie hockey include current Chicago trainer Troy Parchment and Carolina Hurricane trainer Peter Friesen as well as Lori Boesch who managed the women’s team and then went on to be NHL Director of Special Events, based in New York City.
Thus there are sixteen non-coaches who have made it into the NHL who also performed for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. For a non-developmental league, the CIS and in particular the Huskies have done a great deal to contribute to our national winter sport at the highest level.
This is #4 in a series of Huskie Hockey History Notes from Kennedy’s forthcoming book Dogs on Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan with research by the author and Bill Seymour and Kerri Archibald.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Hockey Huskies in the NHL
Huskie History Notes I: Hockey Huskies in the NHL
By P.J. Kennedy
This year, 2005 CIS scoring leader Dean Beuker attended the NHL rookie camp as have other former and current hockey Huskies. Some former Huskies have also made it into the NHL. In preparation for a Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame-supported book entitled DOGS ON ICE: A HISTORY OF HOCKEY AT UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN, project co-ordinator Bill Seymour, student-researcher Kerri Archibald and writer-editor P.J. Kennedy have discovered many interesting facts about our Huskies.
What two former Huskie players went on to capture the Calder Memorial Trophy emblematic of the NHL's Rookie of the Year? What former Huskie defenseman who scored a record fourteen goals in fourteen games as a d-man went directly from Canadian university competition to professional hockey with absolutely no junior experience? What former Huskie player went on to find a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame as winner of the Foster Hewitt Award?
Eddie Litzenberger, who won the Calder Cup in 1955 with Chicago Black Hawks and Montreal Canadiens (the only player to be awarded this cup while splitting the season between two different NHL teams), played for the Huskies in 1950-51. His NHL career extended to 618 regular season games with 178 goals and 238 assists for Montreal, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto. He also won the Stanley Cup four times.
Billy Hay won the Calder in 1960 as a Chicago Black Hawk after playing for Huskies in 1953-54. He played in 506 NHL regular season games notching 113 goals and adding 273 assists with 386 in penalty minutes.
Dave Dunn scored fourteen goals in fourteen games as a Huskie blueliner in 1969-70 when he served as co-captain with Dave King. His NHL ledger includes 184 games with Vancouver and Toronto (1973-76) in which he accumulated fourteen goals, forty-one assists, and 313 in penalty minutes.
Former Montreal Canadiens and "Hockey Night in Canada" broadcaster Dick Irvin played Huskie hockey in 1950-51 before transferring to McGill University in the Quebec city where his father was coach. He was awarded the Hall of Fame's prestigious Foster Hewitt Award in 1988.
Yes, Canadian university players can make it to the NHL. In the weeks ahead, look for more Huskie history notes.
By P.J. Kennedy
This year, 2005 CIS scoring leader Dean Beuker attended the NHL rookie camp as have other former and current hockey Huskies. Some former Huskies have also made it into the NHL. In preparation for a Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame-supported book entitled DOGS ON ICE: A HISTORY OF HOCKEY AT UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN, project co-ordinator Bill Seymour, student-researcher Kerri Archibald and writer-editor P.J. Kennedy have discovered many interesting facts about our Huskies.
What two former Huskie players went on to capture the Calder Memorial Trophy emblematic of the NHL's Rookie of the Year? What former Huskie defenseman who scored a record fourteen goals in fourteen games as a d-man went directly from Canadian university competition to professional hockey with absolutely no junior experience? What former Huskie player went on to find a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame as winner of the Foster Hewitt Award?
Eddie Litzenberger, who won the Calder Cup in 1955 with Chicago Black Hawks and Montreal Canadiens (the only player to be awarded this cup while splitting the season between two different NHL teams), played for the Huskies in 1950-51. His NHL career extended to 618 regular season games with 178 goals and 238 assists for Montreal, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto. He also won the Stanley Cup four times.
Billy Hay won the Calder in 1960 as a Chicago Black Hawk after playing for Huskies in 1953-54. He played in 506 NHL regular season games notching 113 goals and adding 273 assists with 386 in penalty minutes.
Dave Dunn scored fourteen goals in fourteen games as a Huskie blueliner in 1969-70 when he served as co-captain with Dave King. His NHL ledger includes 184 games with Vancouver and Toronto (1973-76) in which he accumulated fourteen goals, forty-one assists, and 313 in penalty minutes.
Former Montreal Canadiens and "Hockey Night in Canada" broadcaster Dick Irvin played Huskie hockey in 1950-51 before transferring to McGill University in the Quebec city where his father was coach. He was awarded the Hall of Fame's prestigious Foster Hewitt Award in 1988.
Yes, Canadian university players can make it to the NHL. In the weeks ahead, look for more Huskie history notes.
