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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 coach.

He was the chief organizer of a movement that culminated in the Na­ tional Collegiate Athletic Association's recognition of hockey as a true varsity sport with the formation of the NCAA National Hockey

Tournament. The f ir s t NCAA Tournament was held in 1948, and i t has been an annual affair ever since. Heyliger's efforts to create a

national tournament and the meeting that took place to set i t up also

1 2 resulted in the formation of the American Hockey Coaches Association.

I t was also Vic Heyliger and the late Cheddy Thompson, long-time successful hockey coach at Colorado College, that found a suitable s ite for the Championship games. Most rink owners figured the event would be a financial disappointment, and they refused to stage the event. Heyliger and Thompson persuaded Thayer T u tt, President of the

Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, to underwrite the f ir s t NCAA

Tournament; and Tutt continued to do so for ten consecutive years.

With his dream of a collegiate hockey play-off now a re a lity ,

Vic next turned to another project—a hockey league for the teams in the west. Hockey was just starting to gain a lot of notice in the west, and he thought a league would create more interest, Vic sent letters to various coaches and in 1950, at a meeting in Chicago, the

Western Hockey League was formed. The understanding was that the top two teams would qualify for the NCAA Championships. The league con­ sisted of seven schools—Michigan, Michigan Tech, Michigan State,

Minnesota, North Dakota, Denver, and Colorado College. Three years la te r, the league was renamed the Western Intercollegiate Hockey

League and in 1959, i t was renamed again the Western Collegiate Hockey

Association.

Vic Heyliger is the man credited with building hockey at the

University of Illinois and bringing it to national prominence in

1940. In .1943-44, V ic’s last season as coach at Illin o is , the hockey team won the third straight conference championship with a 10-2 record.

His four-year coaching record at Illin o is in 53 games was 40-20-3. 3

A bad case of asthma that plagued him from the end of his play­ ing career at Michigan forced Heyliger to leave Michigan in 1957 and s e ttle in Colorado. He found he could not leave the game, and he be­ came involved in International Hockey, which was rapidly becoming very popular throughout the world. In 1961, he was named General

Manager of the World Hockey Tournament that was to be held at the

Broadmoor Hotel in 1962. He also coached the United States Team in

1965-66.

Undoubtedly this taste of coaching hockey again renewed Hey­ liger's interest in returning to the college ranks. Vic approached the Air Force Academy Athletic Director, Col. George Simler, in 1962 about starting an ice hockey program for the Air Force. The f ir s t

two years there was not even a rink, and the players had to travel

to the Broadmoor Arena. In 1967 the Cadet Field House was completed

and Air Force Hockey began as a team sport and a varsity sport for

the 1968-69 season.

In the spring of 197.4 after six seasons in a tough new program

and with a record of 88 wins, 69 defeats, and 3 ties, Vic Heyliger

retired from coaching at the Air Force Academy to devote fu ll time

to his real estate, restaurant, and advertising business interests.

His induction into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame is

further proof that he is a living legend in intercollegiate hockey. PURPOSE

The purpose of this research is to investigate the life of Vic­ tor Heyliger and his contributions in the establishment and develop­ ment of intercollegiate hockey.

NEED

The need is to establish a written record of the development of a National Hockey Tournament, the development of the Western Collegi­ ate Hockey Association, and the establishment of the American Hockey

Coaches Association.

LIMITATIONS

This research w ill be lim ited to the available sources pertain­ ing to the lif e and influences of Victor Heyliger.

METHOD OF RESEARCH

While conducting this study, the following sources w ill be

u tilize d :

1. Personal interview with Mr. Heyliger

2. Athletic records from the following schools:

A. Concord High School

B. Lawrence Academy

C. University of Michigan

D. University of Illinois

E. Air Force Academy

3. Personal interviews with immediate members of Mr. Hey­ liger's family: . 5

A. His wife

B. His son, Donald T. Heyliger of Denver, Colorado

C. His son, Douglas J. Heyliger of Denver, Colorado

D. His daughter, Mrs. Susan Handy of Evanston,Illin o is

E. His daughter, Mrs. Vicki Milschler of Colorado Springs, Colorado

4. Interviews with relatives and in-laws

5. Interviews with the following groups of people:

A. Professional associates

B. Former students and players

C. Friends and classmates

D. Business associates

E. Religious and social associates

6. Newspaper records and articles

7. Scrapbooks and photograph albums

8. Magazine articles

9. Records of the American Hockey Coaches Association

10. Records of International Ice Hockey Federation

11. Records of NCAA Rules and Tournament Committee

12. NCAA Hockey Guide Yearbook

13. National Hockey League Guide

14. Chicago Black Hawks player personal records

15. Ice Hockey United States Records in Olympic and World Championships, 1920-75 VITA OF VICTOR HEYLIGER

1912 Born - West Roxbury, Massachusetts September 26

1919-1927 Elementary School - Lincoln School Melrose, Massachusetts

1927-1928 Peter Buckly School Concord, Massachusetts

1928-1931 High School - Concord High School Concord, Massachusetts

1931-1932 Preparatory School - Tilton Academy T ilto n , New Hampshire

1932-1933 Preparatory School - Lawrence Academy Groton, Massachusetts

1933-1937 College - University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan

1934-1935 All Mid West Center 1935-1936 All American and All Mid West Center 1936-1937 All American, All Mid West Center, and Captain of Hockey Team 1937-1938 Professional Hockey - Chicago Black Hawks

1939-1944 University of Illin o is - Coached Football and Hockey Taught Physical Education

1943-1944 Played Professional Hockey with the Chicago Black Hawks (home games only)

1944-1957 University of Michigan - Coached Hockey Taught Physical Education

1954 Received Spencer Penrose Hockey Coach of the Year Award

1957 Moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado - Entered into his present restaurant and advertising business. Involved with World Ice Hockey Federation

1961-1962 Manager of World Ice Hockey Tournament - Broadmoor Ice Arena 7

1962-1963 Coached German National Team

1965-1966 Coach of United States National Team

1966-1974 Coach - Air Force Academy

1974 Retired from A ir Force Academy

March 19, 1974 Named to Collegiate Hockey's Hall of Fame

June 28, 1974 Named to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame CHAPTER I I

THE HEYLIGER FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS

The following account of the development of the Heyliger family was taken from personal papers of Desmond Heyliger, a self-appointed family historian.

According to the manuscripts of Lebrun and other French and

German authors, the records of the Heyliger family go back to the time of Emperor Charlemagne, about 800 A.D.

Three brothers, each leading parties against the Saracyns and in fid e ls , so distinguished themselves that they were found worthy for special recognition before monarchs, knights, and nobles. They were given rewards fo r valor and a coat-of-arms bearing th eir chosen mottoes—Justice, Confidence, and Courage. They were made Baronets and Knights of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem.

This is a b rie f record of the origin of the family. L ittle more is known about i t until its beginning of the island of St. Eustatius in the West Indies in 1709. From the church and c iv il records of the island, a definite family tree has been compiled to this generation.

St. Eustatius was originally owned by England and purchased by

Holland; therefore, English was the native language. I t is located

in the lesser A ntilles and is three miles from St. K itts. I t is very

small, only about seven miles long and three miles wide, with a

8 9 mountain range about two-thirds of the base part, farm land, and the town in front. In the days of early American colonialism, it was very thickly populated and immensely rich from trade with the Ameri­ can colonies. Often a hundred or more vessels were in the harbors.

Its fertile fields produced sugar cane, coffee, cotton, and casaba.

Rum and sugar were made from sugar cane. Practically a ll manual labor was done by Negro slaves. The Heyliger family owned an estate and played an important part in the lif e of the island.

The most distinctive act of its history was the first salute ever given to the American flag by another nation. I t was flown on the mast of a ship from Baltimore as i t sailed into harbor. Major

Karseboam, in charge of the port, ordered a 21-gun saluate to the flag. Since the colonies were in rebellion against England, this was considered a sympathetic act and an explanation was demanded from

Holland. The Holland government said i t was an independent act of

the island and gave England the right of reprisals. England sent a

battleship under the command of Admiral Rodney, who forced payments

of gold and property estimated to be from fifteen to twenty million

dollars. This blow le f t the island destitute and was the beginning

of its downward lif e . President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a trip

to the island and placed a plaque in the Fort commemorating the

courageous deed. Major Karseboam was the great-great grandfather of

Mrs. Theodore S. Heyliger.

At this time, the island was almost deserted with only a few

white families and Negroes. The white families were supported in 10

government positions, and the Negroes merely existed from farming.

The island was rather primitive, and limited travel was by horse or

donkey. There was no e le c tric ity or gas, and lighting and cooking was by kerosene o il. Education was provided by two teachers from

Holland and was very limited. Its glory was all in the past. There being no future, the Heyliger family decided to migrate to the United

States.

Theodore S. Heyliger was the last head of the family to live here. He was a Judge and Harbor Master and was highly respected by everyone. He married Isabella Cornelia Hodge, and they were blessed with seven boys. Their home was on a h ill overlooking the harbor.

All ships entering and leaving were very close. Steamers often passed close to the island, and the family waved to those on board. Whales and porpoises could be seen playing in distant waters. On the le f t of the home was the town and fort; on the right, beautiful hills.

On moonlit nights, the beauty of the sea and land from the large front porch was beyond description. In many ways, lif e on this tropical

island was delightful but very lim ited. Therefore, the great beyond always called and at the first opportunity, each of the Heyliger boys

left for a greater life.

Robert, the eldest, was the f ir s t to leave. He shipped on a whaling ship and in a few months landed in New Bedford, where he re­ mained a ll his lif e . He was employed in the freight yard of the New

York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad. After many years of service,

he retired as yardmaster. He married Florence Tripp, and they had 11

six children as follows: Cornelia, who married Thomas Donoghy;

Gertrude, who married Albert Michand; Doris, who married David Almond;

Amy, who married Rounseville; Myrtle, who married William G ill;

Theodore, who also married. Robert enjoyed a long and happy re tire ­ ment.

Theodore was the next to leave the island. He shipped on a

sailing schooner and, for two years, traveled among the islands. He

fin a lly sailed to Boston, where he remained a ll his lif e . Theodore

became a lawyer and practiced law in Boston. He also represented an

insurance company in th eir claim department, covering a ll of New

England. He married Bertha Weisant, and they had seven children, as

follows: Almond; Howard, who was k ille d in the second World War;

Pauline; Fred; Victor; Raymond; and Theodore. Each of these married

and had families of their own.

For many years, they lived in Concord, Massachusetts. Theodore

died there from a heart ailment.

Frank and George were the next to leave. They shipped on a

steamer from St. Kitts to New York. They also went to Boston. Frank

died at an early age from pneumonia. George married Augusta Weisant,

and they had two children as follows: George, who gave his lif e in

the second World War on one of the Pacific Islands, and Marjorie, who

married N. Dee and settled in Concord, Massachusetts. George also

died at an early age from the influenza epidemic during the f ir s t

World War.

Johanis and Desmond le ft on a two-masted schooner with th eir

father, who was on a vacation to v is it his boys in America. After 12

twelve days of a stormy voyage, they landed in New York. The boys went to Boston to liv e . Johanis lived only a few years. He died

from an appendicitis attack. Desmond, being only twelve years old,

went to the Boston schools, where he received his elementary and high

school education.

A few years la te r, while working as a Y.M.C.A. secretary in

Elizabeth, New Jersey,he felt called to the Christian ministry and

started preparation for this high calling. He received his training

at Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, New Jersey and Crozier

Theological Seminary in Upland, Pennsylvania. He was ordained in the

Baptist ministry in Newton, New Jersey Baptist Church in May, 1919.

After serving three Baptist churches, he changed to the Methodist

Church and served eight churches in the Philadelphia Annual Confer­

ence. After forty years of active ministry, he retired in 1959 and

moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he supplied small churches for

six years. He married Marjorie Molt, and they had three children.as

follows: Desmond, who married Barbara Bowen, became a building con­

tractor, and has five children; Joyce, who married Curtis S treigler,

a farmer, and has two children; and Nancy, who married Edward

Thwaites, a Presbyterian minister, and has one child.

The youngest of the boys, at the age of eight, came to America

with his mother by steamer from St. Kitts to New York. They went to

Boston, where Mother Heyliger established a home for her boys. In

her la tte r years, she lived with Theodore on the farm on Concord.

She was happy and content to see her boys successfully established

in this great country. 13

Engle, a fter securing his education in the Boston school, went into the insurance and real estate business. He worked fo r a concern in Springfield, Massachusetts. He died at an early age from a heart ailment.

Mother and children never returned to the island, but they cher» ished the memory of that early l i f e . The climate in America did not agree with Father, and he came to visit his family only occasionally.

The Heyliger family motto is "May the influence of this good family continue for a ll time."^

EARLY LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS

Victor Heyliger was born in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, on

September 26, 1912. As an in fan t, he and his family (which included five brothers and one sister) moved to Melrose, Massachusetts. Mel­ rose was a city which had been incorporated in 1850, and i t had a population of about 6,000 in 1910 according to city records. The community is located about nine miles due north of Boston and is shaped approximately in a two-mile square. I t lies in a natural val­ ley, and i t is surrounded on a ll four sides by a state-owned forest called "Middlesex Reservation." This location of unpopulated h ills and forest tended to separate Melrose from the greater Boston mega- tropolis. There are about twenty small lakes and ponds located in the geographical center of the c ity , directly opposite from Melrose

^Letter from Mr. Desmond Heyliger, August 11, 1976. 14

High School. No inhabited point in the c ity , even today, is more than

tv/o and one-half miles from the center of the city.2

According to one Melrose city o ffic ia l, the city has always

prided itself on the great recreational and athletic opportunities

that the city has provided for its citizens over the last one hundred 3 years.

I t was into this environment that the Heyligers moved. "Vic's

father, who was a lawyer, had gone through law school in two years

and had passed on this intense desire fo r success and his ambition

to all the Heyligers. This ambition was personified in American

athletics."^

The earliest experiences that Vic can remember are associated

with sport and athletics. He expressed a feeling that they were an

integral part of his early life.

I remember my experiences in Melrose very well because that was where I got my start in hockey, and Melrose High School had what was probably the best high school team in New England. They had two great hockey players at Melrose. One was Pete Lloyd, and the other was a fellow by the name of Sanford. Also Miles Lane, who went on to be a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court and who had been a great player at Dartmouth, lived next door to me. Miles used to play with us on a pond

2 Melrose Guide and Directory; 1969, Melrose Recreation Depart­ ment, City of Melrose, Massachusetts, 1969.

^Elburt P. Fletcher, Director of Recreation of the City of Melrose, Massachusetts, Personal Correspondence, January 21, 1970.

4pat Harmon, Undated newspaper clipping, 1941. 15 up behind Chestnut H ill. We moved from Rindge Avenue up to Chestnut Street, and we had a great neighborhood for a ll types of athletics. The ponds a ll around Melrose were very shallow, and they were in the woods so they froze very easily. Whenever the Melrose High School hockey team won a hockey game, the bell in the City Hall would be rung to celebrate the victory. This made a great im­ pression on a ll of us. We were always th rilled by i t , and we always hoped for the day we could play for Melrose. Melrose played in the Greater Boston Intermediate League, which was the outstanding league of a ll interscholastic sports in the Greater Boston area. The teams in the league were Melrose, Medford, Stoneham, Belmont, Win­ chester, Cambridge Latin, Rindge Tech, Arlington, and Newton. I t was a super league, and a team from that league usually won the State and New England Champion­ ship. We used to skate Spy Pond, Spot Pond, Golden H ills , El Pond, the Overflow, and all the l i t t l e ponds in the woods. I got my interest in hockey in Melrose, and I was so down in the dumps when I heard we were going to move to Concord. There was no hockey out in Concord; no sports at a ll. I t was just a l i t t l e country town. I didn't want to move. I v/as just finishing up the seventh at Lincoln School on Wyoming Avenue, and we moved the end of April or first part of March to Concord. I enrolled at Peter Buckley School for the rest of that year and the next one. Melrose was a great town to grow up in, so I really missed it, and I was really upset.

When we moved to Concord, my Dad got us out in the fie ld working on the asparagus beds. He always took us hunting pheasants in this area. Then, in the spring, everyone started to come around to play a l i t t l e base­ b a ll. Before we knew i t , we had 12 or 14 kids, playing baseball. There seemed to be a real interest in sports, which I never thought would happen because we were so fa r out in the woods from town. We were two-and-a-half miles out. Then the winter came. We had a l i t t l e pond between our farm and the neighbor's place. As soon as the ice came, kids started coming from a ll directions to skate. We started around Thanksgiving time, and that really made me feel darn good that Concord had an interest in sports. The more we skated that year, the more the families would get together and talk about hockey. We decided to get a group together, raise some money, and put up a rink. There was a l i t t l e place called, 'Crosby's Pond' that we Tiked. I t wasn't very deep; i t was an ar­ t if ic ia l pond in a meadow.5 5 Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, April 19, 1975. 16

Vic used to run home from school to get in a session on the ice.

He could beat the bus out to the farm, 2 1/2 miles from school, by

half an hour. By the time-Vic was in high school, he was on the Con­

cord town team, the only young boy on the squad.

During this period, the Bruins had just started in the National

Hockey League, and the interest for hockey was very keen. With this

interest, the youngsters and their parents ran bazaars, fr u it stands,

and whist parties to raise money to buy the lumber for a hockey rink.

All the kids, our dads, and some of the neighbors pitched in and b u ilt the rink. I t was about 185' x 75'. I t worked out great. Everyone wanted to play us games, because we had the only hockey rink around that whole area. Those were the days. We had a love a ffa ir with i ce hockey.6

At this time, all hockey in New England (except the profession­

als) was played on natural ice. The only artificial ice plant in

New England was the old Boston Arena, where the Boston Bruins played.

All other hockey—high school, college, and amateur—was played out­

side.

John "Snooks" Kelly, who la te r went on to coach Boston College

and a college coach that won 501 of his 758 games at Chestnut H ill, was an early friend, teammate and rival in those early days in Con­

cord. Ed and John Hutchinson, who la te r were members of the United

States Olympic Team, were among those who were "rink ra ts " at the

Concord rink. Also Doug MacFayden, a baseball player with the New

®Ibid. 17

York Yankees and Boston Red Sox fo r 17 seasons and who la te r went on to coach at Bowdoin College in Maine, was a teammate of V ic 's .?

We learned to play from these guys. They were great. We would play three games on Sunday—two in the morning and one in the afternoon. We played all different teams. We a ll shoveled snow until midnight many times, so we could play the next day. We fin a lly got some lig hts— just regular bulbs—but i t provided enough lig h t to skate around and practice, even though we could not play games. We didn't have very good equipment. I had "automobile skates" with a turned-up piece of steel at each end. We had a lo t of homemade shin pads and other equipment. There was always a great demand for tape. I t was a treasure and very hard to get. We even made our own goals.

One winter we played 47 games—47 real games! Newton, Belmont, Stoneton, Nashua, the prep schools, and a ll the area hockey clubs were on our schedule. We went every­ where by car, and we had a great time.

Because Concord High School didn't recognize ice hockey as a varsity sport, we formed our own team and bought our own uniforms. We were a club team. We got Eddie Laugh- le r , our high school coach in football and baseball, to coach our team. Two of my brothers played with our team. Raymond was a goalie, and Howie played defense.

We had a great time in baseball at Concord in the Middle­ sex Country League--Groton, Ayer, Natick, and so on. We had one kid, Asper Johnson, who went from Concord High School to the Boston Red Sox. We had a lo t of great ath­ letes in that town. Eddie Laughler was our coach, and his son was a great star at Harvard.

I played centerfield in high school. I also played end in fo otb all. I had started out in the commercial course at Concord, because my Dad wanted one of us to take over the farm. I was never interested in college until my junior year. My Dad was disappointed th at, of six boys, not one

^Jim Wright, "Vic Heyliger" A Hockey Legend,". Colorado Athlete, (Donald D. Kuhl - Vol. 2, No. 1 - January, 1974), p. 56. 18

of us was interested in farming. I got interested in col­ lege, and I shifted from commercial to college preparatory my junior year. I needed a ll the requirements fo r college. I didn't have a ll the math, language, English, and sci­ ence that I needed; so I had to go to prep school. Af­ te r I graduated from Concord, I went to Tilton Academy for one year. Then, the.next year, I went to Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts, to get enough credits to go to college. Actually, I was preparing to go to Dartmouth. That was the school I always thought I wanted to go to ever since my junior year—mainly because of Miles Lane, who had been my next-door-neighbor in Melrose; and also Oberlander, the great quarterback at Dartmouth, had made a great name fo r himself. He really impressed me.

So, my counselor at Concord said I'd have to go to a good prep school for two years to qualify to get into a decent college lik e Dartmouth. I did a ll that they asked and graduated from both. Tilton and Lawrence. I moved back to the Concord area after one year at T ilto n , because th eir hockey program was not very well developed. I also had a chance to liv e at home and commute to Lawrence Academy in Groton. I was able to play on the Concord Hockey Club as w ell.8

The Lawrence Academy records indicate "that Vic Heyliger was a good student the year that he was here."^ The yearbook for the class of '33 stated: "Vic Heyliger played end on the football team, and he was the outstanding star of h o c k e y . He had two brothers who also went to Lawrence—Frederick and Raymond Heyliger.

I played fo o tb all, hockey, and baseball at Concord, T ilto n , "and Groton. I also threw javelin in a track meet while I was at T ilton. Tilton gave me room, board, and tu itio n —although I had to work for my meals. I fe lt the schedule at Tilton for hockey was somewhat lacking.

^Heyliger, op. cit. g Letter from Mrs. Marion C. Head to author, July 1, 1976. T°Ibid. 19

They only played 10-12 games. So I decided to go back to Concord and commute to Lawrence Academy. We played Deerfield, Middlesex, Exeter, Andover, and a ll the other local powers.

^^Heyliger, op. cit. CHAPTER I I I

COLLEGE YEARS AT MICHIGAN

Vic Heyliger's educational preparation had been geared to get­ ting himself accepted at Dartmouth. In the spring of 1933, he was notified that he had been accepted at Dartmouth for the following fa ll. At that point in time, he met a fellow by the name of Hern- stein, whose brother went to Michigan. Hernstein was from Belmont,

Massachusetts, and he had an arrangement set up for Vic and him to live at a fraternity--getting a meal job waiting on tables at the house. He would also get his room free as part of the agreement.

This sounded like a great opportunity to Heyliger, especially since he was not going to get any aid from Dartmouth.

There were no scholarships in those days, so I de­ cided to take the Michigan o ffer. I applied, got ac­ cepted, and Michigan sent me a ll kinds of information about the University—the artificial ice rink, athletic program, and so on. I was really excited to go.

The week before we were to leave for Michigan, Hernstein decided to go to Boston University. So I went out alone, and what a trip i t was on the tra in . I thought there would be Indians and a ll types of prob­ lems. But Michigan had been National Champions in foot­ b a ll, and this made me feel I had made the right de­ cision.^

Vic was not recruited at Michigan. They had never even, heard

of him. But after the hockey coach, Ed Lowrey, saw him play hockey,

^Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, April 19, 1975.

20 21

he offered Vic every job in the arena. He never received any help

from baseball until his sophomore year. Then he got a job selling

football programs at the football games. Vic made $25-30 a game s e ll­

ing, as the stadium held about 75-80,000 people then. Heyliger had no problem with jobs after he started to play.

As a freshman, he did not play any sport, since freshmen were not eligible. He just practiced and scrimmaged the Varsity all the

time.

I majored in Educational Administration. It was a heck of a school. I loved science courses lik e kinesiol­ ogy, physiology, and anatomy. I thought of being a doctor for a while, but then I got the bug for coaching. I was very happy to go to Michigan, because i t was a heck of a school.

One of the football coaches, Bennie Oosterbaan, wanted me to go out for guard the following year, but I only weighed 140 pounds—and there was no way I could play. I loved fo otb all, but I told him I wanted to stay with hockey and baseball. Ray Fisher, from Vermont, was our baseball coach. He was a great coach. He loved base­ ball lik e no one you ever knew. We drove in cars to a ll our baseball games in the Big 10, and also when we went south with the team.

At Michigan the curve ball got me. I led the Big 10 in hitting and Runs Batted In but, a fte r my sophomore year, I never saw anything but curve balls. I never again had as good a year as I did when I was a sophomore. I played my junior and senior years, and I was selected as an "All Big 10: athlete.^

Victor Heyliger distinguished himself in both hockey and base­

ball at the University of Michigan. In his fir s t conference baseball

2 Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, June 20, 1976. 22 game as a sophomore, "Heyliger cracked out three clean hits in four times at bat, a feat which surpassed the best efforts of Michigan's chief sluggers."3 Vic went on to lead the Big Ten in Runs-Batted-In that season and also finished second in batting with a 3.14 average.

He was voted All Conference, All Mid West, and even "All American"— although there was really not an o ffic ia l All-American Team at this time.

Heyliger's combination of baseball and hockey continued in

Michigan trad itio n , which started with Jack Tompkins and then with

Avon Artz. The Michigan outfield of John Regeczi and Earl Meyers, along with Heyliger, was considered one of Michigan's all-tim e best.

