"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.