Development of University Hockey in Canada
“Huskie Hockey Notes 3: Development of University Hockey in Canada”
By: P.J. Kennedy
Last March when University of Saskatchewan met University of Alberta in the Canadian university men’s hockey championship before 10,500 spectators in Edmonton it was renewing a long-standing tradition of inter-university play.
University hockey in Canada extends back to 1877 when a team from McGill University in Montreal assembled to play Montreal Victorias. According to Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) statistical guru Steve Knowles, the first totally inter-university tilt featured Royal Military College versus Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1886 (Total Hockey 2nd edition 69). In 1895, Queen’s became the first and only university team to challenge for the Stanley Cup. In those days one, two, or more teams could challenge the Stanley Cup incumbent at any time during the year. In fact the men from Queen’s challenged again for hockey’s most prestigious trophy in 1899 and 1906. They fell short each time by did capture Canada’s Senior Championship Allan Cup in 1909.
In Western Canada, University of Alberta began play in 1908-09 in the Edmonton city league and University of Manitoba iced a team in the Winnipeg city league around the same time. University of Saskatchewan was founded in 1907 but did not have students for some time. Thus the first hockey players among the men were involved with inter-college or inter-faculty play. This began as early as 1909 with the Emmanuel College team along with a squad from Arts & Science at approximately the same time.
The first inter-university competition for the Saskatoon university was not until 1910-11, although the players donned Arts & Science sweaters to play. The initial inter-university tilt for University of Saskatchewan was against University of Alberta in 1911. The U of S team was called “Varsity” and they played local senior teams with year-end series against University of Alberta and/or University of Manitoba each year until 1920 when the Western Canada Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) was created (Knowles 71). In 1922 Dr. J. Halpenny of University of Saskatchewan donated a trophy for the WCIAU champion each year. This was awarded until 1950 with Alberta capturing it 17 consecutive years. In 1950-51 a new trophy honouring Dr. W. George Hardy was presented to the WCIAU winner. In 1962 the league was renamed Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association under the national body, the Canadian Inter-university Athletic Union (Knowles 71-72). Today, U of S performs in Canada West with teams from universities of Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Regina, Calgary, and Lethbridge under the auspices of the renamed national body, Canadian Interuniversity Sport which has more than three dozen teams from Cape Breton to Vancouver.
[This is #3 in a series of articles taken from research by P.J. Kennedy, Bill Seymour and Kerri Archibald for Kennedy’s Dogs on Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan]
By: P.J. Kennedy
Last March when University of Saskatchewan met University of Alberta in the Canadian university men’s hockey championship before 10,500 spectators in Edmonton it was renewing a long-standing tradition of inter-university play.
University hockey in Canada extends back to 1877 when a team from McGill University in Montreal assembled to play Montreal Victorias. According to Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) statistical guru Steve Knowles, the first totally inter-university tilt featured Royal Military College versus Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1886 (Total Hockey 2nd edition 69). In 1895, Queen’s became the first and only university team to challenge for the Stanley Cup. In those days one, two, or more teams could challenge the Stanley Cup incumbent at any time during the year. In fact the men from Queen’s challenged again for hockey’s most prestigious trophy in 1899 and 1906. They fell short each time by did capture Canada’s Senior Championship Allan Cup in 1909.
In Western Canada, University of Alberta began play in 1908-09 in the Edmonton city league and University of Manitoba iced a team in the Winnipeg city league around the same time. University of Saskatchewan was founded in 1907 but did not have students for some time. Thus the first hockey players among the men were involved with inter-college or inter-faculty play. This began as early as 1909 with the Emmanuel College team along with a squad from Arts & Science at approximately the same time.
The first inter-university competition for the Saskatoon university was not until 1910-11, although the players donned Arts & Science sweaters to play. The initial inter-university tilt for University of Saskatchewan was against University of Alberta in 1911. The U of S team was called “Varsity” and they played local senior teams with year-end series against University of Alberta and/or University of Manitoba each year until 1920 when the Western Canada Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) was created (Knowles 71). In 1922 Dr. J. Halpenny of University of Saskatchewan donated a trophy for the WCIAU champion each year. This was awarded until 1950 with Alberta capturing it 17 consecutive years. In 1950-51 a new trophy honouring Dr. W. George Hardy was presented to the WCIAU winner. In 1962 the league was renamed Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association under the national body, the Canadian Inter-university Athletic Union (Knowles 71-72). Today, U of S performs in Canada West with teams from universities of Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Regina, Calgary, and Lethbridge under the auspices of the renamed national body, Canadian Interuniversity Sport which has more than three dozen teams from Cape Breton to Vancouver.
[This is #3 in a series of articles taken from research by P.J. Kennedy, Bill Seymour and Kerri Archibald for Kennedy’s Dogs on Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan]
“Two Former Huskies in Hockey Hall of Fame”
“Two Former Huskies in Hockey Hall of Fame”
By: P.J. Kennedy
Eddie Litzenberger, Bill Hay and Dave Dunn are all former Huskies who made it to the NHL as players. Yet there have been only two alumni of the University of Saskatchewan men’s hockey team who have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and neither of them was inducted as a player.