During this period, hockey teams consisted of only about ten or eleven players per team. Some players played the whole game.

This was often the case with Vic Heyliger, as Michigan had only four

spares i f everyone were healthy. Vic's teammates were Bert Smith

(later Athletic Director at Michigan State University and Commissioner

of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association), Johnny Fobello, Larry

David, Dick Berryman, Irwin Shalek, Jack M e rrill, Bob Simpson, John

Sherf, and John Jewell.

Heyliger was called the "Concord Flash" because he had great

speed and he was, according to one sportswriter, "Magic with the

puck."4 In a 5-4 Michigan win over the London Athletic Club in the

Undated a rtic le from 1935 newspaper.

^Fred Buesser, Undated clipping in unidentified newspaper. 23

1935 season, Heyliger scored a ll five Michigan goals in the f ir s t period-and-a-half of play. On another occasion against Western On­

ta rio , he scored four goals and two assists to lead Michigan to an

8-1 victory against McMaster University of Hamilton, Ontario. Vic scored four goals and two assists in another 6-3 Michigan win.

One night, in 1937, (Michigan vs. Minnesota) Vic Heyliger rapped the puck past an astounded collegiate goalie named Bud Wilkinson fiv e times. Some people say those five goals drove Wilkinson to a career in foot­ b a ll.5

The 1936-37 season saw a revolutionary change in the game of

hockey. The players started wearing helmets as described in a Janu­

ary 22, 1937, newspaper a rtic le with a Houghton, Michigan dateline:

"Head gears were worn for the fir s t time in a hockey game here by the

Michigan defensemen and goalie."® E arlier in this same season, in

Michigan's fourth game of the season (a 6-3 win over McMaster) sports­

writer Glen Pheps wrote: "Burt Smith was sporting the latest in

crash bonnets, and that bonnet was easily followed into ju st about 7 every play in the Michigan defense area."

Heyliger's f ir s t season as a hockey player at Michigan was

amazingly successful. The team, which had only nine players, won the

Big Ten Championship and also the mythical National Championship.

Along with John Sherf and John Jewell, Vic was the backbone of the

team and the.star. A 1935 newspaper story bears this out. Headlines:

®Harry Stapler, Detroit News, March 12, 1937.

^January 22, 1937, clipping in unidentified newspaper.

^Undated clipping in unidentified newspaper. 24

Center Responsible for Winning Conference Championship. Heyliger Gave Spark Needed, Claims Lowrey. Aid Given Sherf Allowed Star Wingman to Pass the 1934 Scoring Mark. Meet Tech Friday. Present Squad Ahead of Last Wolverine. Big Ten Champs for Fight.8

The spark that set o ff the Michigan hockey team this year and sent i t soaring into undisputed possession of the Big Ten crowned by a decisive margin than that possess­ ed by the other two Wolverine clubs which have captured letters is none other than Vic Heyliger, Sophomore cen­ te r, according to Coach Eddie Lowrey, who voiced his opinion on the matter yesterday. ’He made this year's team' was the pointed observation made by the mentor who, incidentally, is still, receiving congratulations upon the outcome of the Minnesota series, besides questions asking how he developed Heyliger into such a swell player. I t comes natural to him.

In the years past, Michigan had been weak at center ice, a native place both on defense and offense. With such a weakness, Michigan's defensemen had to carry the brunt of protecting the goalie, and Johnny Sherf had to take over the lion share of offense.

The addition of Heyliger, who brought to coliseum ice one of the most consistently effective poke and sweep checks and an a b ility to skate and rag the puck with the best of them, changed things considerably. The Big Ten t i t l e is an obvious result.

The Concord poke-checker proceeded to stop enemy thrusts time and again at center ice before the play could get underway. Often his superb playing of the puck led indirectly to goals. It is certain that his play has been in some degree responsible for the big year Sherf is enjoying at le f t wing. Heyliger has taken over the job of bringing the puck up the ice and a less-taxed Sherf has, at the present time, scored 23 goals, as many as he collected all last season.

Lowrey asked and answered many questions yesterday;

'Why did Minnesota's forward line look so ineffectual in the series here? Minnesota centers, in past games, have always been able to get through center ice and pass to wings who are rushing in at the goal. Heyliger stop­ ped that sort of thing.'

O Undated a rtic le from 1935 newspaper. . 25

'How does the present o u tfit compare to the 1930 club? The 1930 club was smarter, but i t could not compare to this team in sheer fig h t.'

This weekend, Michigan's pucksters meet Michigan Tech in a two-game series here. The intercollegiate hockey hockey championship of Michigan w ill be decided. The Wolverine are confident of annexing another, though mythi­ cal t i t l e . 9

Michigan won the tech game 3-0 for the t i t l e . Vic Heyliger scored the f ir s t two Michigan goals in the f ir s t period. Vic was voted the ‘All Mid-West Center" and "Most Valuable Player" on his team.

In the 1935-36 season, the Michigan hockey team won seven games and lo st nine. Vic Heyliger set an all-tim e scoring record at Michi­ gan that year with 21 goals and 23 assists, for 44 points. Again, he was voted "All Mid-West Center," and he was also voted to the A ll-

American team.^^ In addition, Vic was named "Honorary Captain of the A ll-S ta r Team." M ilt Woodard, who was Sports Editor of the Minne­ sota D aily, called Vic the "greatest forward to face the Gopher's

hockey team a ll year in a schedule that included Dartmouth, Alaska,

and Manitoba.There v/as a question as to whether Heyliger would

turn professional at the end of the season, as he had several offers.

Whether or not Heyliger will follow in the foot­ steps of John Sherf who jumped from college hockey to a starting berth on Detroit's Olympics after his col­ legiate scoring spree of last winter, is s till a question

9lbid.

l^March 6, 1937, clipping in unidentified newspaper.

^^Undated clipping in unidentified newspaper. 26

in Heyliger’s mind. Vic is far from a cocky athlete, and his own modesty would preclude any statement about his own ability. One thing is sure. Heyliger will complete his college career at Michigan and that means that, again next season, local hockey enthusiasts will be treated to the brilliant spectacle of the 'Concord Flash' outskating and outthinking his rival hockey teams in the coliseum.'2

His senior year of hockey at Michigan was outstanding once again. The team tied Minnesota for the conference championship.

For the third time, Heyliger was voted "All Mid-West Center," "All-

American," and he had also been elected captain. Vic set an in ter­ collegiate scoring record of 49. points in 18 games, bettering his own record of the previous year. (This stood as a national record until 1942, when one of Heyliger's players at Illinois, Norbert

Serle, totaled 65 points.) "Heyliger was an outstanding star for the three years and perhaps th^ outstanding center of a ll time in Big

Ten Hockey.

Vic had become a legend at Michigan even as an undergraduate.

He had received three letters for baseball and three letters for hockey. He had served as freshman hockey coach while playing during his varsity years. He had been an outstanding baseball player, lead­ ing the Big Ten in Runs Batted In and finishing second in h ittin g .

Heyliger had opportunities to turn professional in hockey, as he

"was approached by B ill Tobin, then General Manager of the Chicago

Black Hawks, of the National Hockey League."‘I guess I always

TZpred Buesser, Undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

^^University of Illin o is, Sports Information Office, November 29, 1944.

Wright, op. cit. 27 knew that I wanted to play pro hockey, although I couldn't sign right away since I s till had one more season of baseball le ft,' said Vic."^^

"Heyliger stayed and played. He led his team to a Big Ten baseball conference t i t l e as the team won 20 of its 25 games.

Vic always gave his coaches credit for his success.

I learned a lot in those three years at Michigan from our head coach, Ed Lowrey. I've always been known fo r my stick handling and sweep checking. Ed was the man who taught me those fundamentals.17

In those days, most college athletes received l i t t l e financial help. They received no free tuition and had to work for room, board, and books. There was no training table. Heyliger swept gyms, worked on the ice rin k, and performed other chores. Part of his pay was in meal tickets, redeemable at an Ann Arbor cafe.

Upon graduation, Vic decided to.give professional hockey a try with the Chicago Black Hawks. He was to join a team that became the

Stanley Cup Champions that season. I t was a team that had eight

American players; and i t was coached by a big league baseball umpire.

B ill Stewart, the fir s t American-born coach to ever lead his team to

a Stanley Cup Championship.

T^lbid.

^^Michigan's All-Time Athletic Record Book, Will Perry, Ed., August 1, 1972.

T^Jim Wright, op. cit. MICHIGAN'S HOCKEY RECORD 28

WHILE VIC HEYLIGER WAS A MEMBER

OF THE TEAM

1934-1935 (Sophomore Year)

Michigan ...... 6 Essex Frontiers ...... 2

Michigan ...... 1 London Athletic Club 3

Michigan ...... 2 Chatham A thletic Club 3

Michigan ...... 6 McMaster University 4

Michigan ...... 6 Wisconsin ...... 0 .

Michigan ...... 2 Wisconsin ...... 1

Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota...... 2

Michigan ...... 4 Minnesota...... 3

Michigan ...... 3 Point Edward...... 2

Michigan ...... 2 Ontario Agr. College 0

Michigan ...... 2 Michigan Tech ...... 1

Michigan 2 Michigan Tech ...... 3

Michigan ...... 1 Minnesota...... 1

Michigan ...... 3 Minnesota...... 1

Michigan ...... 3 Michigan Tech ...... 0

Michigan ...... 7 Michigan Tech ...... 1

Michigan ...... 8 St. Thomas Athletic Club. 3

Conference Champions 29

1935-1936 (Junior Year)

Michigan ...... 5 London Athletic Club 4

Michigan ...... 5 McMasters University 6

Michigan ...... 9 Ilderton Athletic Club... 1

Michigan ...... 2 Chatham Athletic Club 7

Michigan ...... 1 Minnesota...... 7

Michigan ...... 0 Minnesota...... 1

Michigan ...... 5 Ontario Agr. C o lle g e ..... 3

Michigan ...... 2 Michigan Tech ...... 3

Michigan ...... 0 Michigan Tech ...... 1

Michigan ...... 2 Pt. Edward Hockey Club... 4

Michigan ...... 12 St. Thomas Ath. Club 5

Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota...... 1

Michigan ...... 1 Minnesota ...... 5

Michigan ...... 6 Michigan Tech ...... 3

Michigan ...... 3 Michigan Tech ...... 4

Michigan ...... 7 Wayne...... 1 30

1936-1936 (Senior Year)

Michigan ...... 4 Chatham Athletic Club 7

Michigan ...... 4 Brantford Athletic Club.. 5

Michigan ...... 8 Western Ontario...... 1

Michigan ...... 6 McMasters University 3

Michigan ...... 2 Sarnia Athletic Club 1

Michigan ...... 0 Minnesota...... 3

Michigan ...... 8 Minnesota...... 1

Michigan ...... 0 Michigan Tech ...... 1

Michigan ...... 3 Michigan Tech ...... 2

Michigan ...... 7 Ontario Agr. College 3

Michigan ...... 4 Western Ontario...... 2

Michigan ...... 4 Michigan Tech ...... 1

Michigan ...... 4 Michigan Tech ...... 2

Michigan ...... 1 Minnesota...... 3

Michigan ...... 3 Minnesota...... 2

Michigan ...... 8 London Athletic Club 1

Michigan ...... 2 Toronto...... 4

Michigan ...... 8 Chatham Athletic Club 8

Michigan tied with Minnesota for Western Conference Championship. CHAPTER IV

THE CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS

The fact that Vic Heyliger played for the Chicago Black Hawks in two different seasons over a seven-year period should not be treated lightly. In 1937 when he first played, there were only eight teams in the National Hockey League. The League was broken up into two divisions: The International Division (Montreal Can­ adians, Montreal Maroons, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the New York Ameri­ cans) and The American Division (Boston Bruins, New York Rangers,

Detroit Red Wings, and the Chicago Black Hawks).^

No team, in any sport, in any place, at any time, has rivaled the Chicago Black Hawks' history, a his­ tory replete with a rolling gashouse spirit and blended with a zany a ir suggestive of a Marx Brothers comedy. From its very inception in 1925, Chicago’s hockey team won, won often, and won big—always exuding a unique quality that was to characterize its im a g e .2

Major Frederic McLaughlin pioneered professional hockey in Chi­ cago. He was the owner and fir s t president of the Black Hawks. He nicknamed the team in honor of the Black Hawk division he commanded during World War 1.^ The Major was considered to be an eccentric by many people in the National Hockey League--especially the other

^The Complete Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey, Zander Hollander and Hal Bock, ed., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, Inc.

^Stan Fischler, Chicago's Black Hawks, Englewood C liffs , N .J., Prentice-Hall, In c ., 1972, p. 7.

3 lb id .

31 32 owners, most of whom were Canadian. He believed in pre-season con­ ditioning, which was laughed at by most hockey people at that time in history. He also felt that the Black Hawks should train for the upcoming season in the United States. They were the only team to do so, and he moved the training site annually in an effort to promote and spread the game of hockey throughout the country. He also had long dreamed of the day when he could ice an entire American-born hockey team, rather than the Canadian imports used by every big league club.

In Those Were the Days, Fischler says th at.

The Major's scheme, lik e so many of his ideas, was the laughingstock of his colleagues on the N.H.L. Board of Governors. Everyone knew that there were only a handful of confident American skaters, and they belong­ ed in the minors, not the N.H.L.4

Johnny Gottselig, a Russian-born Black Hawk that played in the

N.H.L. for 17 seasons and also during this period of time being dis­ cussed, fe lt that the Major was misunderstood.^ in fa ct, Gottselig pointed out that eight o f the twenty players on the team that won the

1937-38 Stanley Cup were Americans. Gottselig also went on to coach for the Major for three seasons.

The 1935-37 season was the year that the famed All-American

idea was attempted. I t was undoubtedly spurred by the fact that

Major McLaughlin had perhaps the outstanding goalie in the game—

^Stan Fischler, Those Were the Days, New York, Dodd, Mead & Co., 1976, p. 47.

^Personal interview with Johnny Gottselig, Chicago, July 1, 1976. 33

Mike Karakas, from Eveleth, Minnesota. The Major then brought in

American players like Albert Suoimi, Butch Schaefer, Ben LaPrairie,

Curly Brink, and Ike Klingbeil. • He secretly brought these American players into Chicago and had them train under Emil Iverson, who had been a previous coach for the Black Hawks and who now had the t i t l e of Physical Director of the Black Hawks. The secret workouts were held in the Chicago Arena. This site was also the place picked for the f ir s t American vs. Canadian scrimmage.

The Canadian veterans betrayed utter contempt for the newcomers. They pretended they didn't e x ist, ig­ noring them at every turn when they met in the dress­ ing room. Once on the ice, i t was even worse. The Americans skated against the Canadian-born Black Hawks, and blood gushed from the newcomers. ' I t was tough,' admitted Klingbeil, 'you name it —high stick trips— they threw i t at us.'h

But the Major was not to be denied by his hired hands. He in­ tegrated the Americans into the line-up. Soon the players got to know each other, and the bitterness gradually began to subside. More important, the Canadians realized that these American kids weren't so bad after all. They held their own in regular games against

N.H.L. opposition, and the Black Hawks had some impressive wins.

The las t three games of the 1936-37 season, the Major had A ll-

American-born players in his starting unit. The idea was not very well taken by the rest of the League. To make matters seem worse the Major, convinced that his plan had m erit, even went out and hired an American-born coach. I t was B ill Stewart, the baseball um­ pire from Massachusetts, who was also one of the most accomplished

^Fischler, op. cit. 34 referees in professional hockey. This, according to Stan Fischler, was the ultimate blow.^

Into this atmosphere was recruited the Captain of the University of Michigan hockey team, Vic Heyliger. In his senior year, 1936-37,

(the same year of the All-American experiment) Heyliger was approached by B ill Tobin, then General Manager of the Chicago Black Hawks of the

National Hockey League. "I guess I always knew that I wanted to play pro hockey, although I couldn't sign right away since I s t ill had one more season (spring) of baseball le f t," said .Vic.^ After graduating from Michigan, Vic decided to give professional hockey a shot.

I t has always been extremely d iffic u lt for any American player to sign a professional contract with an N.H.L. team and even more dif­ ficult to play. But with the resistance that had been offered the year before to the American movement, the fact that Heyliger was cho­ sen, signed, dressed, and played was extremely remarkable. On Octo­ ber 9, 1937, the Black Hawks opened camp in Muskegon, Michigan. The players were Karakas, Seibert, Burke, Wiebe, Levinsky, Thompson,

Gottselig, Palangio, March, Brydson, Kendall, Romnes, Trudell, and

Heyliger.9

The Chicago Daily Tribune carried a story from Muskegon about

the players of the training camp. "The way Vic Heyliger conducted

'Ib id .

8jim Wright, "Vic Heyliger" A Hockey Legend," Colorado Athlete, Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 56.

^Chicago Daily Tribune, October. 10, 1937. 35 himself through the skating d rills impressed Black Hawk Vice-President

B ill Tobin.Two days la te r B ill Steward, the Black Hawk coach, arrived in camp. He had been umpiring the World Series in New York.

He took a liking to Heyliger's play and on October 21, 1937, he stated to the press: "Vic Heyliger w ill be kept around as a right winger. 1.11

He was supposed to be loaned to the Muskegon Reds for an ex­ hibition game against the Black Hawks, but he played for the Black

Hawks instead.

Vic was one of their rookies to be with the club. November 2,

1937, the Chicago Daily Tribune had a picture of Heyliger, Gulley,

Dahlstrom, Oscar Hansen, and Coach Stewart—Dahlstrom was advertised as a speedskater from St. Paul; Oscar Hansen as having been with St.

Louis last year; and Vic Heyliger was referred to as "Captain of last year's University of Michigan team."^^

On November 31, Tribune had a story about the up-coming opener.

"Heyliger only amateur on Hawks Club. Turns pro with tomorrow's game. To play with Trudell at center, and Glen Brydson at wing."^^

^^Chicago Daily Tribune, October 11, 1937, p. 21.

^Chicago Daily Tribune, October 21, 1937, p. 17.

12 Chicago Daily Tribune, November 25, 1937, p. 36.

13 Chicago Daily Tribune, November 31, 1937, p. 23. 36

The papers carried a story that Kendall, Heyliger, and Hansen would be sent to St. Louis in a trade. However, Harold March got hurt, and the trade was called off.^^

On Thursday, November 25, 1937, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Hawks 4-1 to put the Chicago team near the bottom of the American

Division. A bright note for Vic Heyliger was that he actually played in his f ir s t National Hockey League game. This was Chicago's eighth game of the season of a 48-game s c h e d u le .

Heyliger was used as a third-liner most of the time, but the third line didn't always play. The record book only gave him credit for playing in seven games, although he dressed for more than that.

Heyliger and the Black Hawks went on a road trip to Montreal,

Boston, and New York. The Hawks lost 3-2, but this was Heyliger's fourth straight game playing. He had a tooth knocked out in the second period of the game. The center on his line, Johmy Gottselig, was knocked out by George Brown.^^ Two days la te r Vic was back play­ ing.

On December 22, 1937, the Hawks played the Boston Bruins. A fellow by the name of Ralph "Cooney" Weiland was palying for Boston.

Cooney, a former N.H.L. leading scorer with 43 goals in 40 games, was to become a long-time friend of Heyliger. Weiland later went on to coach Harvard University from 1950-1971. Welland also coached the

^^Chicago Daily Tribune, November 25, 1937, p. 36.

^^Chicago Daily Tribune, November 26, 1937, p. 19.

^^Chicaqo Daily Tribune, December 7, 1937, p. 25. 37

Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 1941. Cooney is one of fiv e college coahces to ever get 300 wins as a coach. Heyliger is th ird in this department behind John Snooks Kelly, Boston University, and Murray

Armstrong of Denver.

The January 4, 1938,. Chicago Daily Tribune read:

Vic Heyliger, 1936-37 Captain of the University of Michigan hockey team, who joined the Black Hawks at the beginning of th e ir training season last fa ll and who has appeared in several Hawks games, yesterday was sent to St. Paul Saints fo r seasoning. He remains the property of the Hawks.18

Heyliger went to Minneapolis to have his tonsils out. His throat was so badly infected that the doctors had to wait over two weeks before they could operate. Then i t was twenty-eight days be­ fore he could eat any solid food.. He did not rejoin the Black Hawks until the end of February, 1938, when the Stanley Cup playoffs were 19 about to start.

The 1937-38 Black Hawks team went on to win the Stanley Cup, symbolic of the best hockey team in the world. I t was ironic that one year, after the All-American experiment of Major McLaughlin, that a team with eight Americans—Curly Dahlstrom, Roger Jenkins,

V irg il Johnson, Mike Karakas, Edwin Doc Romnes, Alexander Levinsky,

Carl Voss, and Louis Napolean Trudel—should win the Stanley Cup.^O

l^Larry Uoodburn, "Heyliger Named to Hall of Fame," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, June 28, 1974, p. 2-C.

^^Chicago Daily Tribune, January 4, 1938, p. 21.

T^Personal interview with Johnny Gottselig, July 1, 1967. on Zander Hollander and Hal Bock, op. c it . 38

Only 15 players could dress in these years. Eight Americans meant that the team had an American domination, Heyliger played, at times, to make it nine.

"That was a heck of a th r ill for a kid ju st out of college,"

Vic remembered. "Unfortunately, I suffered a tonsil infection near the end of the season, and I had to watch the playoffs from the 21 bench." Heyliger f e lt he learned a great deal about hockey from

Bill Stewart.

Quite a lo t of the basic coaching fundamentals that I have used in my coaching career came from Stewart. He was a great coach, and he really helped me. I t was a great th rill playing with the Black Hawks, but I knew it was tough going for me. They had really big defensemen in the league in those days, and I was getting banged around a lo t. There were some great stick handlers and body checkers around, and I began thinking about quit­ ting and going into c o a c h in g . 22

The University of Illinois was also thinking about Vic as a coach, so i t was only natural that the two got together in 1939.

Ray E lio t, the Illin o is football coach, wanted to start a hockey pro­ gram at the school and approached Heyliger.

"When the opportunity to coach college hockey presented i t ­ self, I had no second thoughts," said Vic. "I had already lost my two front teeth in the National Hockey League, and I figured

I could not afford to lose any more. They (Illin o is ) wanted someone

21 Wright, op. c i t . , p. 57.

^^Ibid. 39 who was fam iliar with the Big Ten and an American. Fortunately, I

fille d both requirements."^^

In addition to his ice hockey coaching duties, Heyliger was

also a football recruiter for Eliot, and he seemed to enjoy the

challenge of both sports. Amo Bessone, from W. Springfield, Massa­

chusetts and today the head hockey coach at Michigan State University, was recruited by Heyliger. Amo says, "Vic was the greatest recruit­

er I have ever known in 30 years of coaching.

When asked why he got out of N.H.L. professional hockey, Vic

responded,

I started losing my teeth, and I wanted to get into college coaching at any price. I quit the Black, Hawks (making $3,500 per year for six months) which was pretty good money. I started coaching at Illin o is for $100 per month on a ten-month contract. So, I went from making $3,500 in half a year to making $1,000 in an entire year.

After the Black Hawks, I went back to Michigan for graduate school.

I had to wait three weeks for my tonsils to go down. They were so badly infected. I had poison throughout my body. I was so bad that I couldn't eat or drink without tremendous pain. I t was rugged. Since then, I have never had a darn thing wrong with me. That was at the end of January, and I had a tough time for a while after­ wards getting rid of the infection. I had asthma too, and the doctor said to get out of any type of physical activity.25

This author interviewed Johnny Gottselig, a Russian-born German

who migrated to Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1910 with his family

OO Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, April 19, 1975. OA Personal interview with Amo Bessone, Michigan State Univer­ sity Hockey Coach, July 2, 1976. 25 Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, April 19, 1975. ■ 40 as a two-month-old baby. Gottselig played in the N.H.L. 17 seasons and coached the Black Hawks for three seasons. As a teammate and linemate of Vic Heyliger, he knew him well.

My firs t contact with Vic was at training camp in Muskegan, Michigan, in 1937. The Major had us move around every year in an effort to further the game. I think all of us, Vic included, were all influenced by the Major's idea of spreading the game into American cities that didn't see the N.H.L. We trained at Hibbing, Minnesota; Minneapolis; St. Paul; the University of I l l i ­ nois when Vic was there; Carnegie Tech; and at Notre Dame. The Major also fe lt coaching was important, and he wanted players that were coachable. He f e lt the American kids were coachable and that Canadians f e lt they knew i t a ll. He was right--we were a tough bunch to handle. Vic was good with the puck, a fancy dan, a stick man. He was never a great player, but he could have been a major leaguer. He just lacked a l i t t l e competition— but, remember, there were only eight teams when he started and then six teams la te r on his second time around. There were less than 150 kids out of thousands playing. To be there with the big club was a feat in its e lf.

