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.