Winner of the Foster Hewitt Trophy for broadcasting was former Hockey Night in Canada commentator, Dick Irvin, who played for the Huskies in 1950-51. While a student iin the College of Commerce, he performed at Rutherford Rink in mid-century before transferring to McGill University. After more than three decades as Montreal Canadiens colour commentator and director of CFCF radio sports in Montreal, Irvin was named to the hockey shrine in 1988. In a recent visit to campus, he recalled playing several games against industrial teams but only two or three contests for the Hardy Cup against University of Alberta. Official CIS records list him as playing two interuniversity contests garnering no points. Nevertheless, he is one of the two former Huskies to make it to the Hall of Fame.
The second inductee was former Huskie goaltender Charlie Hay (1902-1973). Hay is first referred to in December 1921 in the Saskatoon Phoenix as “showing good form in the nets” (11). In the 1922 Keystone yearbook he is referred to as one who “guarded the hemp for the team in spectacular fashion” (40). Indeed the 1922-23 team that followed with Hay in goal captured the city, provincial, and Western Canadian Senior Hockey championships and advanced to the Allan Cup final—the Canadian Senior Hockey national title where they fell short of their goal. The following years he continued to play goal and also served as captain of the team. Yes, a goaltender who was team captain of a hockey team. Even more impressive was his coaching of the University women’s team in 1923-24. It was here he met his wife, Florence “String” Miller who was the Huskiettes’ goalie. Charlie Hay’s career with Huskies continued until 1926-27.
He went on to have a successful career in the oil industry, but earned his way into the Hall of Fame as a builder for his indefatigable work with Hockey Canada where he served as president and guided the organization to implement a coaches’ certification programme, a scholarship and bursary programme for players attending universities, and ongoing funding for hockey research. He was also a very important behind the scenes negotiator in the 1972 Canadian-Soviet Union Summit Series. Although Allan Eagleson received most of the glory for organizing the series, without Charlie Hay’s tenacious negotiations, a defining moment in Canadian history never would have happened.
This is #2 in a series of articles taken from research by Bill Seymour and Kerri Archibald for Kennedy’s Dogs on Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan
national title where they fell short of their goal. The Cup final—the Canadian Senior Hock
By: P.J. Kennedy
Eddie Litzenberger, Bill Hay and Dave Dunn are all former Huskies who made it to the NHL as players. Yet there have been only two alumni of the University of Saskatchewan men’s hockey team who have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and neither of them was inducted as a player.
Winner of the Foster Hewitt Trophy for broadcasting was former Hockey Night in Canada commentator, Dick Irvin, who played for the Huskies in 1950-51. While a student iin the College of Commerce, he performed at Rutherford Rink in mid-century before transferring to McGill University. After more than three decades as Montreal Canadiens colour commentator and director of CFCF radio sports in Montreal, Irvin was named to the hockey shrine in 1988. In a recent visit to campus, he recalled playing several games against industrial teams but only two or three contests for the Hardy Cup against University of Alberta. Official CIS records list him as playing two interuniversity contests garnering no points. Nevertheless, he is one of the two former Huskies to make it to the Hall of Fame.
The second inductee was former Huskie goaltender Charlie Hay (1902-1973). Hay is first referred to in December 1921 in the Saskatoon Phoenix as “showing good form in the nets” (11). In the 1922 Keystone yearbook he is referred to as one who “guarded the hemp for the team in spectacular fashion” (40). Indeed the 1922-23 team that followed with Hay in goal captured the city, provincial, and Western Canadian Senior Hockey championships and advanced to the Allan Cup final—the Canadian Senior Hockey national title where they fell short of their goal. The following years he continued to play goal and also served as captain of the team. Yes, a goaltender who was team captain of a hockey team. Even more impressive was his coaching of the University women’s team in 1923-24. It was here he met his wife, Florence “String” Miller who was the Huskiettes’ goalie. Charlie Hay’s career with Huskies continued until 1926-27.
He went on to have a successful career in the oil industry, but earned his way into the Hall of Fame as a builder for his indefatigable work with Hockey Canada where he served as president and guided the organization to implement a coaches’ certification programme, a scholarship and bursary programme for players attending universities, and ongoing funding for hockey research. He was also a very important behind the scenes negotiator in the 1972 Canadian-Soviet Union Summit Series. Although Allan Eagleson received most of the glory for organizing the series, without Charlie Hay’s tenacious negotiations, a defining moment in Canadian history never would have happened.
This is #2 in a series of articles taken from research by Bill Seymour and Kerri Archibald for Kennedy’s Dogs on Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan
national title where they fell short of their goal. The Cup final—the Canadian Senior Hock
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