The coaching aspect was important to Vic. Anyone who worked for Vic had to work and put a ll out. He made them work like heck. He had a great philosphy on lif e . Take i t as i t comes—which he has always done—on the ice and off the ice. .Play i t day to day. Eat, drink, and be merry. I fe lt he wasn't disappointed for not mak­ ing i t big in the N.H.L., but no one wanted i t more. The fact that he didn't make it in the big leagues as a regular, in s tille d him to drive his kids. The experience made him a good c o a c h . 26

^^Gottselig, op. cit. CHAPTER 5

EARLY COACHING AT ILLINOIS

On May 27, 1939, Victor Heyliger was named coach of the Univer­ sity of Illinois hockey team by Athletic Director, W. S. WilsonJ

He succeeded Ray E lio t, who had the hockey coaching position as well as having served as assistant varsity football coach and freshman baseball coach. Wilson fe lt that Eliot's responsibilities were heavy enough without the additional burden of the rink squad. Wilson also stated th at, "Heyliger is highly recommended and impressed me very much when I had a conference with him at Ann Arbor about the Illin o is position."2

Wilson stated that Vic was highly recommended for the Illinois position by Professor Rolff Aigler, Michigan representative on the

Big Ten faculty board; A thletic Director Fielding Yost (today Michi­ gan's ice hockey arena is named after Yost); and B ill Stewart, the former coach and manager of the Chicago Black Hawks—the 1938 Stanley o Cup Champions and the team for which Heyliger played.^

The official news release from the University of Illinois, writ­ ten by L. M. Tobin, was as follows:

Champaign, Illin o is , June, 1939 ...V ic Heyliger, new University of Illin o is hockey coach, comes to the

^Sports Information News Release, University of Illin o is , May 27, 1939. 2 Ibid.

3lbid. 41 42

'111ini' as the f ir s t college graduate coach in in te r­ collegiate hockey in the Middle West. A graduate of the University of Michigan in 1937, he was an outstanding star there for three years and nucleus of.the finest teams in Wolverine ice history as perhaps the most out­ standing center produced in Big Ten hockey.

Heyliger is a product of Massachusetts hockey, where he played on the open rinks in and about Boston while in high school at Concord. After a year at Lawrence Academy, Groton, Massachusetts, Heyliger came to Michigan in 1933, attracted by its indoor rink facilities.

At Michigan, Heyliger was play-maker on the Wolverine teams that won Big Ten title s from Minnesota in 1935 and 1937 and, as a senior, figured in the scoring with his assists to establish an all-time intercollegiate record of 46 points.

A rugged, hard-going player who was called upon for 60 minutes of play in every game because of the paucity of m aterial, Heyliger was a high favorite for his aggres­ sive play and color. Despite his fast play against stub­ born defenses, he refused throughout his career to don protective shoulder gear.

Heyliger's value was not confined to the offense, for he bolstered defense with a sweep-checking play perhaps unequaled,by any other player on intercollegiate ice. His v e rs a tility and value were recognized with his being named to the All-American hockey team in 1936 and 1937 together with recognition as All-Mid West center for three years—1935, 1936, and 1937. Captain of the Mi chi r- gan team in 1937, he was named Captain of the All-Mid West squad the same year.

Heyliger, who took his undergraduate work in the School of Physical Education, also played three years as regular outfielder on the baseball team.

Following graduation, Heyliger was signed with the Chicago Black Hawks, then Stanley Cup Champions, and played with them until February when he was forced out of competition with a throat infection. Ordered by phy­ sicians to rest for at least a year, he declined further play in professional hockey. He did play with the De­ tr o it Holzbaugh team of the Michigan-Ontario League, a fte r having his amateur standing restored and played with the Holzbaughs in the series for the American Ama­ teur title. 43

Freshman hockey coach at Michigan for three years as an undergraduate, Heyliger has since assisted with the freshman baseball team under Coach Bennie Ooster- baan for two years and since graduation has carried on work toward a Master's Degree, which he plans to com­ plete. He will write a thesis on 'Origins, History, and Development of Intercollegiate and Professional Hockey in the United States' having compiled, through questionnaires, basic information never before avail­ able on the subject.

Heyliger has been one of the most popular men on the Michigan campus throughout his residence in Ann Arbor, answering to the sobriquet 'Beaver' as a conse­ quence of an honor society in itia tio n when he demonstra­ ted natatorial a b ilitie s unaccustomed in a hockey player following the upsetting of a canoe. He is un­ married.4

Heyliger coached at Illinois for four years as head hockey coach. His teams had a record of 40-20-3, and they won three Big

Ten championships in 1940-41, 1941-42, and 1942-43.

When he started at Illinois in 1939, the rumors have it that he jumped o ff the train and ran to the rink without stopping to eat lunch, and that he then proceeded to have a two-hour workout.

Hockey was started at Illin o is during the 1937-38 season.

The program was only in existence for two years before Heyliger arrived on the scene in Champaign. He was a man of vision and en­ thusiasm, a type of enthusiasm that was and is contagious. Starting his fir s t year as hockey coach, Heyliger mapped out a plan for him­ self and his players designed to bring Illinois to the top of col­ legiate hockey in one short year.

^L. M. Tobin, Sports Information News Release, University of Illin o is , June, 1939. 44

With what he considered a strong group of sophomores and veter­ ans from the 1938-39 team as a nucleus, Heyliger scheduled a 16- game season and threw himself into a personal dream of his—the fo r­ mation of a Midwestern Hockey Conference, composed of four univer­ s itie s . These schools were Illin o is , Michigan, Michigan Tech, and

Minnesota.5

A newspaper article written by Joe Arndt, in the fall of 1939, had Heyliger sounding ambitious and enthusiastic-

We'll give every team except Minnesota a ll they want, said the former All-American from Michigan. Minnesota probably w ill be a l i t t l e too high for us this year but Michigan, St. Louis University, and Michigan Tech we ex­ pect to be at or at least break even w ith.6

Vic's first year had only 18 varsity candidates, but he had not been idle during the summer. He had recruited 32 frosh candidates who a ll showed up for the freshman team. Four of these players were expected to develop into stars at Illin o is —Wayne McKibbin, W; Joe

Lotzer, C; John G illia n , G; and Chuck Stewart, D.

The "111ini" already had Captain Johnny White, a wing, and

Chet Ziemba, a defenseman, as outstanding standouts to go along with

Doc Bobhill, Duke S later, Tom Jaworek, Gene Thompson, and George

Fieldhouse—who all were lettermen. (It should be pointed out that most teams played many of th eir outstanding players the whole game during this period, so quality was often the outstanding factor in a game rather than quantity with many rotating players.)

Sjoe Arndt, unidentified newspaper, September, 1939.

Gibid. 45

Heyliger always pushed the league concept every chance he had.

Then, as now, hockey was not being played across the Big Ten, as . only Michigan, Minnesota, and Illin o is sponsored the sport. Vic f e lt that a league would stimulate competition and provide an extra incen­ tive for the players.

Aside from the contests planned with the above-mentioned schools, he scheduled St. Louis; Case Western Reserve, John C arroll,

Baldwin Wallace in the Cleveland area and University of Pittsburgh,

Carnegie Tech, and Duquesne in the Pittsburgh area.

One of Heyliger's prize players was a young man by the name of

Amo Bessone (now Michigan State's hockey coach) who played varsity hockey three years (1941 , 1942, 1943) and who captained the "111ini" his senior year. The 1942-43 "111ini" team was awesome, defeating arch rival Michigan four games by scores of 6-0, 4-0, 6-0, 6-0.

Varsity hockey lasted only six years at the University of I l ­ lin o is. I t was suspended in 1943-44, 1944-45 due to the war, and then i t was discontinued a ll together in 1946 because of the absence of a coach.

In the spring of 1942, Heyliger was named Athletic Association

Personnel Director at the University of Illin o is—succeeding William

J. P fister in the position.^ Vic also remained as a physical educa­ tion instructor, teaching tennis and bowling, as well as continuing in his hockey coaching position.

We had a very unique situation at Illinois. The players and I all lived together. I got permission to liv e in a room over an old garage that was used for

^Linc Willisto n , "The Missing Link," Undated clipping in un­ identified newspaper. 46 maintenance. We fixed up a dormitory over i t . I t had cardboard walls and about 28 of us lived there at once. I had saved quite a bit of money playing for the Black Hawks, so we were able to fix i t up fa irly w ell.

While I was at Illin o is , I got jobs for a ll the hoc­ key players I recruited. The football assistant coaches started complaining that the hockey players were getting the breaks. So they gave me a raise and put me in charge of recruiting the football players, which I did the rest of the time I was there. I also recruited the basket­ ball players. I recruited the "Whiz Kids," a basketball team that was undefeated fo r two years. I also re c ru it­ ed Illin o is ' f ir s t Rose Bowl game.

The title , 'Athletic Association Personnel Director' was just another name for the recruiter.

I never le f t campus to see a player play in any sport until I got to the Air Force Academy. My teaching duties in tennis and bowling, as well as my hockey coach­ ing duties, kept me on campus most of the time. . We got the newspapers with the All-State selections, and the coaches told me who to try to get. The football assis­ tants never did any recruiting. I'd write to the players and invite them to campus, work out a place for them to stay, an itin erary of what they would see and what they would not see. Coach Ray E liot was the head football coach. He did a heck of a job. Ray would interview them and try to sell them on Illin o is . He was a great salesman; he could really ta lk .

I'd call the recruits on the phone or visit their home to get them to come, but I never thought I had enough talent to judge football players except fo r the backs. I also f e lt inadequate grading top basketball players. I never le f t campus to see a hockey player play at Illinois (nor Michigan). My players told me who was great back home, and I just worked things out for them to come.

In those days, you didn't have the competition for the players that you do today. I just had a few schools to compete against for the top players. We also did not have all the recruiting rules that you have to live • with today. Almost anything that you did was all right.°

^Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, April 19, 1975. 47

Legend has it that recruits never left campus after their visit without a new pair of skates to take home with them. Also, there are many "rumors" that "Uncle Vic" was very generous with spending money i f a player was hard up and, occasionally, he arranged i t so that a recruit might even return home with a new sport jacket or suit.

It was during Vic Heyliger's coaching tenure at Illinois that hockey f ir s t went nationwide. Illin o is teams traveled to Hancock,

Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; Colorado

Springs, Colorado; and to California fo r an extended trip and a v is it to the Rose Bowl as w ell.

All this was done during the war, when travel was difficult and expensive. He had the foresight to envision inter-sectional play.

He also provided leadership for a Mid-Western League which actually got a start with Michigan, Michigan Tech, Minnesota, and Illin o is taking part. One had to wonder what type of record Illinois would have had and what type of program they might have today i f Vic Hey­ liger had been able to keep the program alive at Illinois.

Vic had proven his coaching a b ility at Illin o is . . He had coach­ ed them to th eir f ir s t Big Ten championship during his second season

(1940-41) and his teams retained the championship for the 1941-42 and 1942-43 seasons.

"Heyliger's success as a coach is due largely to his optimism, popularity with team members, and his a b ility to keep peace with players on the ice."^ As Personnel Director for th,e Athletic

Q Sports Information News Release, University of Illin ois, November 29, 1944. 48

Association, Heyliger was one of the most popular members of this As­

sociation's staff.

During his appointment at Illin o is , Vic married Ruth Nanninga.

He and his wife had a daughter, Susan, born in 1943.

In the spring of 1944, Heyliger predicted a post-war boom in

intercollegiate ice hockey with what he termed the "Middle Western

Universities" taking the lead.

"Ice hockey has a ll the requisites for a popular intercollegi­

ate sport," Heyliger said. " It's fa s t, colorful, and pleases crowds.

Once we educate college audiences to the sport and teach students to

enjoy games as competition or spectators, ice hockey should take its

place along with college football and basketball.

Heyliger had cited several factors which he felt would aid de­

velopment of intercollegiate ice hockey in the post-war period. The

Army was making available many freezing units that had been used for

war purposes, and colleges would be able to purchase these at moder­

ate cost. Wartime research had reduced the cost of building and

maintaining ice rinks in the post-war era. Colleges and universities

would be seeking the expansion of sports programs to care for an in ­

flux of students following the end of h o s tilitie s . Ice hockey seemed

a logical addition.. Continued growth in crowds attending profession­

al ice hockey matches indicated spectators' love for this sport,

which combined dazzling speed with body contact.

^^Sports Information News Release, University of Illin o is, March 30, 1944. TTlbid. 49

Take Illin o is for example, [Heyliger pointed out]. We began the sport in 1938 and by 1942, crowds of 1,000 to 1,200 were attending our games. That is n 't a stag­ gering figure, but many intercollegiate sports, much older than ice hockey, draw fewer spectators. Then, too, it has been difficult to arrange representative schedules since so few schools participated in the sport.12

Heyliger saw another factor that could popularize college hoc­ key and that was the collegiate competition of the post-war period on being a training ground for the fast-growing professional game as far as personnel was concerned, Vic pointed out that he had three players in the last three years who had jumped from college competi­ tion to the professional ranks. These three players were Aldo Palaz- zari of the New York Rangers, Norbert Sterle of the Chicago Black

Hawks, and Amo Bessone of the Providence Reds. Heyliger stated that

Bessone had been called by Providence players and coaches as one of the outstanding prospects since B ill Mosienko, then with the Black

Hawks as a rookie.

Sterle, who set an intercollegiate scoring record of 65 points

in 1941, was a splendid prospect for the Chicago team until he enter­

ed the service. He was killed in action in Italy in 1943. Members

of Heyliger's championship 1943 squad, which met and defeated the

nation's best college teams, also ranked as professional prospects

until called into the service. George B alestri, defenseman; and Tom

Karakas, brother of Mike Karakas of the Black Hawks, were sought a f­

ter by professional clubs.

IZlbid. 50

The war and the use of the University of Illinois' ice rink by

the Army Specialized Training Program had caused the hockey program

to be suspended for the 1943-44 and the 1944-45 seasons. This was

unfortunate, as Heyliger had assembled one of the greatest teams ever.

On November 29, 1944, Vic Heyliger announced his resignation as head

ice hockey coach and Personnel Director of the University of Illin o is

Athletic Association to become the hockey coach at the University of Michigan.

Ice hockey at Illin o is was a war casualty according to Glenn

Roberts, a Champaign, Illin o is , newspaper w riter. The Army had used

the rink as a mess hall in 1943 and, a fter they finished with i t ,

"Time, Inc." leased i t fo r a year for office space.

"At the time the Army took over, Illin o is had a very successful

hockey program, a fine coach, a conference championship team, but no

rink. After the war when they got the rink back, they had neither

a coach nor a team."!^ Varsity hockey was dropped altogether in the

1945-46 season.

The general impression would probably have been that the hockey

• team had been shelved because of the war. But, when Illin o is lost

Heyliger, it lost its greatest opportunity for a brilliant comeback

in hockey when and i f the sport had been resumed. I t was fe lt by

Glenn Roberts that Heyliger,

T^Sports Information News Release, University of Illinois, November 29, 1944.

^^Glenn Roberts, "After the Deadline," September 20, 1945. 51

. . . the youthful easterner who earned his athletic letters at Michigan was the backbone and driving s p irit of the great hockey teams that were associated with Illin o is .

He drew many and most of the material for his teams. At the time hockey was disbanded here, he had one of the greatest freshman teams in the short history of the sport. It is hoped that they will return to play for Illinois after the war.

That's probably one of the main reasons why i t would be impractical to enter into competition before the war is over . . . there is no known talent on campus now, and i t w ill take an impressive coach to draw i t here during the war. A fter h o s tilitie s cease, there w ill be returning players for a new coach to build up a team.

All of which brings us to the conclusion that had Mr. Heyliger stayed on at Illin o is , there would be a hockey team this winter; fo r, wherever there is ice and Heyliger, there is bound to be a hockey team. That combination was solved at Michigan, and hockey at I l ­ linois continues to be a war c a s u a lt y .^5

The war affected the hockey program at Illin o is in many ways.

There were problems of scheduling, due to travel restrictions, when there was rationing of supplies vital to the war movement. Perhaps of greater importance was the fact that there was no player continu­ ing on the teams. Players came and left the country—either drafted or volunteered. Some great ones (like Norbert J. Sterle) were killed in action and never returned to finish their college education or athletic careers. Heyliger's coaching record of 40-20-3 is outstand­ ing considering a ll the problems with which he had to deal.

During his last year at Illinois (1943-44), Vic played 26 games of the 50-game schedule with the Chicago Black Hawks of the

^^Ibid. 52

National Hockey League. He had two goals and three assists fo r five

points and received five penal ties

With hockey being in a questionable state at Illinois and Michi­

gan, which had kept its program "alive" during the war, Vic. decided

to take advantage of an opportunity to return to his alma mater at

Ann Arbor and become the head coach at the University of Michigan.

16 Zander Hollander and Hal Bock, ed. , The Complete Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey, Englewood C liffs , N .J ., Prentice-Hall, In c ., p. 496. 53

TABLE 1

COACHING RECORD OF VIC HEYLIGER AT ILLINOIS

GAMES WON LOST TIED

1939-1940 14 3 11 0

1940-1941 21 17 3 1

1941-1942 16 10 4 2

1942-1943 12 10 2 0

TOTAL 63 40 20 3 1940 ILLINOIS HOCKEY TEAM 54

Coach: Victor Heyliger Captain: John M. White Manager: James G. Stables

Varsity Team: "I" Men: Other Members of the Team:

Fieldhouse, George E. Dougall, James B. G illia n , John H. Kaufman, Eugene H. Jaworek, Thomas E. Kopel, Howard F. Lotzer, Joseph J. McKibbin, Wayne J. M ettler, Charles W. Slater, C. Paul Stewart, Charles M. Thompson, Maurice P. White, John M. Ziemba, Chester J.

Summary of the Season:

Dec. 11 Illin o is 5 Freshman 13 Champaign Jan. 5 I linois 2 Minnesota 8 Champaign Jan. 5 I linois 2 Minnesota 10 Champaign Jan. 11 . I linois 1 Michigan 3 Ann Arbor Jan. 13 I linois 1 Michigan 5 Ann Arbor Feb. 3 I linois 11 St. Louis Univ. 0 Champaign Feb. 9 I linois 1 Minnesota 9 Minneapolis Feb. 10 I lin ois 2 Minnesota 9 Minneapolis Feb. 15 I linois 3 St. Louis Univ. 0 St. Louis Feb. 23 I linois 1 Michigan Tech 3 Houghton Feb. 24 I 1inoi s 1 Michigan Tech 6 Houghton Feb. 29 I linois 1 Michigan Tech 3 Champaign Mar. 1 I linois 2 Michigan Tech 3 Champaign Mar. 7 I linois 0 Michigan 2 Champaign Mar. 9 I linois 3 Michigan 0 Champaign Mar. 12 I linois 1 Freshman 18 Champaign

Total Games: 14 Won...3 Lost...11

Conference Games: Won...1 L o st... 7 55 1941 ILLINOIS HOCKEY TEAM

Coach: Victor Heyliger Captain: Chester J. Kiemba Manager: William D. Kerwin

Varsity Team: "I" Men: Other Members of the Team:

Bessone, Amo M ettler, Charles W. Gannon, Joseph F. Gillian, H. Jaworek, Thomas E. K ill en, Raymond T. Kopel, Howard F. Lotzer, Joseph J. McCune, Clinton C. McKibbin, Wayne J. Owen, Starr H. Palazzari, Aldo Priestley, Gilbert Sterle, Norbert J. Ziemba, Chester J.

Summary of the Season:

Dec. 9 Illin o is 9 Western Ontario 4 Champaign Dec. 16 Illin o is 6 Freshmen 3 Champaign Dec. 26 Illin o is 6 Santa Rosa 3 Santa Rosa, Ca. Dec. 27 Illin o is 2 California 1 Berkeley, Ca. Dec. 28 Illin o is 0 Southern C a lif. 4 Berkeley, Ca. Dec. 30 Illinois . 4 U.C.L.A. 2 Los Angeles, Ca. Dec. 31 Illin o is 3 Southern C a lif. 4 Los Angeles, Ca. Jan. 3 Illin o is 7 Colorado College 3 Colorado Springs Jan. 4 Illin o is 6 Colorado College 2 Colorado Springs Jan. 10 Illin o is 2 Minnesota 2 Champaign Jan. 11 Illin o is 4 Minnesota 1 Champaign Jan. 31 Illin o is 7 Michigan Tech 1 Houghton Feb. 1 Illin o is 6 Michigan Tech 4 Houghton Feb. 8 Illin o is 10 Michigan Tech 2 Champaign Feb. 10 Illin o is 5 Michigan Tech 2 Champaign Feb. 14 Illin o is 5 Minnesota 4 Minneapolis Feb. 15 Illin o is 3 Minnesota 6 Minneapolis Feb. 21 Illin o is 10 Brantford A.C. 2 Champaign (Canada) Mar. 3 Illin o is 2 Freshman 8 Champai gn Mar. 6 Illin o is 7 Michigan 1 Ann Arbor Mar. 8 Illin o is 8 Michigan 2 Ann Arbor Mar. 13 Illin o is 4 Michigan 2 Champaign Mar. 15 Illin o is 4 Michigan 1 Champaign

Illin o is won Western Conference Championship 56 1942 ILLINOIS HOCKEY TEAM

Coach: Victor Heyliger Captain: Joseph Lotzer Manager: Jean Halterman (F irs t Semester) and Sam Wylie had charge o f second semester

Varsity Team: "I" Men: Other Members of the Team:

B alestri, George L. Brooks, Everett J. Benson, Herschel G. DePaul, Roland Bessone, Amo Owen, Starr H. Ferranti, Louis A. Palazzari, Mario R. G iIlian John H. Priestley, Gilbert P. Killen, Ray T. Lotzer, Joseph J. Gil Priestley and Starr Owen McCune, C lint C. only played a few games and M ille r, Robert F. then had to quite because Palazzari, A1 do they were at Chanute Field. Priestley, Russel Tw itchell, Thomas

Summary of the Season:

Oct. 18 Illin o is 2 Kansas City 6 Champaign Oct. 24 Illin o is 2 Chicago Blackhawks 11 Champaign

The above two games were exhibition games.

Dec. 8 Illin o is 6 London, Ont. 3 Champaign Athletic Club Dec. 22 Illin o is 4 Dartmouth 1 Chicago Arena Dec. 23 Illin o is 4 Dartmouth 5 Champaign Jan. 15 Illin o is 10 Michigan 0 Ann Arbor Jan. 17 Illin o is 6 Michigan 2 Ann Arbor Jan. 22 Illin o is 5 Michigan Tech 1 Champaign Jan. 24 Illin o is 7 Michigan Tech 0 Champaign Feb. 6 Illin o is 2 Michigan Tech 2 Houghton Feb. 7 Illin o is 3 Michigan Tech 4 Houghton Feb. 16 Illin o is 5 Paris Athletic Club 3 Champaign Feb. 19 Illin o is 4 Brantford Athletic 7 Champaign Club (Canada) Feb. 21 Illin o is 5 Brantford Ath. Club 3 Champaign Mar. 6 Illin o is 2 Colorado College 4 Colorado Springs Mar. 7 Illin o is 3 Colorado College 3 Colorado Springs Mar. 12 Illin o is 6 Michigan 2 Champaign Mar. 14 Illin o is 9 Michigan 4 Champaign

Illin o is won Big Ten T itle

Total Games 16 Won,..10 Lost....4 T ied ....2 Conference Games : 4 Won....4 Lost___0 57 1943 ILLINOIS HOCKEY TEAM

Coach: Victor Heyliger Captain: Amo Bessone Manager: Sam Wylie

Varsity Team: "I" Men: Other Members of the Team:

Roswell M. Austin Lou Ferronti George Balestri Wesley Tregoning Herschel G. Benson Amo Bessone Henry 0. Coupe Torn J. Karakas William L. Prentiss Glenn L. Roi le Thomas Twitchell

Summary of the Season:

Dec. 8 Illin o is 4 Freshmen 2 Champaign Dec. 12 Illin o is 3 Chicago Horneta 5 Champaign Feb. 12 Illin o is 1 Minnesota 2 Minneapolis Feb. 19 Illin o is 4 Michigan Tech 2 Houghton Feb. 20 Illin o is 3 Michigan Tech 1 Houghton Feb. 25 Illin o is 6 Michigan 0 Champaign Feb. 27 Illin o is 4 Michigan 0 Champaign Mar. 4 Illin o is 6 Michigan 0 Ann Arbor Mar. 6 Illin o is 6 Michigan 0 Ann Arbor Mar. 8 Illinois 5 Michigan Tech 3 Champaign Mar.. 9 Illin o is 4 Michigan Tech 3 Champaign Mar. 12 Illin o is 5 Chicago Hornets 2 Chicago (Arena)

Illin o is won Western Conference Championship

Summary of the Season:

Total Games 12 Won. ...10 Lost. ...2 Conference Games : 6 Won. ...1 58

In the fa ll of 1943, Vic Heyliger had what might have been con­ sidered the best hockey team in college hockey. The only problem was that he did not have a place to practice or play. The Army had taken over his rink as a mess h a ll, and hockey was suspended as an in ter­ collegiate sport.

Vic made an arrangement with Major McLaughlin and Manager Paul

Thompson of the Black Hawks, to play the home contests. Thus on No­ vember 11, 1943, in the season's opening game before a crowd of

17,124, Heyliger again played for the Chicago Black Hawks.

