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University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 USA St. John's Road. Tyler's Green High Wycombe, Bucks, England HP10 S'HR 77-31,965 ROTHWELL, William John, 1937- THE LIFE OF VICTOR HEYLIGER AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTER COLLEGIATE HOCKEY IN THE UNITED STATES. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1977 Education, physical University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48 ioe THE LIFE OF VICTOR HEYLIGER AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE HOCKEY IN THE UNITED STATES DISSERTATION Presented in P artial Fulfillm ent o f the Requirements fo r the Degree Doctor o f Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By William J. Rothwell, B.S., M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 1977 Reading Committee: Approved By Dr. Charles L. Mand Dr. James M. Sweeney Dr. Jacqueline Herkowitz Advisor Department of Physical Education ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The w riter wishes to express his sincere thanks to the many people who have helped in the preparation of this dissertation. Appreciation is expressed to Victor Heyliger and his family for their time and patience in the process of gathering the materials necessary for this project. Special appreciation is expressed to Dr. Charles L. Mand, ad visor, for his guidance and suggestions throughout the study; to the members of the reading committee. Dr. Bruce L. Bennett, Dr. James M. Sweeney and Jacqueline Herkowitz; to the many friends of hockey; and the friends of the subject of this writing—such as Mr. Bob Bowie of the Denver Post, who made a wealth of material available to this writer. Also, I would lik e to extend a special acknowledgment to my wife, Sandi, for, without her understanding, devotion, and dedication, this dissertation would never have been completed. n VITA August 10, 1937 .......... Born - Boston, Massachusetts 1958 ................................ B.S., University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 1969.............................. M.A., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1969-1971 ...................... Teaching Assistant and Doctoral Candidate, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1971-1976 ...................... Hockey Coach, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 1976-1977 ...................... Director of Recreation Division, Department of Health, Physical Edu cation, and Recreation; University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota FIELD OF STUDY Major Field: Physical Education Minor Field: Administration of Higher Education m TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..................................................................................... i i VITA................... i i i LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................. vi LIST OF PLATES...................................................................................... v ii Chapter I . INTRODUCTION.............................................................................. 1 PURPOSE....................................................................................... 4 NEED............................................................................................. 4 LIMITATIONS................... 4 METHOD OF RESEARCH............................................................. 4 VITA OF VICTOR HEYLIGER........................................................ 6 I I . THE HEYLIGER FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS.. 8 I I I . COLLEGE YEARS AT MICHIGAN............................................. 20 IV. THE CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS......................................................... 31 V. EARLY COACHING AT ILLINOIS............................................. 41 VI. RETURN TO MICHIGAN................................................................... 51 V II. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GAME OF HOCKEY.................................... 102 FOUNDING THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT....................................... 103 FOUNDING OF THE AMERICAN HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION....................................................................... 112 CREATION OF THE LEAGUE.......................................................... 118 iv Page V III. INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY..................................... 139 IX. THE AIR FORCE PROGRAM.............................................................. 161 X. SUMMARY......................................................................................... 211 CONCLUSION.................................................................................. 225 XI. BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................. 227 APPENDIX...................................................................................... 241 LIST OF TABLES Table No. Page 1. Coaching Record of Vic Heyliger at Illin o is ................. 53 2. Vic Heyliger's Coaching Record at Michigan ................... 72 3. Western Collegiate Hockey Association Standings— 1952-1953.................................................................................... 121 4. Western Collegiate Hockey Association Standings— 1954-1955................................................................................ 122 5. Western Collegiate Hockey Association Standings— 1956-1957 .................................................................................... 123 5. Record of Finishes, 1951-1957 ............................................. 124 VI LIST OF PLATES Plate No. Page I. Vic Heyliger Celebrating With a Victory Cigar at the NCAA Hockey Championship Finals, March, 1956 ........ v iii I I . Vic Heyliger as a Member of the Chicago Black Hawks Hockey Club, 1938 .................. ........................................ 242 I I I . Wes Moulton, Brown University; Harry Cleverley, Boston University, Cheddy Thompson, Colorado College, and Vic Heyliger, University of Michigan, arriving in Colorado Springs fo r the 1951 NCAA Hockey . Championships............................................................................ 244 IV. Michigan Captain, John Matchefts and Coach Vic Hey lig e r Accepting the 1953 NCAA Championship Trophy from the Tournament Queen..................................................... 246 V. The Campers and S ta ff of Vic Heyliger's B-4 Ranch, Cook City, Montana................................................................... 248 VI. John Matchefts Discusses Game Situation with U.S. Air Force Academy Head Coach, Vic Heyliger, ..1971 ........ 250 V I 1 PLATE NO. I VIC HEYLIGER CELEBRATING WITH A VICTORY CIGAR AT THE NCAA HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL, MARCH, 1955 v m CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION On October 26, .1974, Victor Heyliger was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Vic is one of two college hockey coaches to ever be thus honored, and this award seems to be a fittin g climax to an outstanding career in hockey. His contributions to the game of hockey would include 357 wins at the University of Illin o is , the University of Michigan, and the Air Force Academy. The number of wins ranks third in the all-time lis t for college hockey coaches. At Michigan, where he spent 13 seasons, he had a record of 229- 62-13, and a winning percentage of .791. During this period, his teams participated in 10 straight national tournaments and won 6 NCAA Championships. Th irty-six times, Michigan players were named as A ll- Americans during these 13 years. In 1954, Vic was voted the Spencer Penrose Trophy, which is the award given to the hockey coach of the year by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association. Heyliger has been much more than a successful hockey