The newspapers of this period played up the fact that Vic only played the home games, due to his commitments to the University of

Illinois. Once again, it is a real tribute to him that he had the a b ility to "crack; what was then a six-team league with the Montreal

Maroons and the New York Americans, having dropped out of the Na­ tional Hockey League.

It undoubtedly was a great th rill for Heyliger to play in the

N.H.L. in the 1937-38 season but, once again, he w ill never forget

the night of December 22, 1943,, The headlines of the Chicago Daily

Tribune Sports Section read, "Hawks Beat Wings 7-1; End Losing

Streak; Chicago Spurt in Last Period Nets Five Goals; 8,116 Watch

Old Rivals Meet."

Vic Heyliger, University of Illinois hockey coach, scored his f ir s t National Hockey League goal in his

^^Chicago Daily Tribune, November 12, 1943. 59

fourth game of this season, staging a volunteer come­ back as a helping measure after a short professional career with the Hawks, immediately after his gradua­ tion from the University of Michigan some seasons back. Vic's e ffo rt being the second goal was the winning marker. Heyliger scored from Johnny Gottselig and Fido Purpur.TB

Fido Purpur was to go on to become the fir s t collegiate hockey coach at the University of North Dakota. Also playing in this game for the Black Hawks was Elwyn "Doc" Romnes, who went on to coach the

University of Minnesota. Both were American. Romnes was from White

Bear, Minnesota; and Purpur was from Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Heyliger's record that season, playing only in home games, was:

Games Played Goals Assists Points

26 2 3 5

Two players of the 1943-44 Black Hawk team made the f ir s t A ll-

State team—Doug Bentley and Earl Seibert. C lint Smith also took the

Lady Byng trophy, symbolic of combining the highest type of sportsman­ ship and gentlemanly conduct, plus a high standard of playing a b il­ ity . Teammate "Doc" Romnes had won the same award in 1936. He is the only American ever to win the award. Heyliger's other teammates.

Cully Dahl Strom and Mike Karakas, had won the Calder Cup as outstand­ ing rookies in the league in 1938 and 1936 respectively. His 1943-44 teammates, Doug and Max Bentley, both went on to win the Art Ross

Trophy—awarded to the player who compiles the highest number of scor­ ing points in the regular season. Teammate Earl Seibert, a defenseman.

^^Chicago Daily Tribune, December 23, 1943. 60 was an N.H.L. A ll-S tar for ten years in a row, Paul Thompson made the A ll-S tar team twice; Johnny Goolseby once in 1938-39.

Of course,, the great Doug Bentley, Max Bentley, B ill Mosienko line was also perennial All-Stars, as well as being the most famous of the Black Hawks with whom Heyliger played.

The 1943-44 version of the Black Hawks finished fourth in the six-team league with a 22-23-5 record. CHAPTER VI

RETURN TO MICHIGAN

Vic Heyliger's success at the University of Illinois had been watched with great interest and admiration by none other than the

University of Michigan. Ed Lowrey, Vic's old college coach, was re­ tirin g as Wolverine coach, and i t must have seemed only natural that one of Michigan's greatest players should return to replace the vet­ eran mentor. "I really hated to leave Illin o is because we were ju st beginning to establish ourselves as a hockey power," said Vic, "but

I had always wanted to go back to my old alma mater, and this seemed to be the right time to make a move."^

"So, in 1944, Vic Heyliger began what was to be one of the greatest eras of collegiate hockey history. In his 13 years at

Michigan, he compiled an unbelievable record of 229 wins, 62 losses,

13 ties, and 6 National Championships.Heyliger-coached teams went to the National Championships ten straight times, every year it was held, during his years at Michigan. (The tournament did not start until 1948.)

Dan F a rre ll, the present Michigan coach, said, "That is a

record that w ill be tough to match. I doubt i f anyone w ill ever

^Jim Wright, "Vic Heyliger: A Hockey Legend,” Colorado Athlete, January, 1974, p. 48.

^Ibid. 61 62 duplicate it." ^ No coach has ever duplicated the number of champion­ ships. This period of hockey at Michigan was referred to as the

"Golden Age of Hockey."

Heyliger's firs t year was his only losing season at Michigan until December of 1944. He had no time to recru it, tra in , or prepare his students fo r the coming season. Also, the squad was very small in number because many young men were in the armed forces. The hoc­ key schedule was only being kept alive on a limited basis.

Michigan's record that season was 3-6-0. The eventual outcome- of Heyliger's success would have been hard to predict i f you did not know Vic.

Vic's teams of 1945-46 and 1946-47, with records of 17-7-1 and

13-7-1 respectively, were excellent varsity hockey teams, but they did not get the recognition that the la te r teams received. Fortun­ ately, many players from these two teams started the parade to the

National Tournament. The 1948 team, with its opening win over the

Detroit Red Wings 9-7, has to be considered as one of collegiate history's finest hockey teams with a record of 21-2-1. This team outscored its opposition 141-63. The 1949 team, with many of the same players, lost only two games in 25 attempts.

And so i t went—practically every year a winning percentage

in the .800s, and a couple of seasons when the winning percentage was close to .900. Vic never had a season when he lost more than

seven games in schedules that usually included about 25

^Personal interview with Dan Farrell, July 1, 1976. 63

intercollegiate contests. In one streak, from 1948-1957, his Michi­

gan teams won more than 20 games during six different seasons. I t

seems unbelievable that any team could go to the national tournament

every year for ten straight years. Heyliger-coached teams went to

the national tournament every year from the time the tournament s ta rt­ ed in 1948 un til Vic retired in 1957. His teams never finished below

firs t or second in the league.

On 36 separate occasions, a Vic Heyliger-coached Michigan

hockey player was named to "the o ffic ia l All-American Hockey Team."

He had at least two players named All-American each year from 1948-

1956. On two of these occasions, Michigan players made up the com­

plete six-man All-American team (1952 and 1955). On two other occa­

sions, there were five Michigan players chosen All-American out of

the six possible in 1951 and 1953. In one stretch, 1951-1955,

Michigan players were chosen "All-American" for 24 of the 30 possible

opportunities.4 Vic Heyliger always had great talent, and he always

gave the players the credit for "their success." The Michigan hockey

team had gone to the national tournament so many times that one

w riter claimed, "The Michigan team knows its way around the Broadmoor

Hotel in Colorado Springs better than most of the bellhops.

Another w riter went on to describe the celebration, "When the

flashbulbs had stopped popping a fte r another Michigan victory

\ i l l Perry, Editor, The University of Michigan All-Time Record Book, (Ann Arbor; University of Michigan Press, August 1, 1972), p. 117. 5 Undated clipping from unidentified newspaper. 64 photograph, a veteran observer turned to a friend and mumbled unhap­ p ily , 'They ought to break up that Michigan team.'" He went on to say, "They nonchalantly picked up the championship trophy for the third straight year and left for Ann Arbor with a promise to return in 1954."^

The Michigan players used to refer to the plane they took to

Colorado Springs each year as the "N.C.A.A. Special."^

The sportswriters of this particular period of athletic history gave one the impression, "Don't worry about anything; Michigan Hockey

Team will be in the National Tournament." Even the University of

Michigan ice press material permeates this cockiness, confidence, and arrogance. I t would seem appropriate to examine some of the Univer­ sity of Michigan press material to see how they handled the success of the University of Michigan hockey program. The press material for the 1952-53 season stated:

Two National Championships in a row and three in the past five years.

This record w ill provide more than ample motivation for Coach Vic Heyliger's Michigan hockey team which, on December 6, w ill open another campaign on the Coliseum ice against St. Lawrence College of New York.

Even before the f ir s t whistle blows, the talented and experienced Wolverine pucksters must accept the role as a prime favorite to skate off with college hockey's highest honor; namely, the National Collegiate Champion­ ship in the annual playoffs at Colorado Springs, Colorado, next March.

^Undated clipping from unidentified newspaper.

^Hanley Gurwin, "The Morning A fter," Undated clipping in un­ identified newspaper. 65

But before that expected date ro lls around, the Michi­ gan sextet must f ir s t prove its worth by playing through a rigorous 23-game schedule which includes contests with such Canadian powerhouses as McGill University, the Uni­ versity of Montreal, and the University of Toronto. The United States teams blocking the path to glory in­ clude Colorado College, Denver University, and the Uni­ versities of North Dakota and Minnesota.

Statistically, here are some of Michigan's recent hockey achievements under the capable tutelage of Hey- lig e r—himself a Michigan and la te r Chicago Black Hawk star:

(1) Since the first national collegiate hockey t i t l e was awarded in 1948, the Wolverines have been one of the four teams entering every tournament; have won three t it le s — missing only in the 1949 and 1950 tourna­ ments ;

(2) In the past five seasons, the Maize and Blue Skaters have not failed to win at least 20 games out of 24-25 contests scheduled;

(3) Last season, Heyliger's skaters tied for second place in the newly-formed Midwest Collegiate Hockey League; then went on to decisively defeat the loop winner, Colorado College, by a 4-1 score in the finals of the NCAA tourney.

The 1952-53 edition of the Michigan hockey team boasts finesse, experience, and balance—a ll of which blend into the makings of a well-nigh unbeatable team. Of the 16 squad members, six are seniors and eight are juniors. In fa c t, a ll but two are letterwinners and veterans of at least one season of collegiate play.

Only four members of last year's title-winning com­ bination were lost through graduation: Paul Pelow, Eddie May, Bob Heathcott, and Graham Cragg. Only one squad member this season is new to the team. He is Burt Dunn, a junior transfer student from Montreal who plays forward.

Back with one or two years of experience to take part in their final season are centers Earl Keyes and John Matchefts; wings John McKennell, Doug Mullen and 66

Ron Martinson; and defenseman Alex McClellan. Juniors on the squad include wings George Chin, Pat Cooney and Dunn; defensemen Louis Paolatto, Jim Haas, and Reg Shave; cen­ ter Doug Philpott; and the incomparable goal tender Willard Ikola. Rounding out the roster are sophomore wing Telly Mascarin, who gained limited experience last year, and the sophomore spare goalie. B ill Lucier.

Heyliger tentatively plans to ice a first-line combi­ nation that would have the versatile and dependable Earl Keyes, who has only a single semester of e lig ib ility re­ maining, at the rightwing slo t. With him with be aggres­ sive, spirited John Matchefts at center and clever, red­ headed Johnny McKennell at le f t wing. This trio is po­ tentially one of the finest offensive machines in college hockey circles this year.

I t w ill be broken up, however, in the second semester by the graduation of Keyes. This loss presents a serious problem to Coach Heyliger, since the Windsor athlete has been a top scorer fo r the past two years.

Another and almost equally potent line w ill be made up of Philpott at center, flanked by Chin; the Chinese skater from Lucknow, Ontario; and 'Cooney.' A th ird line w ill be composed of Mullen at center, between wings Mascarin and Dunn. A broken leg has sidelined Ron Mar­ tinson, expected to take over center duties, and it is doubtful i f he w ill be available for service.

Haas and Paolato make a rugged pair of defensemen who can be counted upon to score some needed goals now and then. McClellan and Shave w ill relieve them. Haas stamped himself as one of Michigan's greatest defense­ men by his sterling play last year. Behind this quar­ tet is the so-called 'Cradle of American Hockey,' which also produced such recent Michigan greats as Neil Celley, in his second year as coach at Denver, and Wally Grant.

This w ill be the second year for the Midwest Collegi­ ate Hockey League, a conference in which Michigan, Michi­ gan State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota, North Dakota, Color­ ado College, and Denver participate. The f ir s t - and second-place finishers automatically represent the West in the NCAA tournament held at the Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado. 67

P hilpott, Chin, McKennell, and Haas a ll earned berths on the NCAA Tournament team las t year, while Shave and Keyes were second team c h o ic e s , 8

The 1953-54 University of Michigan press material for ice hoc­ key began:

Nowhere in the annals of American collegiate hockey competition is there a record of achievement to compare or even approach the exploits of Coach Vic Heyliger's University of Michigan skaters over the past six seasons.

Six times the Wolverine pucksters journeyed to Color­ ado Springs to compete in the annual NCAA collegiate championship tournament a fte r sweeping through rigorous 20 to 25-game schedules with few losses. Four times, the Maize and Blue returned to Ann Arbor with the huge trophy emblematic of United States collegiate hockey supremacy.

Last March, after an uphill struggle to even qualify for the tournament, Heyliger again went west with the seemingly impossible task of upsetting powerful Minnesota, the overwhelming favorite which had already defeated Michigan in three out of four regular season contests. As predicted, the two teams met in the finals. Trailing 1-2 going into the second period, the Maize and Blue caught fir e and propelled fiv e goals into the Gopher nets to gain its third consecutive t i t l e and fourth in the six-year history of the event.

Against this impressive background, the 1953-54 Michigan squad must contend with some formidable ob­ stacles if it is to continue down the road to hockey glory. There are many thorns that block the path even before the season begins. Chief among these are the loss of key personnel from last year’ s aggregation, lack of team balance, an almost impossible defensive situation, and one of the toughest schedules in Michi­ gan hockey history. Added to this is the desire of every opponent to beat Michigan i f they lose every other game on th e ir schedules.

On the positive side of the ledger are these fac­ tors: On the 17-man squad roster are no less than eight seniors, which gives the team valuable experience. Then, too, there is a certain poise and confidence that sometimes means the difference between victory and defeat.

g Les E tte r, "University of Michigan Ice Hockey Press M aterial," 1952-53. 68

Veterans returning include goalie Willard Ikola; de­ fenseman Captain Jim Haas, Burt Dunn, and Lou Paolatto; and forwards George Chin, Pat Cooney, Doug Mullen, Doug Philpott, and Telly Mascarin. Letterman B ill Lucier is back to spell Ikola in the nets. Newcomers to the hockey scene are a quartet of sophomores—B ill MacFarland, Jay Gould, Yves Herbert, and Don McArthur. All are fo r­ wards. Paolatto may be unable to play because of a heavy academic schedule in which case Heyliger w ill have but two defensemen to start the season. Reg Shave, another defensive stalwart for two years, has been de­ clared ineligible.

These players must attempt to take up some of the slack caused by the graduation losses of last year's Captain Johnny Matchefts, Earl Keyes, Alex McClellan, Ron Martinson, and John McKennell. All five of these departed players were stars in th eir own rig h t.

Heyliger has put together a slate of 22 games, two . of which are tentative engagements. Sixteen contests w ill be played in the Midwest Hockey League which com­ prises (in addition to Michigan) Minnesota, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, Denver, Colorado College, and North Dakota.9

The 1954-55 press release material had a b it of pessimism, a l­ though i t remained stoic and pompous.

Michigan's varsity hockey team, which has enjoyed an unprecedented era of prosperity dating through the past seven years, seems fin a lly to have reached the end of the glory road. Thin in numbers and lean on experi­ ence, the Wolverines of Coach Vic Heyliger may have to depend on sheer aggressiveness and a generous amount of luck if they are to rise above mediocrity this year.

This is not to say that the Maize and Blue w ill be pushovers fo r any of the teams on the 1954-55 schedule. On the contrary, not since Heyliger's first year in 1944-45 has Michigan had a losing season. Most have been top-heavy on the victory column. As a matter of fa c t, of the 209 games played under Heyliger's tute­ lage, the Wolverines have skated o ff the winners in 158 contests with seven others resulting in a deadlock, while losing but 44.

^Les E tter, "University of Michigan Ice Hockey Press Material," 1953-54. 69

The situation this season, however, is serious enough to move Heyliger to the dark prediction that, 'We'll be fortunate to win half our games.' The stock, cigar- chewing (he gave up smoking them two years ago) Wolverine mentor can back up this statement merely by pointing out three fundamental factors:

1. When the whistle blew for the campaign's open­ ing practice session on November 1, there were only 12 varsity skaters on hand including two goal tenders “ leaving only 10 players poten­ t ia lly capable of shooting the puck into the opposition nets.

2. Of the twelve athletes listed on the squad ros­ te r, only fiv e are lettermen. There is one senior three juniors, and eight sophomores.

3. V irtually every team on the schedule is as strong, or much stronger, than last year. It's no secret in the world of college hockey that nothing is sweeter than a triumph over Michigan.

Wolverine dominance in recent years had approached legen­ dary proportions. Indeed, every good Wolverine hockey fan knows that Michigan is the only institution to have partici­ pated in all seven National Collegiate Athletic Association national tournaments; and that Michigan won the t i t l e four years, three of them in a row.

Best known of the returning skaters is Captain MacFar­ land, a junior center from Toronto, who achieved stardom practically from the moment he fir s t stepped onto the Coliseum ice last year. MacFarland, a ta ll rangy youth whose style closely resembles that of Detroit Red Wing's Gordie Howe, last season connected for 26 goals in 21 games. He added 18 assists for a total of 44 points to rank third among a ll Michigan scorers.

McFarland w ill be joined by B ill Lucier of Windsor, veteran goalie; and two seconu year players. Jay Gould and Yves Herbert from Kirkland Lake, Ontario, and Mon­ treal, respectively. They will be bolstered at the wing position by Neil Buchanan, husky second semester sophomore from Ottawa.

These five are the only holdovers from last year’s squad which listed such departed stalwarts as Doug 70

Mullen, George Chin, Pat Cooney, Willard Ikola, Doug Phil­ p o tt, Lou Paolatto, Burt Dunn, and Jimmy Haas. Telly Mas­ carin, another letter-winner from 1953-54, is ineligible.

Among the newcomers. Center Tom Rendall of Winnipeg is tabbed as a player with great expectations. Last year as a freshman, Heyliger rated him as one of the best forwards ever to enter Michigan. Should he liv e up to these super­ lative s, Rendall w ill be a constant threat. Another sopho­ more of considerable promise is goal tender Lome Howes, of Kirkland Lake, who will battle Lucier for the privilege . of defending Michigan's goal this season.

Other firs t-y e a r men are forwards Dick Dunningan of Edmonton; Jerry Karpinka, also of Edmonton; and defense­ man Bob S chiller—six foot one, two hundred pounder from Windsor; and Bob Pitts and Bernie Hanna, both of Calgary,.Alberta. Mike Buchanan, Neil's brother, is ex­ pected to join the team next February as a defenseman.10

The press material released for the 1956-57 season permeates a sense of disbelief at the inhuman accomplishments of a coach and a

team.

Superlatives adequate to describe the achievements of the University of Michigan hockey team during recent years are indeed hard to come by.

Under the shrewd management of Coach Vic Heyliger, the Wolverine pucksters have planted themselves at the pinnacle of national fame in this fast-growing winter sport. So completely has Michigan dominated the in ter­ collegiate hockey scene that no other institution even approaches the impressive record established by Hey­ liger's talented skaters.

B riefly, the record is this: During the nine years in which the National Collegiate Athletic Association has conducted playoffs for the championship at the famed Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Michigan has been chosen as one of four tourney participants in all nine events. Six times the Wolverines have returned with the trophy emblematic of United States collegiate hockey supremacy. Curiously, on the three occasions Michigan failed to win the crown. They were eliminated in their opening semifinal contest.

T^Les E tter, "University of Michigan Ice Hockey Press Materi­ al," 1954-55. 71

Last year, the Maize and Blue got o ff to a typ ically mediocre start in some early but crucial games. They finished with a blazing nine-game winning streak— in­ cluding four straight over Western League pacesetting Michigan Tech. This splurge netted the Wolverines th eir first outright League title , a 20-2-1 season slate and another invitation to the Broadmoor Ice Palace. There l i t t l e St. Lawrence College put up a stubborn battle only to succumb, 3-2, in a thrilling overtime clash. The Wolverines went on the next night to punish Michigan Tech’s Huskies for the fifth time and retain their cham­ pionship.

Heyliger's 1956-57 edition w ill be potent, indeed, with a cluster of returning lettermen bolstered by a promising crop of sophomores and a pair of veterans whose e lig ib ility w ill be regained at the beginning of the second semester.

At the front of the class of lettermen w ill be the incomparable Lome Howes—the blond, quiet-spoken goal- tender from Kirkland Lake, Ontario. A true All-American, Howes (in his junior year last season) stamped himself as perhaps the greatest Michigan goalie of a ll time.

Howes, this year, will, work behind a staff of five . capable defensemen headed by Captain Bobby P itts and Bob Schiller. Neil Buchanan and Bernie Hanna (both veterans) will round out the defenders, together with sophomore Barrie Hayton.

Returning forwards include hardworking and nimble Tom Rendall; Ed Switzer, who turned in a three-goal performance in last March's NCAA t i t l e game; Don McIn­ tosh, a tall junior wing of whom great things are exr pected this year; diminutive Dicky Dunnigan; Neil MacDonald; Jerry Karpinka; Baden Cosby; and Morley Chin, Returning in February w ill be Wally Maxwell, hard- shooting and effective center, and defenseman Mike Buchanan.11

llte s Etter, "University of Michigan Ice Hockey Press Materi^ al," 1956-57. TABLE 2 72

VIC HEYLIGER'S COACHING RECORD AT MICHIGAN

(229-62-13)

YEAR IE G W L X PCT M OFF 1944-45 1 9 3 6 0 .333 30 62

1945-46 2 25 17 7 1 .700 167 104

1946-47 3 21 13 7 1 .643 111 76

+ 1947-48* 4 24 21 2 1 .891 141 63

+ 1948-49 5 25 20 2 3 .860 179 74

+ 1949-50 6 26 22 4 0 .852 176 72

+ 1950-51* 7 27 22 4 1 .833 212 100

+ 1951-52* 8 26 22 4 0 .846 161 70

.+ 1952-53* 9 24 17 7 0 .708 139 71

+ 1953-54 10 23 15 6 2 .696 120 84

+ 1954-55* 11 24 18 5 1 .771 107 70

+ 1955-56* 12 23 20 2 1 .891 109 49

+ 1956-57 13 25 18 5 2 .760 112 79

+ Participated in NCAA Tournament

* NCAA Champion 73 MICHIGAN HOCKEY GAMES

WHILE VIC HEYLIGER WAS COACH

1944-1945

Michigan ...... 5 Detroit Vickers ...... 12

Michigan ...... 0 Minnesota...... 10

Michigan ...... 4 Point Edward...... 3

Michigan ...... 6 Brantford...... 4

Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota...... 15

Michigan ...... 5 Waterloo Athletic Club.. 4

Michigan ...... 4 London A thletic Club 6

Michigan ...... 3 Detroit Vickers ...... 4

Michigan ...... 1 Middlesex-Huron Regt 4

Season Summary

Games Won, 3; Lost, 6; Tied, 0

Points for Michigan, 36; For Opponents, 31 74

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1944-45

Captain: Ted Greer

Manager: George D. Howland

"M" Awards

Albert F. Allman Robert L ilie n fie ld Robert C. Graham Fred Lounsberry Ted Greer Richard A. Mixer Charles R. Henderson Jr. Karl Sulentich John Darrah Jenswold Herbert H. Upton, Jr.

Reserve Awards

Robert W. Precious Russell W. WalStrom 1945-1946 75

Michigan...... 7 Windsor S p itfire s 2

Michigan ...... 8 ■ Owen Sound Juniors 3

Michigan ...... 8 Windsor S p itfire s 5

Michigan ...... 4 Windsor Colonials 2

Michigan ...... 5 Sault Ste. Marie...... 1

Michigan ...... 6 De LaSalle Juniors 3

Michigan ...... 16 Sarnia Hockey Club 2

Michigan ...... 5 Colorado College...... 4

Michigan ...... 10 Colorado College...... 2

Michigan ...... 5 Minnesota...... 2

Michigan ...... 8 Minnesota...... 4

Michigan ...... 3 Toronto University 9

Michigan ...... 5 Toronto University 7

Michigan ...... 13 McMaster University 6

Michigan...... 3 Mi nnesota ...... 3

Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota...... 5

Michigan ...... 1 Toronto...... 6

Michigan ...... 0 Toronto...... 4

Michigan ...... 9 Paris...... 4

Michigan ...... 6 Brantford...... 11

Michigan...... 4 Michigan Tech ...... 5

Michigan...... 9 Michigan Tech ...... 5

Michigan ...... 9 Windsor Auto Club 6

Michigan ...... 11 Michigan Tech ...... 3

Michigan ...... 10 Michigan Tech ...... 0 Season Summary

Games Won, 17; Lost, 7; Tied, 1 Points fo r Michigan, 157; For Opponents, 104 76

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1945-46

Captain: Connie Hill

Manager: None

"M" Awards

Robert Arnot Jack Maclnnes Neil Celley Gordon MacMillan Clem Cossalter Robert Marshall Walter Gacek Al Renfrew Wally Grant Ross Smith Connie H ill Dick Starrak B ill Jacobson Sam Steadman Chet Kuznier Carl Sulentich

Secondary Awards

Ching Johnson Jack MacBeth 1946-1947

Michigan ...... 5 Detroit Red Wings (Exhib.). 7

Michigan ...... 10 Windsor S p itfire s ...... 7

Michigan ...... 3 Toronto...... 6

Michigan ...... 9 Marquette Hockey Club 6

Michigan ...... 2 Toronto...... 4

Michigan ...... 3 Dartmouth...... 6

Michigan ...... 4 Colorado College...... 6

Michigan ...... 5 Colorado C ollege...... 1

Michigan » ...... 1 Olympic Club (San F .) ...... 0

Michigan ...... 8 C alifornia...... 1

Michigan ...... 2 Queens University...... 1

Michigan ...... 6 Queens University...... 3

Michigan ...... 4 Minnesota...... 4

Michigan ...... 5 Minnesota...... 4

Michigan ...... 15 Brantford...... 2

Michigan ...... 11 McMaster...... 4

Michigan ...... 4 Minnesota...... 2

Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota...... 3

Michigan ...... 8 Waterloo...... 6

Michigan ...... 5 Windsor Spitfires..., 6

Michigan ...... 3 Michigan Tech ...... 1

Michigan ...... 1 Michigan Tech...... 3

Season Summary

Games Won, 13; Lost, 7; Tied, 1

Points for Michigan, 111; For Opponents, 76 78

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1946-47

Captain: Conrad R. H ill

Manager: George D. Howland

"M" Awards

George Balestri Gordon McMillen Walter F. Gacek George L. Peugeot Ted Greer Allan M. Renfrew Conrad R. H ill Richard B. Starrak William N. Jacobson Sam Stedman Robert W. Marshall Herbert H. Upton, Jr. John A. McDonald

Reserve Awards

William Pritula

Freshman Numerals

John G riffin John Maturo Paul Milanowski 79 1947-1948

Michigan ...... 9 Detroit Red Wings (Exhib.).. 7 Michigan ...... 13 McMaster ...... 1 Michigan...... 4 Windsor S p itfire s ...... 3 Michigan ...... 3 Toronto...... 2 Michigan...... 4 Toronto...... 4 Michigan ...... 5 North Dakota...... 6 Michigan ...... 5 North Dakota...... 2 Michigan ...... 3 Minnesota...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 Minnesota...... 1 Michigan...... 9 Michigan Tech ...... 8 Michigan ...... 4 Michigan Tech ...... 0 Michigan ...... 6 Yale...... 1 Michigan ...... 7 Y a le ...... 3 Michigan ...... 6 Minnesota...... 2 Michigan ...... 4 Minnesota...... 5 Michigan ...... 11 C alifornia...... 2 Michigan ...... 4 California...... 2 Michigan ...... 12 Western Ontario...... 0 Michigan ...... 3 Colorado College...... 1 Michigan ...... 6 Colorado College...... 1 Michigan ...... 6 Michigan Tech ...... 5 Michigan...... 7 Michigan Tech ...... 4

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 19; Lost, 2; Tied, 1

Points for Michigan, 127; For Opponents, 55

NCAA

Michigan...... 6 Boston College...... 4

Michigan ...... 8 Dartmouth...... 4

Overall Season Record

Games Won, 21; Lost, 2; Tied, 1

Points fo r Michigan, 141; For Opponents, 63 80

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1947-48

Captain: Conrad R. H ill

Manager: Brook H ill Snow

"M" Awards

Leonard Brumm Owen E. McArdle Clement Cossalter John A. McDonald Walter F. Gacek Gordon W. McMillan Wallace Grant Allan M. Renfrew Edward Greer David Ross Smith Conrad R. H ill Richard B. Starrak William N. Jacobson Samuel Stedman

Reserve Awards

John T. G riffin Paul Milanowski

Freshman Numerals

Albert F. Bassey Gilbert Burford Oswald V. Clark Jr. Robert S. Fleming Fred T. Haner 81 1948-1949

Michigan. 2 Toledo Mercurys...... ? Michigan. 2 Windsor S p itfire s ------, , ? 12 Toronto...... , 1 6 Toronto...... , 4 Michigan. 5 Colorado College...... , 2 4 Colorado College...... 4 8 North Dakota.-...... , 1 11 North Dakota...... , 4 Michigan. 7 Cal ifo rn ia ...... , ? Michigan. 7 C alifornia...... 7 6 Queens University....,... 5 5 Michigan Tech ...... 4 Michigan. 2 Michigan Tech ...... 6 14 McMaster ...... , . 1 14 North Dakota...... ,. 7 10 North Dakota...... , . . 4 4 Minnesota...... 1 6 Minnesota...... , 3 10 Minnesota...... 4 4 Minnesota...... , 1 Michigan. 7 Michigan Tech ...... 1 8 Michigan Tech...... ,...3 13 Sarnia Hockey Club— 2

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 19; Lost, 1; Tied, 3

Points for Michigan, 167; For Opponents, 66

NCAA

Michigan ...... 2 Dartmouth...... 4

Michigan ...... 10 Colorado College 4

Overall Season Record

Games Won, 20; Lost, 2; Tied, 3

Points fo r Michigan, 179; For Opponents, 74 82

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1948-49

Captain: A llan M. Renfrew

Manager: Tom A. Bayless

"M" Awards

Albert F. Bassely, Jr. Conrad R. H ill Leonard W. Brumm, Jr. Owen E. McArdle Gilbert P. Burford John A. McDonald Neil R, Celley Gordon McMillan Robert S. Fleming Joseph F. Marmo Walter F. Gacek Allan M. Renfrew Wallace D. Grant Richard B. Starrak John I. Griffin Sam Stedman

Reserve Award

Paul Milanowski

Freshman Numerals

Graham S. Cragg Paul Pelow Harold Downes Ronald Roberts Robert V. Heathcott Jr. Donald M. Zanfagna Edward A. May 83 1949-1950

Michigan ...... 12 McMaster ...... 3 Michigan...... 2 Toronto...... 1 Michigan ...... 2 Toronto...... 4 Michigan...... 7 Brown...... 3 Michigan...... 7 Brown...... 5 Michigan ...... 8 North Dakota...... 4 Michigan ...... 6 North Dakota...... 0 Michigan ...... 3 Montreal...... 4 Michigan ...... 5 Montreal...... 3 Michigan ...... 8 Princeton ...... 5 Michigan ...... 4 Yale...... 1 Michigan ...... 4 Windsor S p itfire s...... 1 Michigan ...... 1 Detroit Red Wings (Exhi.).lO Michigan...... 2 Minnesota...... 1 Michigan...... 2 Michigan Tech ...... 3 Michigan...... 9 Michigan Tech...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 Colorado College...... 1 Michigan ...... 11 Colorado College...... 1 Michigan ...... 10 Michigan State ...... 4 Michigan...... 7 Minnesota...... 3 Michigan ...... 6 Minnesota...... 2 Michigan...... 9 Michigan Tech...... 3 Michigan ...... 6 Michigan Tech ...... 1 Michigan ...... 17 Michigan State ...... 1 Michigan ...... 5 Western Ontario...... 4 Michigan...... 6 Minnesota...... 2

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 22; Lost, 3; Tied, 0

Points fo r Michigan, 153; For Opponents, 62

NCAA

Michigan ...... 3 Boston University...... 4

Michigan ...... 10 Boston Colllege...... 6

Overall Season Summary

Games Won, 23; Lost, 4; Tied, 0

Points fo r Michigan, 176; For Opponents, 72 84

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1949-50

Captain: Wally Grant

Manager: H, Howard Stephenson

"M" Awards

Leonard W. Brumm John J. Maclnnes Gilbert Burford John A. McDonald Neil R. Celley Joseph Marmo Graham S. Cragg Edward A. May Harold Downes Paul Milanowski Wallace 0. Grant Louis Paolatto Robert V. Heathcott Paul Pelow D. Earl Keyes D. Ross Smith

No Reserve Awards

Freshman Numerals

Alexander D. MacLellan Peter H. Steuerwald John Matchefts Harry A. Stuhldreher Jr. Gordon C. Naylor Russell A. Wivell 85 1950-1951

Michigan ...... 8 Detroit Auto Club...... 6 Michigan ...... 11 Princeton ...... 6 Michigan ...... 10 Princeton ...... 2 Michigan ...... 8 Western O ntario...... 2 Michigan ...... 14 Western O ntario...... 1 Michigan ...... 11 Boston College___ ...... 2 Michigan ...... 3 Boston University...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 Minnesota...... 4 Michigan ...... 6 Minnesota...... 4 Michigan ...... 8 Montreal ...... 8 Michigan ...... 2 Montreal...... 3 Michigan ...... 12 . Minnesota...... 2 Michigan ...... 8 Minnesota...... 0 Michigan ...... 5 Denver...... 4 Michigan ...... 3 Denver...... 5 Michigan ...... 6 Colorado College...... 4 Michigan ...... 7 Colorado College...... 9 Michigan ...... 9 Toronto...... 5 Michigan ...... 4 Toronto...... 6 Michigan ...... 10 Michigan State ___ ...... 1 Michigan ...... 11 North Dakota...... 4 Michigan ...... 12 North Dakota...... 4 Michigan ...... 9 Michigan State ___ ...... 6 Michigan ...... 8 Michigan Tech ...... 3 Michigan ...... 7 Michigan Tech ...... 4 Michigan ...... 5 Detroit Red Wings (Exhib.)...14

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 20; Lost, 4; Tied 1

Points fo r Michigan, 197; For Opponents, 97

NCAA

Michigan ...... 8 Boston University 2 Michigan ...... 7 Brown...... 1

Overall Season Summary

Games Won, 22; Lost, 4; Tied, 1

Points fo r Michigan, 212; For Opponents, 100 86

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1950-51

Captain: Gilbert P. Burford

Manager: Lee Kaufmann

"M" Awards

Albert F. Bassey Jr. John J. McKennell Gilbert P. Burford Alexander D. MacLellan Neil R. Cel ley Joseph F. Marmo Graham S. Cragg John P. Matchefts Harold W. Downes Edward A„ May Robert V. Heathcott Gordon C. Naylor Donald Earl Keyes Harry A. Stuhldreher Jr.

Freshman Numerals

George Chin Douglas M. Mullen Patrick M. Cooney Douglas M. Philpott James J. Haas Joseph E. Schisler Willard J. Ikola Reginald E. Shave Robert N. Lotzer Albert H. Burchfield Ronald M. Martinson 87 1951-1952

Michigan...... 11 Michigan State ...... 1 Michigan...... 9 Montreal...... 2 Michigan...... 4 Montreal...... 5 Michigan...... 4 Toronto...... 1 Michigan...... 6 Toronto...... 4 Michigan...... 7 Denver...... ,5 Michigan...... 4 Denver...... 5 Michigan...... 4 North Dakota...... , , ? Michigan...... 2 North Dakota...... ,. 4 Michigan...... 5 Minnesota...... 4 Michigan...... 6 Minnesota...... Michigan...... 7 Michigan State ...... , ,. 1 Michigan...... 7 Minnesota...... ? Michigan...... 5 Minnesota...... ,. n Michigan...... 9 Michigan Tech ...... ? Michigan...... 10 Michigan Tech ...... , 4 Michigan...... 3 Colorado College...... 5 Michigan...... 7 Colorado College ...... , . 6 Michigan... McGill ...... n Michigan...... 3 McGill ...... 1 Michigan... Michigan State ...... 2 Michigan... Michigan State ...... , 2 Michigan...... 11 Michigan Tech ...... , 4 Michigan...... 4 Michigan Tech ...... , 3

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 20; Lost, 4; Tied, 0

Points for Michigan, 148; For Opponents, 66

NCAA

Michigan ...... 9 St. Lawrence ...... 3

Michigan ...... 4 Colorado College...... 1

Overall Season Record

Games Won, 22; Lost, 4; Tied, 0

Points for Michigan, 161; For Opponents, 70 88

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1951-52

Captain: Donald Earl Keyes

Manager: Charles Hyman

"M" Awards

George E. Chin Alexander D. MacLellan Patrick J. Cooney John H. McKennell Graham S. Cragg Ronald H. Martinson James J. Haas Edward A. May Robert V. Heathcott Douglas C. Mullen Willard J. Ikola Paul E. Pelow Donald Earl Keyes Douglas M. Philpott William G. Lucier Reginald E. Shave

Freshman Numerals

Douglas B. Dunn Telesforo A. Mascarin 89 1952-1953

Michigan ...... 6 St. Lawrence ...... 1 Michigan ...... 6 Toronto...... 3 Michigan...... 3 Colorado College 2 Michigan...... 10 Colorado College...... 6 Michigan ...... 5 Denver...... 2 Michigan ...... 4 Denver...... 5 Michigan ...... 6 Michigan State ...... 0 Michigan ...... 13 Montreal...... 2 Michigan ...... 1 Montreal...... 2 Michigan ...... 10 Michigan State ...... 2 Michigan ...... 3 Minnesota...... 4 Michigan ...... ,...... 5 Minnesota...... 4 Michigan ...... 4 Detroit Red Wings(Exhib.).11 Michigan ...... 4 Michigan State ...... 0 Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota-. ■...... 5 Michigan ...... 0 Minnesota...... 4 Michigan ...... 5 North Dakota...... 3 Michigan ...... 8 North Dakota...... 3 Michigan ...... 0 McGill ...... 7 Michigan ...... 1 McGill ...... 2 Michigan ...... 8 Michigan State ...... 4 Michigan ...... 8 Michigan Tech ...... 3 Michigan ...... 10 Michigan Tech ...... 2

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 15; Lost, 7; Tied, 0

Points for Michigan, 118; For Opponents, 65

NCAA

Michigan ...... 14 Boston University 2

Michigan 7 Minnesota ...... 3

Overall Season Summary

Games Won, 17; Lost, 7; Tied, 0

Points fo r Michigan, 139; For Opponents, 70 90

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1952-53

Captain: Earl Keyes

Manager: Pete Pickus

"M" Awards

George E. Chin Telesforo A. Mascarin Patrick M. Cooney John P. Matchefts Douglas B. Dunn Alex D. McClellan James J. Haas John H. McKennell D. Earl Keyes Louis B. Paolatto William G. Lucier Douglas M. Philpott Ronald H. Martinson Reginald E. Shave

Freshman Numerals

Neil E, Buchanan Donald MacArthur Jay A. Gould William H. MacFarland Yves Hebert 91 1953-1954

Michigan ...... 7 McGill ...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 McGill ...... 7 Michigan ...... 6 Toronto...... 1 Michigan ...... 0 Toronto...... 0 Michigan ...... 3 North Dakota...... 10 Michigan ...... 3 North Dakota...... 5 Michigan ...... 1 Detroit Red Wings(Exhib)10 Michigan ...... 7 Michigan State ...... 4 Michigan ...... 3 Michigan State ...... 1 Michigan ...... 4 Minnesota...... 5 Michigan ...... 4 Minnesota...... 3 Michigan ...... 8 Michigan Tech ...... 3 Michigan ...... 7 Michigan Tech ...... 6 Michigan ...... 11 Denver...... 4 Michigan ...... 5 Denver...... 3 Michigan ...... 5 Colorado College...... 1 Michigan ...... 9 Colorado College...... 2 Michigan...... 0 Michigan State ...... 0 Michigan ...... 3 Michigan State ...... 2 Michigan ...... 6 Minnesota ...... 3 Michigan ...... 5 Minnesota...... 2. Michigan ...... 8 Grand Rapids Rockets....1 2

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 14; Lost, 5; Tied, 2

Points fo r Michigan, 109; For Opponents, 76

NCAA

Michigan. 4 Rensselaer Poly. In s t ...; 6

Michigan. 7 Boston College ...... 2

Overall Season Summary

Games Won, 15; Lost, 6; Tied, 2

Points fo r Michigan, 120; For Opponents, 84 92

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1953-54

Captain: James J. Haas

Manager: Peter Pickus

"M" Awards

Neil E. Buchanan Telesford A. Mascarin- George E. Chin Donald M. MacArthur Patrick M. Cooney William H. MacFarland Douglas B. Dunn Douglas C. Mullen Jay A. Gould .Louis Paolatto James J. Haas Douglas M. Philpott Yves Hebert Reginald E. Shave Willard J. Ikola Terry Sheehan William G. Lucier

Freshman Numerals

Lome D. Howes G. Richard Dunnigan Robert P. Schiller Jerry 0. Karpinka Bernard Hanna Thomas L. Rendall Robert W, Pitts Baden L. Cosby 93 1954-1955

Michigan ...... 7 McGill ...... 2 Michigan ...... 4 McGill ...... 2 Michigan ...... 3 Montreal...... 2 Michigan ...... 3 Montreal...... 3 Michigan ...... 0 Colorado College...... 4 Michigan ...... 4 Colorado College...... 5 Michigan ...... 2 Denver...... 1 Michigan ...... 2 Denver...... 8 Michigan ...... 7 Michigan State ...... 0 Michigan ...... 3 Michigan State ...... 1 Michigan ...... 3 Detroit Red Wings(Exhib)10 Michigan : ...... 4 Minnesota...... 10 Michigan ...... 5 Minnesota...... 3 Michigan ...... 4 Michigan Tech ...... 2 Michigan ...... 1 Michigan Tech ...... 4 Michigan ...... 7 Michigan State ...... 4 Michigan ...... 4 Michigan State ...... 3 Michigan ...... 5 Minnesota...... 2 Michigan ...... 3 Minnesota...... 1 Michigan ...... 7 North Dakota...... 0 Michigan ...... 7 North Dakota...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 Michigan Tech ...... 1 Michigan ...... 8 Michigan Tech ...... 4

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 16; Lost, 5; Tied, 1

Points for Michigan, 95; For Opponents, 64

NCAA

Michigan ...... 7 Harvard ...... 3

Michigan. . . . 5 Colorado College.. 3

Overall Season Summary

Games Won, 18; Lost, 5; Tied, 1

Points for Michigan, 107; For Opponents, 70 •94

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1954-55

Captain: William H. MacFarland

Manager: Richard T. Brown

"M" Awards

Michael M. Buchanan Lome D. Howes Neil E. Buchanan Jerry 0. Karpinka Baden L. Cosby William G. Lucier G. Richard Dunnigan William H. MacFarland Jay A. Gould Robert W. P itts Bernard L. Hanna Thomas W. Rendall Yves Hebert Robert P. Schiller

Freshman Awards

Neil W. McDonald Edward W. Switzer Donald W. McIntosh Wallace D. Maxwell 95 1955-1956

Michigan ...... 5 McGill ...... 3 Michigan ...... 5 North Dakota...... 1 Michigan ...... 2 North Dakota...... 4 Michigan ...... 3 Denver...... 3 Michigan ...... 6 Denver...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 Michigan State ...... 2 Michigan ...... 3 Michigan State ...... 1 Michigan ...... 1 U.S. Olympic Team...... 4 Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota...... 0 Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota...... 1 Michigan ...... 3 Michigan State ...... 2 Michigan ...... 7 Michigan State ...... 1 Michigan ...... 3 Colorado College...... 6 Michigan ...... 7 Colorado College...... 2 Michigan ...... 7 Detroit Red Wings (Exhib) 9 Michigan ...... 5 Minnesota...... 3 Michigan ...... 6 Minnesota...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 Montreal...... 2 Michigan ...... 10 Montreal...... 1 Michigan ...... 5 Michigan Tech ...... 2 Michigan ...... 6 Michigan Tech ...... 3 Michigan ...... 5 Michigan Tech ...... 1 Michigan ...... 5 Michigan Tech ...... 1

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 18; Lost, 3; Tied, 1

Points for Michigan, 101; For Opponents, 47

NCAA

Michigan. 2 St. Lawrence ...... 1

Michigan. 7 Michigan Tech 5

Overall Season Summary

Games Won, 20; Lost, 3; Tied, 1

Points fo r Michigan, 110; For Opponents, 55 96

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1955-56

Captain: William H. MacFarland

Manager: Richard T. Brown

"M" Awards

Neil E. Buchan Neil W. McDonald Baden L. Cosby Donald W. McIntosh G. Richard Dunnigan William H MacFarland Jay A. Gould Robert W. Pitts Bernard W. Hanna Thomas W. Rendal1 Lome D. Howes Robert P. S chiller Jerry 0. Karpinka Edward W. Switzer

Freshman Numerals

Kenneth Ross Childs John A. MacFarland Donald G. Gourley Terrence P. Mcllhargey Barrie A. Hayton Clifford G. Osborne John R, Hutton John F. Rendall Jay I . Katz Gary J. Starr 97 1956-1957

Michigan ...... 4 Toronto...... 3 Michigan...... 2 Toronto...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 McGill ...... 2 Michigan ...... 4 Colorado College...... 5 Michigan ...... 5 Colorado College...... 7 Michigan ...... 3 Denver...... 4 Michigan ...... 3 Denver...... 2 Michigan ...... 4 Michigan State ...... 3 Michigan ...... 1 Michigan Tech ...... 0 Michigan ...... 5 Michigan Tech ...... 5 Michigan ...... 3 Michigan S t a t e .... 2 Michigan ...... 7 Montreal...... 3 Michigan ...... 6. Montreal...... 0 Michigan ...... 3 Minnesota...... 7 Michigan ...... 4 Minnesota...... 3 Michigan ...... 2 Detroit Red Wings(Exhib)13 Michigan ...... 8 Minnesota...... 1 Michigan ...... 2 Minnesota ...... 1 Michigan ...... 5 Michigan State ...... 4 Michigan....’ ...... 2 Michigan State ...... 1 Michigan ...... 7 North Dakota...... 1 Michigan ...... 3 North Dakota...... 2 Michigan ...... 5 Michigan Tech ...... 3 Michigan ...... 7 Michigan Tech ...... 4

Regular Season Summary

Games Won, 17; Lost, 4; Tied, 2

Points fo r Michigan, 100; For Opponents, 65

NCAA

Michigan ...... 6 Harvard...... 1

Michigan ...... 6 Colorado College...13

Overall Season Summary

Games Won, 18; Lost, 5; Tied, 2

Points fo r Michigan, 112; For Opponents. 79 98

MICHIGAN HOCKEY - 1956-57

Captain: Robert W. Pitts

Manager: Richard T. Brown

"M" Awards

Michael M. Buchanan Jay T. Katz K. Ross Childs Wallace D. Maxwell G. Richard Dunnigan Donald W. McIntosh Donald G. Gourley Neil Wo McDonald Bernard W. Hanna Robert W. Pitts Barrie A. Hayton Thomas W. Rendall Lome D. Howes Gary J. Starr John R. Hutton Robert P. Schiller Jerry 0. Karpinka Edward W. Switzer

Freshman Awards

Steven J. Bucher Gary T. Unsworth Delky Dozzi Robert S. Watt Ross Hudson Robert C. White Peter W. Kelley Warren M. M ills Gary R. Mattson 99

MICHIGAN'S HOCKEY ALL-AMERICANS

DURING HEYLIGER'S ERA

Wally Grant 1953 - John Matchefts Wally Gacek Reg Shave Connie H ill George Chin Willard Ikola 1949 - Wally Grant Alex MacLellan Wally Gacek Connie H ill 1954 - Jim Haas Ross Smith B ill MacFarland

1950 - Ross Smith 1955 - Lome Howes Wally Grant Tom Rendall B ill MacFarland 1951 - John Matchefts Bob Schiller Neil Cel ley Mike Buchanan Hal Downes Dick Dunnigan Bob Heathcott Gil Burford 1956 - Lome Howes B ill MacFarland 1952 - George Chin Bob Schiller John McKennell Reg Shave Doug Philpott Jim Haas Earl Keyes TOO

Vic Heyliger's coaching record at Michigan was incredible. It can speak for itself. But more importantly, he did not "take" from the game of hockey, he "gave" to i t . Amo Bessone (the present Dean of College Coaches at Michigan State University with over 30 years of experience) calls Vic Heyliger, "The Father of Modern College 12 Hockey." Vic was a tremendous recruiter. A1 Renfrew, who replaced

Vic as coach of Michigan in 1957 and coached there until 1973, calls

Vic "The greatest recruiter of all time and also the greatest college hockey coach of a ll tim e.'-^

The following remarks in a le tte r to this author from A1 Ren­ frew sum up a former player's feelings about this man who coached him for four years of college.

The year was 1945; we were just released from the ser­ vice. Through a barber in the north end of Toronto, we heard that the University of Michigan was looking for stu­ dent hockey players. John Maclnnes, Ross Smith, and myself were interested and wrote Vic about coming to Ann Arbor. Vic had made a move back to Ann Arbor the previous year from Illin o is , where he had coached championship teams and played a b it with the Black Hawks.

We arrived in Ann Arbor on September 23, 1945, and started skating the first day. School didn't start until November 1 that year because of the War, and Michigan was on a tri-semester in those days. Actually, freshman footr ball players were to play almost a full season without ever being in school.

The tradition and great Michigan feeling was rampant everywhere. The feeling of being able to play at this great school permeated through the entire squad. Vic had brought in seventeen freshmen, out of which nine would play four years together. It formed a bond that started

1 p Personal interview with A1 Renfrew, July 1, 1976.

^^Personal interview with Amo Bessone, June 27, 1976. 101 the fine hockey tradition that has made this school the greatest in N.C.A.A. hockey history in the number of championships won. We had players seventeen years of age (lik e Wally Grant) and some of almost th irty (lik e Connie H ill, who, in many instances, was a father confessor himself to some of the younger players). The four years we a ll had at Michigan were, as we found out after we graduated, the greatest of our lives and experiences that we would relive many times as the years went by: like Vic telling the taxi driver in Chicago that he could put a lot of hay in the Union Station. Or, while playing a game in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Christmas Eve and having Wally Grant shoot a puck at goalie. Jack MacDonald, while Jack was kibitzing with a fan and not paying too much attention to what was going on. The puck h ittin g the post and old 'Black Jack’ skating to the bench to tell us all that he wouldn't stand for any of that. Another time we were in Toronto and B ill Jacobson told Neil Celley that Squib Walker, the Toronto scout, wanted to talk to him. Neil almost missed the bus waiting for him. Of course. Squib was probably in Vancouver at the time.

Vic was the catalyst behind a ll these moves and would be in on every maneuver. I think, during the four years we were together, we lost only about f i f ­ teen games and won close to seventy. The feeling on the squad was that our best hockey was in the practice sessions where we played each other. Vic was lik e a father, brother, and good friend to all his players. The schooling was the important thing. The fact that he would do anything he could in order for one to stay in school was, in la te r years, to be the best thing he ever did for any of his hockey players.

I think, of a ll the people associated with college hockey over the years and in my memory, Vic was lik e a 'Star in the North.' All he did was win National Championships, develop young men, and help college hockey be the great sport i t is today. Other-coaches were so envious that he had already won four or five National Championships before they voted him in as 'Coach of the Year.'

I w ill always be eternally grateful to the man who made playing hockey and winning both a fun and rewarding experience.

^ \e tte r from A1 Renfew to author, July 6, 1976. CHAPTER V II

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GAME OF HOCKEY

Vic Heyliger's contribution to hockey went far beyond the nor­ mal coach-player relationship of most athletic leaders. Vic was active in a ll aspects of the game. His principal dream was for the growth of college hockey. All his energies were directed toward the profligation of the sport of hockey. In a very conscious and well- planned attack to accomplish his goals, he pushed the following con­ cepts: First, that there be a national ice hockey tournament to de­ termine a National Collegiate Ice Hockey Champion. Thé tournament was the prize that enabled Heyliger to assemble the coaches for the formation of a second dream, a "Hockey Coaches Association." This was to be a professional group of amateur college hockey coaches working for the betterment and the spread of college hockey. Finally, his third dream was to use the Coaches Association as a means of

starting a hockey league, particularly a league in the Midwest.

Vic's magnetism, drive, and devotion to the game of hockey

enabled him to accomplish a ll three of these dreams. He probably de­

serves more credit for these accomplishments than for a ll of those winning seasons he had or the National Championship that he won.

102 103

Founding the National Tournament

The f ir s t national collegiate ice hockey tournament was held

in 1948 at the Broadmoor Hotel Ice Palace in Colorado Springs,

Colorado. The concept of a national tournament had long been a

dream of many hockey coaches and university/col lege administrators.

The names of Cheddy Thompson (hockey coach of Colorado College) and

Herb Gallagher (hockey coach of Northeastern) are usually mentioned among the driving forces in the formation of this dream, but the name

of Vic Heyliger is the one that appears to have been the catalyst

that helped put it all together.

As Murray Murdoch, former Yale coach, said, " It was Vic Heyliger

that did a ll the work."^

Thayer T u tt, president of the Broadmoor and a great fan of

hockey and figure skating, also helped start the tournament in 1948—

with the assistance of the hockey coaches and other friends of

hockey. Without Mr. T u tt, there would not have been a tournament.

"I really don't know who first conceived of the idea," Mr. Tutt

said. " It was more of a common understanding. Several people, in ­

cluding myself, wanted to s ta rt i t . The Broadmoor agreed to under­

write the tournament. There were people lik e Vic Heyliger, Herb

Gallagher, and Cheddy Thompson who laid a lo t of the foundation for

such a dream becoming a r e a lity ."2

^Personal interview with Murray Murdoch, June 25, 1976.

^Morris Fraser, " It All Began in 1948," National Col leg Athletic Association Hockey Program, March, 1969, p. 7. 104 The first five or six years it lost money. Mr. Tutt recalled;

We had an awful time selling tickets, but as people became educated to the idea, the attendance grew. Every­ one became more interested. The la s t few years i t was here, the tournament began to break even. Then i t v/as sold out in 1957. I was te rrib ly interested in the tour­ nament, and I was anxious to see i t become a success.3

The old Ice Palace seated 1,800 when the tournament began. I t was fille d almost every night fo r the tournament. In 1952, prior to the World Hockey Tournament, the building v/as expanded. I t was renamed the Broadmoor World Arena, seating nearly 5,000.4

The f ir s t ten NCAA Championships were held at the Broadmoor.

Six of them were won by Michigan, coached by Vic Heyliger. His team competed in the National Tournament for ten straight years. For the f ir s t seven years, the event was called the NCAA Tournament. I t v/as not designated "NCAA Championship" until 1955. The games at the

Broadmoor kicked o ff a month of fe s tiv itie s . There were parades, balls, beauty contests, and many other activities.

One of the ritu a ls for those connected with the team was the

"branding." A souvenir plate of wood was tied around the seat of one's pants. His in itia ls were burned into the wood with a branding iron. When Harry Cleverly, Boston University coach, "made lik e a steer" in 1950, something went wrong. The wood slipped. The iron

^Ibid.

^'ibid. 105

singed Harry's derrière, ruining his good trousers. Embarrassed,

the Broadmoor bought the sizzling Cleverly a whole new w a r d r o b e .^

The following account by Eddie O'Brien (of the f ir s t National

Tournament) recreated a little of the nostalgia of the 1948 First

National Championship game:

Twenty-nine years ago, in March of 1948, the Na­ tional Collegiate Athletic Association staged its fir s t national college tournament at the Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs.

The formula for selecting the participating teams was somewhat different from today’s method, but the tournament was a smashing success and a s e ll­ out.

Colorado College, the host tegm, [coached by Cheddy Thompson) had posted a 13-7 record before going into the tournament and had earned what was then called the West-Far West berth, by defeating the University of California early in January, 1948. Western college hockey was loosely organ­ ized at the time. Colorado's pair of wins over California was judged more significantly than any of its others against club teams or teams that were just starting up.

Michigan, coached by Vic Heyliger, (who was la ­ ter to return to Colorado and coach the Air Force Academy) took a string of 19 wins, 2 losses, and a tie to the tournament.

The Ivy League sent coach Eddie Jeremiah's Dart­ mouth team on the plane out of Boston's Logan A ir­ port, with a 20-2 record. The other Eastern team was Boston College, coached by pink-faced 'Snooks' Kelley. The Boston College team had finished second to Boston University in the New England League during the regular season. But the Eagles finished fir s t in the postseason playoffs. Boston College had a 13-4

5 Thomas J. Burke, Editor, "Looking Back—The First Quarter Cen­ tury of NCAA Hockey," National Collegiate Athletic Association Hockey Program, March, 1973, p. 33. 106

season record and a nine-game winning streak, when the plane landed in Colorado Springs.

We recently talked to 'Snooks' Kelley at Boston College’ s McHugh Forum. He recalls the moment, saying: 'Colorado College was the host team, and they really did a job. They showed a bunch of kids, most of whom had never been west of Lake Champlain, what Western hospitality was really like. They slapped 10-gallon hats on our heads, branded us in fun, and i t was just —well—heaven on earth. That's what we called it — heaven. Thayer Tutt v/as the son of the owner of that beautiful Broadmoor Hotel, and he did everything pos­ sible to see that the hockey players enjoyed their v is its . I don't think Len Ceglarski (now the Boston College coach) or any other member of the team w ill ever forget that week.'

W. Thayer Tutt has maintained a continuing interest in hockey and is now the president of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States.

On the fir s t night of the tournament, the vo latile Riley brothers, Joe and B ill, skated with Bob Herriam to form Dartmouth's first line. The high-scoring trio faced Colorado College. Joe had one of his hottest games, and the Indians (as they were known then) polish­ ed o ff Colorado, 8-4.

'Snooks' Kelley recalls that Bill Cleary, Sr., father of the present Harvard hockey coach, was the referee for Boston College's Friday game against Michigan. Then he adds: 'The game was broadcast back to Boston on radio, and they te ll me the whole town was tuned in . There have been many other hockey broadcasts since then, but that v/as the f ir s t one that had them tuned to th eir radios.'

Unfortunately, the news did not cheer up the 'Bean- Town' rooters. Announcer Fred Cusick (now the Bruins' television announcer) reported that Kelley astounded the Westerners by pulling his goalie near the end of the third period. Colorado newspapers called i t 'daring strategy' at the time, and the Boston College team tied the game up in the final moments. In Boston, they turned up the volume.

Michigan proved too strong, however, and two overtime goals (no sudden death) gave the Wolverines a 6-4 victory. No consolation game was played. 107

On Saturday night, the largest crowd (2,700) ever in the Broadmoor Ice Palace up until then, crowded in to see Dartmouth face Michigan fo r the championship trophy. The Rileys were ready but so was Michigan's bespectacled captain, Connie H ill, a 30-year-old vet­ eran of the Canadian Tank Corps.

His teammate, A1 Renfrew, now tic ket manager at Michigan and a college hockey coach fo r 22 years, te lls it this way: 'Wally Gacek, our second-line center, had a night to remember. He bagged three goals as did Gordon McMillan. Ted Greer collected the other score. The Dartmouth coach, Eddie Jeremiah, had declared that Dartmouth's Dick Desmond was the top collegiate goalie in the nation, but i t wasn't Dartmouth's night. There was no doubt about th at, but one goal was a little funny.'

The Dartmouth captain. B ill Riley, now with Anheuser- Busch in Boston, looks back on the game this way, say­ ing: 'We played them even fo r two periods. In fa ct, we were ahead, 4-3. Then, close to the end of the second period, A1 Renfrew of Michigan was in the penalty box. When i t came time fo r him to come on the ice, the time­ keeper blew a whistle, though I don't know why he had one. Our goalie skated out of the net, and a goal was scored. Well, I protested, and the game officials agreed that the goal should not be allowed.

We went into the locker room with our 4-3 lead. Pretty soon we heard a roar from the crowd. The NCAA officials had conferred and decided that the goal did count. I t was the f ir s t time a goal was scored when the team was in the locker room, but we were tied up at 4-4 going into the final period. I'll tell you our daub­ ers were down. The rest is history. We lost, 8-4, in the fin a l; but i t was a great tournament. Thayer Tutt did a wonderful job to make a ll of the players love Colorado. I understand Vic Heyliger moved out there, but Connie H ill is back East.

We talked to Connie H ill, who is now at the Univer­ s ity of Rhode Island, where he teaches advertising and coaches the club hockey team. He agrees with Riley about the game, except for a couple of d e ta ils .'

H ill te lls i t this way: 'We had scored the goal be­ fore the whistle blew, but Eddie Jeremiah was hot and wanted to know why the timekeeper had a whistle. I t was 108

a good question. The tournament o ffic ia ls did a lo t of talking during the time between periods. When we came out, i t was a 4-4 game. The four goals in the third period really made the big difference. We won, 8-4. '

Details are really hard to come by, and time some­ times runs the years together. For example, 'Snooks' Kelley says the Boston College team chartered a plane to go West. B ill Riley remembers that Dartmouth went to Colorado 'on their own.'

Vic Heyliger says both Eastern teams le f t from Bos­ ton in one plane and picked up the Michigan team at Willow Run Airport. A1 Renfrew says Michigan went to Colorado on a tra in —a t least he did. Connie H ill agrees with Heyliger, but then again, Michigan played in ten straight NCAA tournaments from 1948 to 1958. Arrivals and departures sometimes get mixed up when nostalgia takes over.

The scores are a matter of record, and we are cer­ tain of two things: Michigan won the trophy; and every coach, player, and fan who went to Colorado Springs has a special place in his heart for the Broad­ moor and the short, beautiful walk from the hotel to the Ice Palace.°

In an interview with Heyliger, he stated that the idea of a national tournament for hockey had been a dream of his.

For four or five years, I had it in the back of my mind that something should be done for college hockey in the way of a national playoff similar to what is done in basketball, baseball, and other sports. In the winter of 1947, I got really serious and concerned about i t . As we played our schedule in 1945-47 and traveled to the various colleges and universities, I f e lt the coaches out as to what th eir feelings were on this idea; most everyone that I talked to was in favor of i t . There were only two coaches that were opposed to i t , figuring that i t could not be done. One was Fido Purpur, at the University of North Dakota, who

^Eddie O'Brien, "The Way. We Were: The First NCAA Championship: Heaven on Ice," Hockey, A p ril, 1977, pp. 25-27. 109

f e lt that you could not bring a ll the teams together. He f e lt that i t was a distance problem. I said basketball was played nationally—and i t was not af­ fected—so why should hockey be affected by the dis­ tances which might not be ever as great as those travel­ ed in basketball?7

A second person opposed to the idea was not advanced competi- tionwise to go to a national tournament. Heyliger f e lt that a tour­ nament would enhance the competition. He also pointed out that other schools and other areas would take a more serious look at hockey than they presently were because of the outstanding name and fame that they could attain for th eir school by winning a national championship.

So then I wrote and sent a le tte r to every college coach in the country whether i t was a major varsity college team, or a club team. I wrote everyone, with a return card enclosed, suggesting that we have a meeting in the New York area or the New England area, as most of the coaches were in those areas. I asked for their opinion and to see if there was enough in­ terest to get it together.

The New England people wanted a meeting in New York which was a surprise to me, as I had f e lt that they would have wanted to have met in Boston since most of the Ivy League and New England area teams were close to Boston. I t worked out from this post-card poll that i t was to be in New York, so I set a date after the finish of the hockey season in 1947 that they a ll con­ vene at the Hotel Lincoln in New York.

Almost a ll the New England coaches were there— a ll Ivy League schools, Boston College, Colgate, North­ eastern, Rensselaer Polytechnic In s titu te , St. Law­ rence, Boston University, Clarkson, Army, Middlebury, Hamilton, and several small colleges.

The f ir s t discussion was about how to set up a tour­ nament fin an cially. Would there be enough money from

^Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, April 19, 1975. no gate receipts to bring the two teams from the East and the two teams from the West together for a three-day tournament at a common site?

This meant we had to find a location that would be suitable to hold a large crowd, would be easily acces­ s ib le, and some place that would le t us get some ex­ pense money to cover our costs. Cheddy Thompson (CC) and I were on the site committee, so we called places like Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden that had big rinks to see i f they would have an interest in spon­ soring a national intercollegiate hockey tournament.

Mo one offered this to us. We called Walker Brown, Boston Garden; Ned Iris h , Madison Square Garden; and the rink at Yale. We would have liked to have started in the Greater Boston area, since this was the place in the United States with the greatest concentration of hockey colleges.

Well, we didn't get anywhere. They said they would do i t on a percentage basis, but not on a guarantee basis, which we f e lt we needed to insure that the ex­ penses were met for the participating teams.

So, as a last resort, we called Thayer Tutt of the Broadmoor Hotel and told him of our predicament. He said, ' I ' l l take i t to my Board; I have a heck of an interest in it. If I can sell it to the El Pomar Board, which controls everything at the Broadmoor, I w ill sponsor the tournament.'

We set up a constitution and by-laws. Four teams were to be chosen in the event that the tournament was put together. How did teams get there? The two western teams with the best record were chosen by a three-man tournament selection committee. The 'Bean Pot Tourna­ ment' decided the selection of the eastern teams.

Two weeks la te r, Thayer Tutt got back to us and told me that they would pick up all the expenses for the tournament—the transportation, meals, housing, hotel, and any other general expenses the teams incurred— even the cost of the hockey o ffic ia ls . They did i t for ten straight years.

They chartered planes in the East and brought the teams into Colorado Springs. The teams that played Ill ■

didn't realize any financial gain, and it didn't cost any school a cent. Broadmoor kept anything they made but i t was never much. The NCAA didn't care that much about hockey at this time. We were extremely fortunate to find someone to sponsor the tournament. The greatest set up for the national tournament that you could ever imagine was set up. Everyone went wild fo r i t . I t was the greatest!

The worst thing that ever happened to the tournament was when Minnesota had its 100th anniversary, and the tournament was taken away from the Broadmoor in 1958. I thought i t was a smart thing to le t Minnesota have i t for its 100th anniversary of the state, but we should have brought i t back to the Broadmoor the next year. John Mariucci was the big instigator of getting i t away from the Broadmoor. He thought i t should be in different places to stimulate hockey and interest in the sport. It was at the Broadmoor for ten straight years, 1948 through 1957. In 1969, i t returned to the Broadmoor.°

The Coaches Association, which met at the site of the tourna­ ment, fe lt that the championship should be played at a place that could accommodate over 10,000 spectators. They also thought that the site should have television capabilities. It was felt that tele­ vision would help spread the game. Another interesting point was that the NCAA fin a lly realized that college hockey could be a money maker, and thus they became interested in the site of the National

Collegiate Ice Hockey Tournament. In 1977, the national tournament was held in the Detroit Olympia in Michigan. Wisconsin played against Michigan fo r the national championship. The crowd for the championship game drew over 15,000 spectators. That crowd represen­ ted the largest turnout of the year for any event in the Olympia.

Gibid. 112

Founding of the American Hockey Coaches Association

Vic Heyliger's promotion of the concept of a National Tourna­ ment and the ensuing meeting at the Hotel Lincoln in New York City in May, 1947, was also the birth of the College Ice Hockey Coaches

Association.9 In order to set up some type of format for the meet­ ing to decide on a national tournament and selection committee, some organization had to be established. This organization is today known as the American Hockey Coaches Association.

The constitution and by-laws of the organization were modeled after the baseball format as Howie Starr, the Colgate University

Hockey Coach, had also been the baseball coach and one of the founders of the American Baseball Coaches Association.^® In addition to Howie

Starr, in attendance were: Murray Murdock of Yale University; Dick

Vaughn, Princeton University; Julius Schroeder, University of Cali­ fornia at Berkeley; Victor Heyliger, University of Michigan; Cheddy

Thompson, Colorado College; John 'Snooks' Kelley, Boston University;

Frank E. Bell, Penn State University; and representatives from Wil­ liams College and Michigan Tech. Fifteen colleges were represented.

This was considered a good turnout by the coaches.

The firs t officers of the Association were President Murray

Murdock, Yale University; Vice-President Julius Schroeder, University

^National Collegiate Ice Hockey Championship Handbook, NCAA, 1976, p. 5.

T®Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, April 20, 1975.

T^Skip Farrington, Skates, Sticks, and Men, (New York: David McKay Company, In c .), p. 147. 113 of California at Berkeley; and Secretary-Treasurer Victor Heyliger,

University of Michigan. The Board of Governors included Richard

Vaughan, Princeton University; Harry Cleverly, Boston University;

Harold Starr, Colgate University; Cheddy Thompson, Colorado College;

and Victor Heyliger, University of M i c h ig a n .

The Association directed the Board of Governors to work with

the NCAA in the selection of a site for an annual national tourna­ ment. The Board was to work with the officers of the Hockey Associa­

tion in supervising the general business of such a tournament.

The tentative agreement was to set up a sort of regional for­ mat for the national tournament participants. There would be a win­

ner of the Ivy League, New England League, Midwest League, and Far

West League.

In order to include teams in upper New York State and Pennsyl­

vania in the national playoff, Edward Stanley of Clinton, New York,

was designated to organize a league that would include Clarkson Tech,

Colgate College, Cornell University, Hamilton College, Lehigh Uni­

versity, and Penn State.

The Association, by unanimous vote, decided that the f ir s t na­

tional playoff would be held in a central geographic location such

as Chicago or Detroit. But, as it has been pointed out, the first

ten national tournaments were at the Broadmoor.

Methods of improving the o fficiatin g of college hockey were

discussed, and the group planned to have o ffic ia ls rated by the

l^ibid. 114 coaches of each annual meeting. I t was also decided to have a ll of­ ficials register with the NCAA.

The Association voted to accept the o ffic ia l NCAA ice hockey rules as published annually by A. S. Barnes and Company, New York.

Rink planning and construction were also discussed. I t was decided that methods and plans for the construction of economical rinks be governed by the Association as soon as possible and that the information be distributed to high schools and colleges in order to stimulate the sponsorship of hockey.

International play was discussed and given encouragement.

Tentative schedules were discussed with East-West trips encouraged to give college hockey additional incentive and stimulus. The coaches agreed that member institutions would only play games at ice rinks that were promoted and supervised by individuals or organiza­ tions that were affiliated with the NCAA. Institutions that sched­ uled such games in Chicago, Buffalo, New York, and sites (other than colleges or universities) would have to promote and supervise such games according to NCAA rules.

The American Hockey Coaches Association Board of Governors drew up a Code of Ethics for adoption by the Association. The Code was adopted in 1948 to:

1. Teach our players to respect the dignity of offici­

als in charge of all contests and to play a clean

brand of hockey. 115

2. Refrain from disputing the judgment and decisions

of the o ffic ia ls at a ll times.

3. Refrain from requesting delay of games to confer

with o ffic ia ls , except when decisions are made

in error, which concerns rules of the game.

a. When such be the need for conferences with

officials, the playing captain shall make

the request fo r the o ffic ia l to confer

with the coach at the players' bench.

b. Coach w ill not go on the playing surface

to hold such a conference and w ill not with­

draw a team from play under any circumstance.

4. Hold conferences with o ffic ia ls when necessary, in the

o ffic ia ls ' room, only when both coaches and a ll o ffic i­

als are present. These conferences may be held before

the game or between periods of play. I t shall be the

duty of a coach to confer with officials at such times

as requested.

5. Refrain from any actions which would tend to make the

players or the spectators show disrespect to the of­

fic ia ls in charge of a game.

5. Strive to eliminate any action on the part of the stu­

dent body which would show disrespect to the visitin g

team or o ffic ia ls in charge of a game.^^ 13 Minutes of the American Hockey Association, Board of Gover­ nors, New York, 1948. 116

The Association also suggested that officials be given a writ­ ten examination each year to determine th eir capabilities, and that clinics for officials should be established in various sections of the country to develop better officiating, greater unity, and a bet­ te r understanding of the game. The coaches recommended to Aso Bush- n e ll, of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference; and Lou K eller,

Chairman of the NCAA Rules Committee, a set of policies relative to rules interpretation, examinations of referees, rating of officials, and the assignments of the officials.^^

I t was also recommended by the Association that high school coaches and junior college coaches should be permitted to join the

Association as allied members. This organization has evolved to the point that it recommends rules, picks sites for the national tour­ nament, picks a Coach of the Year at the university division level and at the college division level, picks the All-American team, has a movie and book lib ra ry , establishes honorary memberships for those who made great contributions to the sport of hockey, recom­ mended establishment of the National Ice Hockey O fficials Associa­ tio n , and established a rink-building committee, a rules committee, a site committee, a convention committee, and an expansion commit­ tee.

The organization has grown tremendously since its fir s t meet­ ing in 1947. There are over 270 coaches in the Association. The

^^Ib id . 117 number of institutions of higher learning sponsoring ice hockey have more than doubled since 1956-57, Heyliger’ s last year at Michigan.

During that year, 45 NCAA member institutions competed on the varsity intercollegiate level. During the 1976 season, 110 institutions com­ peted for the National Collegiate Championships.^^

The 1951 yearbook of the National Convention and Proceedings contained the following account, which pays a special trib u te to the

American Hockey Coaches Association—but especially to the efforts of the National Tournament in promoting the game of ice hockey:

Since the close of World War I I , ice hockey, which had suffered a temporary setback as had most other sports, has enjoyed a steady increase in general in­ terest from the standpoint of both spectator and player. This is especially true in the area of school and col­ lege sport. More and more educational institutions are adding the ice game to th e ir programs. This is es­ pecially true in the regions in which the colleges prove assumed aggressive leadership.

This continued and increasing interest is due to several factors. The constrictions of a number of in­ door rinks by several colleges and the installation of artificial ice plants in several buildings that had been operating with natural ice, has made for more stability and better game conditions with less depen­ dence upon the fluctuation of the weather.

The inauguration and promotion of a number of lo ­ cal and statewide school and college tournaments has had a favorable effect. The organization of the Ameri­ can Hockey Coaches Association and its subsequent ex­ pansion to include both high school and college coaches has contributed a great deal. But perhaps the most in­ fluential of a ll has been the NCAA National Champion­ ship, held each year at the end of the s e a s o n .'G

^^National Collegiate Ice Hockey Championship Handbook, NCAA, 1976, pp. 7-9.

T^Yearbook of the National Convention and Proceedings of the NCAA, 1951, p. 78. 118

Creation of the League

Ever since he f ir s t became involved in college hockey, even as a player, Vic Heyliger felt a need for a collegiate hockey league. He had played against professional teams, semi-professional teams, senior teams, junior teams, and other college and university teams—but he f e lt there was no game lik e the college game. Vic f e lt that the enthusiasm and s p irit of the college atmosphere could not be matched anywhere else in hockey. He also fe lt that a league would help create interest in hockey and help spread the game na­ tio n a lly .

Heyliger had been interested in forming a "Midwest Hockey

League" while he was at Illin o is with Michigan, Michigan Tech, and

Minnesota competing against the '1 1 1 in i.' There were some problems between Illin o is and Minnesota over rough play and recruiting. There­ fore, the idea faded away.

But Heyliger never stopped pushing the concept. A fter organi­

zing the National Tournament and the American Hockey Coaches Associa­

tio n , Vic now turned his energies towards the formation of a league.

In 1951, the fact that he had been in three straight national tour­

naments, and that fact that he was Secretary-Treasurer of the Coaches

Association gave him a little clout.

In 1951, seven hockey-playing colleges west of the Appalachian

Mountains banded together as members of the Midwest Hockey League.

Charter members included the University of Michigan, Michigan State

University, Michigan Tech, the University of Minnesota, the , 119

University of North Dakota, Colorado College, and the University of

Denver.!^ The coaches in the league in 1951 were:

University of Michigan - Vic Heyliger (8th year)

Colorado College - Cheddy Thompson (6th year)

University of North Dakota - C liff (Fido) Purpur (3rd year)

University of Minnesota - "Doc" Romnes (3rd year)

University of Denver - Neil Cel ley (1st year)

Michigan State University - Amo Bessone (1st year)

Michigan Tech - A1 Renfew (1st year)^®

Celley, Bessone, and Renfrew were a ll players for Vic Heyliger at one time or another. Romnes and Purpur were teammates of Vic's with the Chicago Black Hawks. Cheddy Thompson was one of Heyliger's closest friends, and Renfrew was also Vic's brother-in-law. Vic carried a great deal of influence in the league.

The format was simple. There were seven teams—six opponents.

Each university played each opponent at least two times, for a total

of twelve league games. Some schools actually met four or five

times in a season, but only two of these games were designated as

league games. Usually one game at home and one game away were used,

although Michigan State only played Denver twice in Denver; and

Colorado College played both th eir games with State at East Lansing.

^^University of Denver, "Ice Hockey History," Sports Informa­ tion Records, 1951-1960.

^®Bob Bowie, Western Hockey News, 1953, p. 3. T^Ibid. 120

This presented a b it of a problem in equality of scheduling. Some teams, lik e Michigan State, only played nineteen games overall; 20 while Minnesota played twenty-six.

Colorado College won the fir s t league t i t l e in the 1951-52 season, with a 10 and 2 record. Michigan finished tied for second with Denver, but Michigan was selected to go to the National Tourna­ ment by the Rules Committee. The standing for the league during these early years, taken from the Denver University Ice Hockey His­ tory, are as follows:

20. University of Denver, "Ice Hockey History," Sports Infor­ mation Records, 1951-1960. TABLE 3 121 1951-52

Pts. ■ Pts. Team W L T Won Lost

Colorado College 10 2 0 20 4

Michigan* 9 3 0 18 6

Denver 9 3 0 18 6

North Dakota 6 6 0 12 12

Minnesota 5 7 0 10 14

Michigan State 3 9 0 6 18

Michigan Tech 0 12 0 0 24

*Selected for NCAA tournament

1952-53

Pts. Pts. Team W L T Won Lost

Michigan 12 4 0 19 5

Minnesota 16 4 . 0 19 5

North Dakota 11 5 0 17 7

Denver 10 6 0 15 9

Colorado College 4 10 0 8 16

Michigan Tech 3 13 0 4 20

Michigan State 2 16 0 2 22 TABLE 4 122 1953-54 Pts. Pts. Team W L T Won Lost

Minnesota 16 3 1 20 3

Michigan 12 3 1 18 5

North Dakota 9 6 1 14 9

Denver 7 7 0 11 13

Colorado College 6 8 0 11 13

Michigan State 4 13 1 6 17

Michigan Tech 2 16 0 2 22

1954-■55

Pts. Pts. Team W LT Won Lost

Colorado College 14 4 0 19 5

Michigan 13 4 0 16 8

Minnesota 10 12 2 11 13

Denver 8 9 1 • 10 13

Michigan Tech 8 11 1 10 13

North Dakota 9 13 1 9 14

Michigan State 5 14 1 7 16 TABLE 5 123 1955-56

Pts. Pts. Team WL T Non Lost

Michigan 15 2 1 19 5

Michigan Tech 14 6 0 17 7

Colorado College 10 8 0 14 10

Minnesota 11 10 1 12 12

Denver 6 8 2 10 14

North Dakota 7 13 0 10 14

Michigan State 1 17 0 2 22

1956-57

Pts. Pts. Team W LT Non Lost

Colorado College 14 4 0 19 5

Michigan 13 4 1 16 7

North Dakota 13 9 0 13 11

Michigan Tech 8 8 4 12 11

Denver 6 11 1 9 15

Minnesota 7 15 2 8 16

Michigan State 5 15 0 6 18 TABLE 6 124 RECORD OF FINISHES

Year Mich DU CC MSU Tech NDU Minn

1951-52 2 2 1 6 7 4 5

1952-53 1 4 5 7 6 3 1

1953-54 2 4 4 6 7 3 1

1954-55 2 4 1 7 4 6 3

1955-56 1 5 3 7 2 5 4

1956-57 2 5 1 7 4 3 6

N.C.A.A. CHAMPIONS

While Vic Heyliger Coached at the University of Michigan

1948 University of Michigan

1949 Boston College

1950 Colorado College

1951 University of Michigan

1952 University of Michigan

1953 University of Michigan

1954 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

1955 University of Michigan

1956 University of Michigan

1957 Colorado College 21

21lbid. 125

Michigan had incredible success in the league. They finished f ir s t or second every year under Heyliger. With Vic as coach, they went to the National Tournament every year that i t was played from

1948-1957. In the National Tournament, Heyliger-coached teams play­ ed in 20 games—winning 16 and losing 4, for an .800 percentage.

They also scored 130 goals to th e ir opponents' 70.

In 1953, the league's name was officially changed to the "Wes­ tern Intercollegiate Hockey League." The seven-team league embraced seven schools, which are members of five different conferences. The league officers, who changed the name of the league in May of 1953, were President Wayne Schroyer, University of Denver; Vice-President

Ralph A lgler, University of Michigan; and Secretary-Treasurer Otis

A. Barnes, Colorado College.

There were a few new rules for the 1952-53 season of the Mid­ west Hockey League. Freshmen were not permitted to play on varsity teams. New players were required a year in residence on campus be­ fore playing. Players were prohibited from participating on any team, except that team representing th eir college or university.

The point system also changed: Two points were awarded for a vic­

tory when the league members met each other any time during the sea­

son; one point was given to the winning team when members met each

other four times; one-half point was awarded for ties.

22 Bob Bowie, op. c i t . , p. 7. 126

In May, 1953, at a meeting in Chicago, the name of the Midwest

Collegiate Hockey League was changed o ffic ia lly to the Western In- tercollegiate Ice Hockey League.

The Western Intercollegiate Hockey League (W .I.H.L.) lasted for five fu ll seasons, until the end of the 1958 season. In the spring of 1958, the league dissolved because Michigan, Michigan

State, Minnesota, and Michigan Tech a ll pulled out of the league in protest of Denver's recruiting Junior "A" and senior-age players.

This dissension was caused by Denver's recruiting a senior-age play- 24 er by the name of George Kirkwood.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association was formed prior to the start of the 1959 season with the same seven schools that were in the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League. The Association be­ came a loosely-knit group with common e lig ib ility rules, voluntary enforcement, and no compulsory scheduling. At least twelve league games against at least four league opponents were necessary for e lig ib ility to the McNaughton Cup, which was symbolic of the league championship.

The player eligibility rules of the National Collegiate Ath­ le tic Association governed the new W.C.H.A.

The following is a copy of the original Western Collegiate

Hockey Assoication Agreement:

Z^Ibid.

^^University of Denver, "Ice Hockey History," Sports Informa­ tion Records, 1951-1960. 127

A rticle I .

PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION

The undersigned colleges and universities agree to associate as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the purpose of con­ tinuing and improving th e ir program of competition in ice hockey both among themselves and with other interested institutions under condi­ tions compatible with the objectives, functions, and responsibilities of institutions of higher learning. This Association will provide a forum in which the representatives of the members w ill meet peri­ odically for the discussion of mutual problems, the elimination of misunderstandings, the exchange of information, and the determination on policies and procedures for hockey competition among the members.

Article II.

OPERATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

1. Membership In and Formation of the Association. Member­

ship shall be limited to four-year colleges or uni­

versities in which there is faculty control over poli­

cy governing the conduct of intercollegiate athletics.

This Association shall be in existence when this agree­

ment has been signed by the duly-authorized represen­

tatives of six or more of such institutions.

2. Conduct of Association Business - Representation. A11

business of the Association shall be conducted at meet­

ings of the representative of the member institutions. 128

Each member may have two representatives, one of whom

shall be an authorized faculty representative; and the

other shall be its athletic director. No action (other

than adjournment) shall be effective unless a majority

of the members are represented.

3. Meetings. The representatives of the members shall hold

an annual meeting during the month of March, at such,

place as they may determine. Other meetings may be held

in agreement of the representatives or shall be called

by the Secretary-Treasurer upon request of three or more

members and with three weeks' notice.

4. Officers. The officers of the Association shall consist

of a Chairman and a Secretary-Treasurer, elected by ma­

jo rity vote at each annual meeting and serving until

successors are elected. The Chairman shall preside at

all meetings of representatives. The Secretary-

Treasurer shall keep minutes of a ll meetings and dis­

tribute copies to a ll representatives; receive, hold,

and disburse Association funds fo r proper purposes;

receive and give required notices; and keep records of

Association actions.

5. Voting - Amendment of Agreement. Each member in s titu ­

tion shall have one vote. If both its representatives

are present, the vote shall be cast by the faculty

representative after consultation with the athletic 129

director—otherwise by the representative who is present.

Any action revising this agreement or binding the mem­

bers in any way shall require a majority vote. If three

or more members disapprove an action in a written com­

munication to the Secretary-Treasurer within 60 days after

adoption, the action shall be rescinded. As a condition

of membership, each member agrees to comply with a ll ac­

tions taken which remain in force.

6. Finances. Each member shall contribute $10 annually (or

such additional amount as may be unanimously agreed upon)

to the Association upon notification by the Secretary-

Treasurer, to defray the expenses of the Association and

fo r such other purposes as may be authorized by the

representatives. The Secretary-Treasurer shall present

a financial report at each annual meeting. Such report

shall be incorporated in the minutes.

Article III.

AGREED POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES

1. Scheduling. I t is not required that each member schedule

games with a ll other members. Each member w ill determine

the number of games i t w ill play, the teams with which the

games w ill be played, and the number of games i t w ill play

with each team. Schedules among members shall be arranged

by the Athletic Directors of their, representatives in 130

advance of each season by such procedures as they may

adopt in conformity with the institutional requirements

of each member concerning athletic commitments.

2. Player Eligibility.

(a) In hockey competition, each member w ill use only

those players who meet all of the e lig ib ility re­

quirements fo r intercollegiate athletic competi­

tion of the National Collegiate Athletic Associa­

tio n , the member's conference, and this Associa­

tion.

(b) It is agreed that, for the purpose of determining

a hockey player's permissible years of collegiate

competition, each year following the date of his

20th birthday (during which a player has had com­

petition in hockey other than with an Olympic or

military squad) shall count as a year of collegi­

ate competition whether or not such competition

was, in fa c t, collegiate. (This applies to students

who matriculated after June 1, 1958).

(c) Freshmen, firs t-y e a r transfer students from four-

year institutions, and Canadian senior matricu­

lants shall not be eligible for varsity competition

for one calendar year.

(d) Each member agrees to adhere s tric tly to NCAA

rules governing loss of e lig ib ility for 131

professionalism and to investigate and make appropri­

ate inquiries as to the status of each of its candi­

dates for hockey competition with respect to profes­

sional activities.

(e) It is understood that a player who has participated

in Canadian Senior "A" hockey or comparable Ameri­

can/foreign competition is not e lig ib le .

3. Exchange of Eligibility Information. Each fall, in addi­

tion to determining the eligibility of all members of its

varsity hockey squad, each member w ill investigate a ll

aspects of eligibility (including professionalism) of its

freshmen and new transfer students, known to be prospec­

tive hockey players. Not la te r than November 1, the

athletic director of each member will send to the faculty

representative and athletic director of each other mem­

ber, a correct lis t of the full names of all members of

its varsity hockey squad—certified as eligible by an

appropriate school official; and also a correct lis t of

the fu ll names of a ll members of its freshman squad.

Both lists shall include the following information as to

each individual: birthdate, home residence, high school

or prep school attended, previous hockey competition,

date of fir s t attendance at the member school, and a

statement that his status with respect to professionalism

has been investigated and found to be unobjectionable. 132

4. Protest of Eligibility. If any member wishes to protest

the eligibility of any player listed by another member,

such protest shall be made promptly in w riting by the

faculty representative of the protesting member to the

faculty representative of the member whose player is

being protested, setting forth the factual details on

which the protest is based. The faculty representative

receiving such protest shall acknowledge the protest

within one week, investigate the matter as promptly as

possible, and advise a ll members of the action taken.

No action through the NCAA or other channels w ill be

initiated by the protesting member until the foregoing

procedure has been followed.

5. Hockey Championship. Among those members that have

played a total of 12 or more games with 4 or more mem­

bers of this Association during a season, the member

with the best won and lost percentage in such games shall

be deemed the Association Champion. Not more than four

games against any one member, announced before any games

are played, shall count in the standings. In case of a

t ie , the teams tying shall be considered co-champions.

6. Organized Practice. I t is agreed that no member w ill be­

gin organized hockey practice prior to November 1.

7. Offi ciating and PI ayi ng Rules. O fficials for each hockey

game between member teams shall be selected by and with 133

the consent of the athletic directors of the respec­

tive institutions. NCAA playing rules shall govern

a ll games between m e m b e r s .^5

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association that Vic Heyliger dreamed about and that he helped to create is the strongest college

ice hockey "league" in the country and probably the world. A team from Vic's "dream league" has won the National Championship 24 of the 30 years that the tournament has existed. Also, a team from the

W.C.H.A. has been the National Championship runner-up 18 of the 30 years of the tournament. Vic went to ten straight NCAA Tournaments, winning six times and losing in the finals once. No college or uni­

versity coach has ever participated in more national tournaments

than did Vic Heyliger. No college or university coach has ever won 26 more National Collegiate A thletic Association Hockey Championships.

There are many people who feel that the National Tournament

should always be at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. I t is a big

bone of contention every year at the American Hockey Coaches Conven­

tion.

An effort was made to get the Broadmoor's reaction to all this

through an interview with Mr. Art Berglund, Assistant Rink Manager

of the Broadmoor World Arena. He indicated that the Hotel Broadmoor

25 By-Laws of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Agree­ ment. pc Thomas Burke, Editor, NCAA Ice Hockey Championship Program, 1973. 134 was attempting to get the National Collegiate Athletic Association

Ice Hockey Championships back at Colorado Springs.

At the present time, the Broadmoor World Arena is attempting to make a bid for the 1978 National Tourna­ ment. This would be the 30th anniversary of the tour­ nament that started here in 1948. We feel that it is appropriate that i t should come back home fo r the 30th anniversary. We are finding i t very complicated under the existing format of regulations and budget forms set forth by the NCAA. They want to make a p ro fit on the tournament.

In the old days, i t was a great and grand place for the coaches and the players to come as a super finals for a college hockey season. In the past four years, people have attempted to make the NCAA hockey tournament a Rose Bowl, so to speak, by placing them at places lik e Boston when they f e lt they could draw the crowds. The Boston schools were not in the finals, so it didn't draw well.

I feel a place like Colorado Springs, a neutral s ite , is fun fo r the players to come. The Broadmoor reputation as a hotel and host of international and national events is well known. Recently, we have con­ ducted the World Figure Skating Championship and the National Figure Skating Championships. Both were cover­ ed by ABC Wide World of Sports. The fact that we seat only 4,300 people has not stopped these great organi­ zations from bringing th eir fine championships to the Broadmoor. They feel everything is conducted in a high-class manner that makes i t a very memorable event. This is what you want. You want the participants to go back and say, 'This was the greatest event I was ever at,' forgetting, perhaps, even the athletic part of it. Everything is just memorable—their hotel room, how they were picked up at the airpo rt, how they flew in , favors that they might receive (lik e cowboy hats and rides in limos). The athletes and coaches were treated as if they were really at a national cham­ pionship. I think that if we could bring the Tourna­ ment back with some consistency, with the newly-expanded rink from the 1,800 seats of the old days, that we would attract some of the old people in hockey back in a min­ ute. I'd like to see it come back on a 3, 4, or 5- year contract. Some of the old coaches lik e 'Snooks' Kelley, Vic Heyliger, and Herb Gallager of the past 135 and many of the newer coaches who have played here, a ll seem to want to bring i t back to the Broadmoor. I know that the Broadmoor is interested in holding prestigious national events. We could again give the National Collegiate Championship just a l i t t l e more prestige on a national level, which I don't think it has. The Na­ tional Collegiate Athletic Association Ice Hockey Tourna­ ment has not taken o ff in the last ten years lik e i t could have and should have. I t has been ju st another tournament. I f you have to have a host team in i t , then i t is not re a lly a national tournament. The Super Bowl draws no matter who was in i t .

The smaller building puts a little intimacy and flare in the event, because the crowd is close to the players and feels the excitement better. I t would be nice i f the tournament could be held here in 1978, so that a Vic Heyliger or a John Mariucci could be honored for th eir role in NCAA hockey.

Everyone who ever played in the National Tournament at the Broadmoor ju st raves about i t . I t should be a memorable event. Too many coaches who have been there w ill te ll you that the NCAA Championships, away from the Broadmoor, have not been memorable events. Some places where they have held i t have te rrib le dressing rooms or you can't get a meal or a ta x i. There is none of th a t, 'Hey, I'd lik e to go back there sometime.' Part of the philosophy of the Broadmoor, who has spon­ sored the tournament eleven times, (1948-57 and again in 1969) is that these young men who compete in a na­ tional tournament are some day going to return to the Broadmoor with th e ir families and friends, because they had a fantastic time here. They were treated with class, and the whole experience is a memorable one. We see this a ll the time. We have hosted the NCAA golf. Many of these young men return year after year for either business or pleasure. We are a great con­ vention center. We have many activities that the hockey players and contestants in other intercollegiate sports have shared. I t is important that the hockey tourna­ ment come to an area where i t w ill be received and get the prestige it should have to be a national tour­ nament. As Ned Harkness, the former P .R .I. Cornell, Detroit Red Wing Coach, and now the coach of Union said in Miami at the American Hockey Coaches Association meeting, 'It is time to start putting some of the money back into the people who have helped hockey along the 136

way. Have the coaches' meeting and the NCAA Tournament at the Broadmoor and bring i t back to these people who have helped hockey.'

This idea has a lo t of m erit. The NCAA games were al­ ways well received and the reputation of the Hotel is su­ perb. I think we w ill get the tournament back h e r e .27

University of Denver coach, Murray Armstrong, was interviewed about his feelings on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the

National Tournament, and the American Hockey Coaches Association.

The following account was his reaction:

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association started out with about seven teams. I t now has gone to ten. We feel that is a workable size for a league. The league has pro­ gressed greatly. I t has helped intercollegiate hockey and w ill continue to help i t . We have been inventive in our ideas. We have brought in new rule changes and new refereeing methods, which have been adopted by the NCAA and the Coaches Association. I feel i t has been a great league, that i t is the greatest league in the United States, and that i t is going to continue to be the great­ est. The W.C.H.A. has won 25 of the 29 years the tourna­ ment has been in existence.

The National Tournament is something very special. I think that every team that there is in the United States should have, as their goal, to win the National Collegi­ ate Championship. Sure, le t's face i t —the Western Col­ legiate Championship is the goal of every team in the United States, and i t certainly should be. I think that i t is something to hang out in front of your kids to win. I know the years that we've won the National Cham­ pionship, we have fe lt that we could not have done better.

The almighty dollar has been a recent factor in the NCAA determining the site of the National Championship. I t is a shame that i t has been in places lik e Saint Louis, because someone fe lt they could make money. Boston did not intrigue me. I t should be played in a hockey area, preferably at the site of a competing team. However, you can't predict who is going to be in it a year in advance. I t shouldn't be played in an area where they have major league hockey, because college hockey doesn't have the

ZTpersonal interview w ith A rt Berglund, July 12, 1976. 137 same impact as i t does in an area where they don't have major league hockey. I t should be in an area where we are not competing for the hockey dollar with the NHL or other pro teams.

Hockey has to be spread by the local youth. The young­ sters of the area get involved. They become people of hockey interest. Unlike basketball, we should have the tournament in an area where you can be intrigued by college hockey day in and day out. Play it in established college hockey areas.

I t was a sad day in my lif e when they moved the Na­ tional Tournament from the Broadmoor. I thought the Broad­ moor had class. They treated the visitin g coaches and the visitin g teams as though they were important people. I t gave us a feeling of importance that we didn't get in Bos­ ton; we didn't get in St. Louis; you didn't get i t in Den­ ver, or Syracuse, or Minneapolis, or in any other city in which i t has been played since i t le f t the Broadmoor. These were just another show on the road. You were at a hotel, and i t is the same old thing. The saddest day for intercollegiate hockey was when they moved i t from the Broadmoor. I would vote anytime, anyplace, to have i t back there forever—because that's class. I think the Na­ tional Tournament should have class. It 's been lacking for the last 15 years, since we took i t away from the Broadmoor.

I have fe lt th a t, over the years, the American Hockey Coaches Association has been a detriment to the advance­ ment of college hockey. The reason for this has been, I believe, that the East has always outvoted the West. The East has been too selfish in th eir own thinking. Some of the coaches are fine people and good hockey coaches, but they are not for the development of intercollegiage hockey in the United States. They want to eliminate the Canadi­ an player or the foreign player. This certainly would eliminate the caliber and development of the game. I have fe lt that there are too many of these people in the East who are thinking of only, 'Can I win under this condition or not?' instead of having the b e lie f that whatever is the best for intercollegiate hockey is all right for my pro­ gram. They have retarded intercollegiate hockey. We also had a l i t t l e of this in the W.C.H.A. when one school wanted to eliminate any and a ll Canadian hockey players. Many coaches don't think of what is good for the game— the American hockey, intercollegiate hockey, and the col­ leges involved. 138

Years ago, we had some fle x ib ility in our programs, even though we lived within the regulations. Maybe that's why some coaches get out o f the game today. Maybe that's why Vic Heyliger le f t Michigan.

Of course, I never coached against Vic Heyliger while he was at Illin o is , and I only coached against him fo r a few games while he was at Michigan. He had a tremendous record at Michigan, and we a ll knew that he was a tremendous recruiter. Unquestionably, he had the talent—talent bet­ ter than anyone else in the league. It is often difficult to determine i f the coach is a great coach when he has su­ perior talen t. Let's face i t , you or I could have opened or closed the gate or perhaps s t ill have won with the young men he had. This is providing we didn't get things too disorganized at practice. Of course, recruiting is a big part of coaching, and I don't mean to play that aspect down.

However, I never knew how great a coach Vic was until he coached at the A ir Force Academy. There he was at a dis­ advantage compared to the rest of us. He couldn't get the Canadian boy; he couldn't get many of the top American boys because of physical restrictions—like eyesight. He couldn't get many of the top American boys because A ir Force Academies weren't in a top league, lik e the W.C.H.A.

I t was at Air Force Academy that Vic Heyliger showed me that he was a great coach. He won in spite of a ll the ob­ stacles. 28

^^Personal interview w ith Murray Armstrong, July 11, 1976. CHAPTER V III

INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY

I t appeared that Michigan hockey and Vic Heyliger had formed the perfect union and that prospects were excellent for the future of Michigan. But, despite his love of the game and his love of

Michigan, the 1957 National Tournament team was his last as Michi­ gan's coach. Vic had been plagued by a bad case of asthma ever since his early years with the Chicago Black Hawks, and i t had been getting worse and worse in the Michigan climate.

"It was the toughest decision I ever had to make," recalled 2 Vic, "but the climate was ju st against me, I guess."

I f i t had not been for the bad asthma attacks, I probably would have stayed on at Michigan in defi­ nitely. My doctor told me that staying in Michigan would probably cut my lif e short, so I decided to leave and s ta rt a new career. I had a meat packing firm in Montana, the southwest corner of the state. I would go there in the summer and never have a prob­ lem with the attacks. I also had a boys' camp near Cody, Wyoming, at the east gate of Yellowstone Na­ tional Park. I thought I would go out to the moun­ tains somewhere. So, I came to Colorado and got into the advertising business, as well as running the packing plant and other businesses.3

^Jim Wright, "Vic Heyliger: A Hockey Legend," Colorado Ath­ le te , January, 1974, p. 58.

2lbid.

^Colorado Spring Sun, March 4, 1974.

139 140

Thus ended an era both in Michigan and in collegiate ice hockey.

Vic had run the B-4 Ranch for Boys for over thirteen years.

B ill Orwig, a former Michigan great, and he were camp directors.

Bill was an end coach in football and the assistant basketball coach.

The B-4 Ranch supervises one of the finest ath let­ ic programs of any camp in the United States. This is due to the fact that most of our counselors are out­ standing coaches and athletes. Many campers attend the B-4 Ranch just to receive the excellent coaching and guidance in the various fundamentals of fo otball, basketball, softball, wrestling, volleyball, track, and other sports.4

Heyliger related, "Perhaps one of the most time-consuming jobs

I ever had was recruiting for the summer camp at Painter, Wyoming.

I ran a ll over Ann Arbor to scrounge up youngsters to go to the B-

4 Ranch fo r Boys."^ Painter is located 16 miles from Yellowstone

National Park, Wyoming, 14 miles from the old gold mining town of

Cooke C ity, Montana, and 8 miles from the Montana lin e . The ranch covered over 3,000 acres of ranchland, snow-crowned peaks, and wood­ ed areas. The main camp was at an altitude of 6,500 feet in some of the most beautiful mountains in the West. Every year, 75-80 boys attended the camp. Heyliger said he made more income in the camp­ ing business than he did in coaching. Because of the camp and his enjoyment of the mountains, Vic decided to go West. Heyliger

^B-4 Ranch for Boys, 7-17 years old. Painter, Wyoming. . Cush- ing-Malloy, In c ., Ann Arbor, Michigan.

^Personal interview, Vic Heyliger, July 2, 1977. 141 narrowed his choices down to Colorado and Arizona as places to liv e and, fortunately for hockey, he settled down in Colorado Springs.

Although out of the college coaching ranks fo r the fir s t time since 1940, Vic s t ill kept active in the world of hockey.In ad­ dition to his business in terest, Vic ran a hockey c lin ic at the Broad­ moor during the summer. He also was a frequent spectator at Color­ ado College and University of Denver home games.

An interesting note appeared in the intercollegiate Hockey

Newsletter by Don T. Birkmayer of Troy, New York, in the November

18, 1960, issue:

Vic Heyliger, who coached the University of Michi­ gan to six NCAA ice title s during the 1948-57 period, w ill again guide the fortunes of the Air Force Academy Hockey Club this season. Look for the cadets to ac­ quire varsity status in the not too distant future."

This was an important notice, because no one at the United

States Air Force Academy seemed to remember exactly when Vic f ir s t appeared on the scene.

During the summer of 1961, Thayer Tutt, who was president of

the International Ice Hockey Federation, named Vic Heyliger the Gen­

eral Manager of the World Hockey Championships which were to be

held, for the fir s t time, in the United States at Colorado Springs

and Denver. The dates of the tournament were March 8-18, 1962.

Thayer had been a long-time admirer of Heyliger, and f e lt that Vic

would promote the games as well as anyone. I t was to be an ambitious

g The Intercollegiate Hockey Newsletter, November 18, 1960, Vol. 8, No. 1, p. 10. 142 undertaking which would bring together teams from about twenty na­ tions. In addition to the hosting United States squad, the teams were: Defending Champion, Canada; Russia; Czechoslovakia; Sweden;

Norway; Finland; West Germany; East Germany; Romania; Yugoslavia;

Switzerland; Great Britain; South Africa; Japan; Denmark; Italy;

Austria; Belgium; Poland; and France.

We were promoting the exhibition games over the country. We set up games in the East, the Midwest, here in Colorado and on the West Coast. There were about twenty teams set up to play in the tournament, but the Russians, Czechs, Romanians, Yugoslavians, and East Germans didn't come because NATO would not give them a passport. The East Germans wanted to send th eir own team and not to be combined with West Germany to form a single German team. NATO said 'No,' so the Soviet Bloc pulled out of the tournament at the last minute. The Swedes beat Canada in the fin a ls .7

The Amateur Hockey Association of the United States publication,

"Ice Hockey, U.S. Record in Olympic Games and World Championships,

1920-1975" gives the following account of the 1962 World Champion­ ship at Colorado Springs:

The 1962 United States Hockey Club assembled two weeks before the start of the World's Championship at the Broadmoor Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Coach John Pleban's team engaged in only two exhibi­ tion games. The U.S. sextet trimmed Colorado Col­ lege 9-3 and tied a strong Denver University team, 4-4.

Eight teams were entered in 'Class A,' and six teams competed in 'Class B' play. Due to interna­ tional problems, Russia and Czechoslovakia did not compete. Sweden won the championship, with

^Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, July 2, 1977. 143

Canada second and the United States th ird . Japan's small but speedy team captured the 'Class B' t i t l e . °

The World Hockey Championship was no small undertaking. I t cost over $500,000 to host. In addition to making arrangements for hotels, meals, and travel fo r some 1,100 people involved in the tournament. Vie Heyliger also served as the State Fund-Raising Chair­ man of Colorado for the event. He also had to provide accomodations fo r over 250 newsmen from around the world. All the athlete and official parties ate their meals in the same building, the Interna­ tional House of the Broadmoor, and they a ll slept at the Broadmoor

Hotel.^

During the same period of time, Heyliger was s t ill working for the advancement of the NCAA National Tournament. The Denver Post carried a story regarding this matter. Headlines: "Broadmoor

Wants 1963 NCAA Playoffs."

Vic Heyliger, Manager of the Broadmoor World Arena and General Manager of the forthcoming World Ice Hockey Championship w ill attend a meeting in Chicago on April 7 to make the bid for the 1963 Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs.

The Broadmoor bid made by the hotel president, Thayer T u tt, through Heyliger, is expected to cover W.C.H.A. playoffs on a continuing basis fo r at least three years. It is believed that the Broadmoor also w ill seek the return of the NCAA Hockey Championship in 1964, and it will also inaugurate a holiday season five-team international ice tourney in December of

^Amateur Hockey Association, Ice Hockey - U.S. Record in Olym­ pic and World Championships, 1920-1975, p. 41.

9 Undated clipping from an unidentified newspaper. 144

of 1963. The f ir s t ten NCAA Tournaments were staged at the Broadmoor from 1948 to 1957.10

As time went on, i t became very apparent th at, i f Vic Heyliger was going to be associated with the Broadmoor Hotel and Thayer Tutt,

he was going to be involved in hockey. Vic's position as General

Manager of the World Ice Hockey Tournament provided an opportunity

to come in contact with the German National team, and they expressed

an interest in hiring Vic as their coach.

On June 12, 1962, Vic accepted the position. His contract was

for one year, but it also had an option for a second year. A Col­

orado Springs newspaper went on to say that,

Heyliger will retain his business interests in Color­ ado Springs where he came several years ago, after re­ signing his coaching position at Michigan. His wife and four children w ill remain in Colorado Springs. The Heyliger children include Sue, 19; Vicki, 17; and twin sons, Don and Doug, 14. Heyliger w ill spend six months each year in Germany.

Hts immediate objective is to get the West German team ready for the World Championships next March in Stockholm. Then h e 'll embark on the huge task of tra in ­ ing a team fo r the 1964 Olympic games at Innsbruck, Austria.

Heyliger said he w ill set up a youth program, train coaches, and run clinics at the 44 rinks in West Ger­ many. H e'll select personnel for the National team tryouts and set up practices on weekends in Munich. Heyliger w ill depart fo r Munich on September 1.1^

Vic gave Thayer Tutt much of the credit for Heyliger's new posi­

tio n , but Thayer insisted, "Vic got the coaching position of the West

TOpenver Post, February 14, 1962.

l l Rocky Mountain News, June 13, 1962. 145

German National Team from their observation of his ability in hand­ ling international teams.

Heyliger's feelings and expectations about the new position were summed up in a newspaper a rtic le written by Loy Holman, Sports

Editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph:

I have thought about this quite a b it. I d id n 't think that I would ever go back into college coaching fo r, at Michigan, I had about as fine a setup as I could have. But this is a new challenge for me. I w ill be organizing a team on the world and Olympic lev el. The German people made me an offer I couldn't hardly resist.

The Germans interviewed several people, while they were here for the World Championships. I know they talked to Murray Armstrong o f Denver University; Connie Pleban, the U.S. National coach; and several others including some in Canada. I had to think about this for some time, but I think this w ill be a good opportunity for me to work with Europeans and see Europe at the same time.

Heyliger said he wasn't sure how the International Olympic Committee's ruling for a combined team between East and West Germany would affect his job. The I.O.C. last week ruled that this split nation will combine for the next Olympic or i t couldn't compete.

Heyliger, of course, was right in the middle of this recent hassle as Manager of the World Champion­ ships. East Germany attempted to enter a separate team in the tournament but was refused visas to the United States and, as a result of this, the Russian and Czechoslovakian teams pulled out of the Champion­ ship.

Several other nations have hired North American coaches in the past, including Eddie Regan, who b u ilt the Swedish national team into a world contender over the past half-dozen years.13

^^Loy Holman, Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, Undated clipping. 146

Heyliger kept in touch with Harry Farrar, the author of Sports

Piary—a regular feature in the Denver Post, amongst other while he was in Germany. Farrar wrote an a rtic le which was based on a le tte r he had received from Vic. The column was en titled , "Vanishing Vic in

New Venture." Harry asks the question, "Whatever happened to Vic

Heyliger, the phantom recruiter?" He then goes on to state:

Well, he turned up in West Germany last September. He's s t ill prowling around and bagging hockey players. This time Vic is a kind of lend-lease soldier of for­ tune or director general of the West German National Hockey Team. He's preparing the team fo r the World Tournament and the 1964 Olympic games.

'The Germans are very anxious to bring up the level of hockey here to equal that of the Swedes, Russians, and Czechs. Since the war, the quality of hockey fe ll down very badly—due to the loss of top players that were killed in battles, the destruction of rinks, and the inability to get young boys to play.

Because of the big labor shortage in Germany, all the young boys have jobs and make good money. As a result, young boys have th eir cars and are not in­ terested in wasting their energy on sports. So, my primary work is to develop interest with new boys to play, plus developing the techniques of the few that play. The gratifying thing to see over here is the public interest in sports. It is just amazing how people w ill turn out to see hockey played under ad­ verse weather conditions. In Garmisch, at an outdoor rink, there were over 11,000 people. In Munich, where my National team played Switzerland, we had over 10,000 people. Thousands were turned away.

A big handicap in the development of sports in Germany is the fact that there is no organized program in high school or college. The German people are wonderful to work with, though, and they do a ll they can to help me.

I had the opportunity to go over and see the situation in East Berlin. After viewing how East 147

Germans are forced to liv e , i t makes you want to get down on your knees to pray and give thanks for being so fortunate to live in a free world. You can hardly believe the situation unless you see it,with your own eyes. We'll see you around April 1 .'

Vic established himself in International Hockey during the

1962-63 season. Taking the disorganized host German program and building it almost from scratch, the Germans finished ahead of the

United States entry in the World Tournament at Stockholm, Sweden; and, more importantly, to the West German people, Heyliger's West

German hockey players defeated the East Germans in a tension-packed game that drew 17,000 spectators. The outcome of the game caused an international incident, when the Communists refused to recognize the

West German flag at the ceremony a fter the contest had been fin ­ ished.

In June of 1963, Ruth Heyliger, Vic's w ife, died of cancer.

Vic had returned from Europe and, as previously mentioned, he had the option to return to Munich as the coach of the West German team.

His wife's illness, and the fact that his boys were still in high school, prompted Vic to le t the option lapse. According to Vic's son, Don, Ruth had wanted Vic to stay out of hockey because she f e lt

it was bad for his health. Don also stated that, "Dad took my mother's death fa irly w ell. He didn't le t himself get in a rut."^^

l4 Harry Farrar, "Vanishing Vic in New Venture," Undated news­ paper a rtic le .

^^Colorado15 Springs Gazette-Telegraph, April 9, 1963. 16 Personal interview with Don Heyliger, July 8, 1976. 148

Vic was very proud of his family, and especially proud that

Doug and Don turned out to be very fine athletes. They both played hockey and fo o tb all. Vic f e lt that they could not develop to th eir fullest potential as hockey players in Colorado Springs. He often talked to his brother-in-law, A1 Renfrew, (Vic's successor at Michi­ gan) about the twins going to Windsor, Ontario, as high school seniors to give them the experience he f e lt they needed to be great players. But the boys and Uncle A1 talked Vic out of this idea.

Doug had an outstanding career as a football player at Cheyenne High

School in Colorado Springs and, in one game, he scored nine touch­ downs and had one called back. Don and Doug led th eir high school team to a state title that season also. The next year, they both en­ rolled at the University of Michigan and played hockey at Michigan 17 for four years under Uncle A1 Renfrew.

In September of 1965, Vic Heyliger was appointed coach of the

United States National Team by the Amateur Hockey Association. The appointment was made by Amateur Hockey Association president, Thayer

Tutt.

Heyliger's principlal duties were to scout for talent and to assemble the best players for the 1965-66 season. The training camp was in Minneapolis. The World Championships were from March 3-13 in Ljuobljana, Yugoslavia.

In addition, Vic's National team was to play three games in

Moscow and find other games in various countries in Western Europe.

ITpersonal interview with Vic Heyliger, July TO, 1976. 149

At this time, there was a big e ffo rt being made by the Amateur Hockey

Association of the United States to upgrade United States hockey fo r the 1968 Olympics in France.

Walter L. Bush, J r ., Minneapolis attorney, (President of the

Minnesota North Stars) and a director of the Amateur Hockey Associa­ tio n , made some comments concerning the building of the team and some of the problems that the United States encounters with International

Hockey :

I imagine a dozen of the seventeen players w ill have had previous playing under international rules, which do not permit as much checking and contract as American rules. The Russian and Czech teams already are practic­ ing fo r the tournament. We do not even have our formal training camp (as of September) and our f ir s t competi­ tive training w ill be our American exhibition schedule beginning in January.

A major problem is financing. Players' expenses are paid during the training period and foreign trip s. But many have no source of income and, therefore, can­ not spare the time away from work or school.

We are trying to get broken time arrangements with employers, but there is nothing definite yet. Realis­ tic a lly , you've got to expect most of the United States National Team members w ill come from the approximately 80 American citizens playing in the amateur leagues. Many of the collegiate skaters are unable to get suf­ fic ie n t free time to p la y .'8

Bush also bared a plan that the A.H.A. was planning, which was

the creation of a new type of amateur league that will be limited

in itially to American citizens—post-collegiate athletes and former

high school players who do not intend to go on to college. He

^^Undated clipping in a Minneapolis newspaper, October, 1965. 150 pointed out that i t was hoped that the new league would funnel play­ ers to the national teams, just as lower leagues in other sports season younger players for top-level competition.

Vic Heyliger felt exactly the same way as did Mr. Bush. Vic had recruited most of his hockey players from Canada, while he was at the University of Michigan. He always defended this tactic by saying that the Canadians have helped to improve the American brand of hockey. He always advocated that you have to play against the best in order to improve, so why not bring in the best players from the countries where the caliber was the highest?

Vic also fe lt that the United States program needed a direc­ tion and a commitment in its national hockey program. His comments from an a rtic le in the Colorado Free Press of November 23, 1965, en­ title d , "World Hockey Program Needed" bore this out:

'The United States needs a sound program in hockey, i f they are to compete with other countries,' was the comment of Vic Heyliger, United States National hockey coach, at the Colorado Springs Quarterback Club on Monday.

Heyliger, who coached at Michigan, as well as head­ ing the West German ice crew three years ago, feels that the United States has to look forward to the fu­ ture in hockey. 'If this country is to ever compete with the Russians, the Czechs, and the Swedes, we are going to have to get a program now,' added Heyliger.

Heyliger, who is well known throughout the world for his support of hockey, as well as a top-rated coach, will head the United States Nationals, who will com­ pete in Europe next month. The team w ill compete in Russia in three games. The f ir s t contest is on tap for Moscow on December 5, with the sites of the other clases s t i l l unannounced. The Moscow contest, which 151

w ill be held in the Ice Palace in the Russian capital, is already a sellout. The Palace has a seating capac­ ity of 18,000.

The forming of the United States hockey team is the firs t step by the Amateur Hockey Association, as well as the World Hockey Association, to fie ld a strong Ameri­ can hockey team. With a solid foundation under such a program, any United States National team would be able to compete with its European counterparts.

'Canada's hockey team had played 32 games already,' commented Heyliger, 'and they have a long schedule ahead of them. We, here in the United States, must look to the future i f we are to meet the quality of our World competition.'

'Thayer Tutt of the Broadmoor,' Heyliger added, 'is making hockey noticeable to all of us with his In­ ternational Hockey Tournament which w ill be held Decem­ ber 26-31. This is the type of program that w ill help our team when the program gets underway. Our club might not be able to compete in the Broadmoor meet for a couple of years, but i t certainly would add to the meet i f a United States team was entered.'

Heyliger's team, which is to be formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the in itia l step towards the formation of an amateur or semi-professional program in the United States. This year's club is the f ir s t step towards a World Hockey Program in this country. With the continu­ ing e ffo rt of hockey supporters, the United States w ill be able to return to the status of the Olympic hockey team that competed at Squaw Valley a few years ago.

'A program of this type is needed in the United States,' Heyliger added, 'so set up where a college gradu­ ate doesn't hang up his skates but goes on to compete in a program in which he can represent the United States in tournaments throughout the World.'

'It's going to be a long, hard process,' Heyliger agreed, 'but, with the support of hockey fans in Color­ ado—as well as Minnesota, Michigan, and the rest of the United States—the United States Nationals w ill be­ come World Champions.'19

T^Gordon Crandall, "World Hockey Program Needed," Colorado Free Press, November 23, 1965, p. 13. 152

The 1965-66 United States National Team was made up of former college All-Americans, veterans of international competition, and ex-professionals who had regained their amateur standing. The ros­ te r included Marshall Tschida, Herbert Brooks, and Hank Therrien, playing on a lin e . Tschida, who played center, was a former A ll-

American from Providence College, a veteran of two United States teams, and from the St. Paul Saints. Brooks (currently University of Minnesota Hockey Coach) of the St. Paul Steers was a former A ll-

American at the University of Minnesota, a veteran of three United

States teams, and a member of the 1964 Olympic team. He played le f t wing. Therrien, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is a former professional from the International League.

The second line was made up of Richard Haigh of the Rochester,

Minnesota Mustangs, who was an All-NCAA Tournament selection as a junior fo r the Minnesota Gophers. Craig Falkman, also of the Mus­ tangs, was All-American in 1963, and the Gopher team captain in 1964.

Larry Stordahl, of the Mustangs, was also a former University of

Minnesota star.

The third line consisted of Jerry Melynchuk of the St. Paul

Saints and also a former University of Minnesota captain; Leonard

Lilyholm of Rochester, who was a member of the University of Minne­

sota Gopher team, as well as a member of the 1964 Olympic team; and

Ken Johannson of Rochester, who was also an All-American from the

University of North Dakota and a veteran of the professional leagues. 153

Defensemen included John Mayasich, player-coach of the Green

Bay Bobcats and a former Gopher All-American; Bradley Teal, begin­

ning his tenth year with the Mustangs; Bob Currie, a former profes­

sional with the Minneapolis M illers; Ted Staedell of Rochester; and

Marty Howe, former All-American of the University of Denver and a

professional with the Denver Invaders.

Goalie Rod Blackburn of the Steers is a former All-American

from the University of New Hampshire, and goalie Tom Yurkovich of the

Mustangs is a veteran of three United States teams and the 1964 Olym­

pic team by way of the University of North Dakota.

Also on the team was defenseman Lou Nanne, who was captain of

the University of Minnesota hockey team in 1963, and the most valu­

able player in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. He had

been playing for three years with the Mustangs.

The squad was rounded out with Emery Ruelle who led Waterloo, 20 Iowa, to a United States Hockey League T itle .

Vic was popular with the press. There seems to be a wealth of

newspaper articles written about Vic Heyliger. Most of the sports- wri te rs seemed to be trying to outdo one another writing about his

hockey exploits and adventures. The following article, "Moscow

Bound," by Harry Farrar, gives a colorful account of his feelings for

Vic:

Vic Heyliger may be the last soldier of fortune in athletics. An agent of sports intrigue, he appears

^^Colorado College Hockey Program, February 10, 1961. 154

periodically like a guerrilla warrior in the trouble zones. He vanishes into limbo occasionally, then pops up again in the darndest places. For example, h e 'll be in Moscow early next week as coach of the United States Nationals hockey team. A few years ago, he was in West Germany as that country's chief hockey con­ sultant.

His present assignment is to spruce up the image of United States amateur hockey. It's been quite tarnish­ ed in recent years because of a series of embarrassments in international shinny contests. Heyliger, who had . spent many of his 47 years renovating athletic machines, is an expert sports mechanic. His selection indicates that his employer chose wisely.

Heyliger gads around the globe lik e a Marco Polo with a credit card. Technically, he is a resident of Colorado Springs. In recent years, he's dabbed in various businesses; but he always answers distress sig­ nals from floundering hockey enterprises. He must keep a suitcase p a rtia lly packed at a ll times, because.some of his missions are rather urgent.

You name any phase of hockey, and yo u'll find that Heyliger's been involved in it. Just before getting his current pre-travel chores done, he hustled around Denver picking up sponsors' checks fo r a junior hockey program he's aiding. He's played or coached the ice game 28 years—in high school, college, and as a pro­ fessional.

His college coaching record is not likely to be threatened for quite a few years. In his 13-year ten­ ure at Michigan, his teams were in the national play­ offs every possible year (10) and they won the United States Championship six times.21

Heyliger's 1965-66 United States National team finished sixth at the World Championship in the "A" Division. Russia, Czechoslo­ vakia, Canada, Sweden, and East Germany finished ahead of the United

Undated newpaper a rtic le . 155

States team. Vic's fonner West German National team finished firs t in the "B" Division.

22 U.S. Amateur Hockey Association, Olympic Games and World Championship Amateur Hockey Association, Ice Hockey - U.S. Record in Olympic and World Championships, 1920-1975, p. 33. 156 1666 WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP—LJUBLJANA, YUGOSLAVIA

1966 U.S. National Team Roster

Name Home Town Affiliation

Rod Blackburn Berlin, N.H. St. Paul Steers

Tom Yurkovich Eveleth, Minn. Rochester

Donald Ross Roseau, Minn. North Dakota U

John Mayasich Eveleth, Minn. Green Bay

Robert Currie* Canada St. Paul Steers

Bradley Teal Thief River Falls, Minn. Rochester

Lyle Porter* Canada Muskegon

Jim Stordahl Roseau, Minn. Warroad

Larry Stordahl Roseau, Minn. Rochester

Marsh Tschida St. Paul, Minn. St. Paul Steers

Ken Johnannson* Canada Rochester

Len Lilyholm Robbinsdale, Minn. Rochester

Rog Maisoneuve* Canada Fort Wayne

Henry Therrien* Canada Green Bay

Dick Roberge* Canada Johnstown

Emery Ruelle Hancock, Mich.

Ron Naslund Minneapolis, Minn. Denver U

David Metzen St. Paul, Minn. St. Paul Steers

*Naturalized citizen 157

1966 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS

Group A

W L I F A PIS Russia 6 0 T 55 7 13 Czechoslovakia 6 1 0 32 15 12 Canada 5 2 0 33 10 10 Sweden 3 3 1 26 17 7 East Germany 3 4 0 12 30 6 United States 2 5 0 18 39 4 Finland 2 5 0 18 43 4 Poland 0 7 0 11 44 0

GrouD B

W L I ■ F A PIS, West Germany 7 0 0 34 12 14 Romania 5 1 1 29 16 11 Yugoslavia 4 1 2 25 23 10 Norway 4 3 0 28 17 8 Austria 3 4 0 25 30 7 Switzerland 2 5 0 24 26 4 Hungary 1 6 0 19 30 2 Britain 0 6 1 15 45 1

U.S. Scores

Canada 17 U.S.A. 2 Russia 11 U.S.A. 0 Sweden 6 U.S.A. 2 Czechs 7 U.S.A. 4 Finland 4 U.S.A. 1 U.S.A. 4 E. Germany 1 U.S.A. 6 Poland 4 158

Vic Heyliger's philosophy on international hockey is expressed very well in the following article by Loy Holman of the Colorado

Springs Gazette-Telegraph:

'The root of all evil may be the quickest route to Hades fo r some, but money is also the only way out of the current depression this country is suffering in hockey,' according to Vic Heyliger.

'Even the Russian o ffic ia ls were offering help to build up our program,' the United States National team's coach told the Quarterback Club's gathering on Monday at th e ir weekly meeting.

'They (the Russians) said they would send coaches here, give clinics, or anything else needed. But I told them that is n 't what's wrong—what we need goes further than coaching.'

' I t may be the Soviets are bending away slig h tly from party lines but from a commercial aspect, they don't want those lopsided scores when teams from the two nations play any more than we do. So fa r, they haven't had our trouble in f illin g the grandstands for so-called amateur hockey games. But this might be another five-year plan. They would like some in­ surance that th e ir World Champions w ill have oppo­ sition in the future.'

'What we need to compete with the Russians and the other top national teams is more time to train for international competition,' Heyliger told the Quarter­ back Club.

'People in Europe found i t hard to believe that we put the team together only a week before going there to p lay,' the former Michigan University mentor said of contacts made at the World Championship in Yugo­ slavia this past winter. 'The Canadians had played 73 games together, and the Russians play nearly the year around.'

'But we had a tryout one week in Minneapolis on a high school rink and then le f t a few days la te r for Switzerland. We didn't even have a ll our best amateurs on the team,' Heyliger said. 159

There's a plan being worked out to raise forty or f if t y thousand dollars to handle a training camp so that the United States National team can play together for a couple months before the next international games roll around. This could be supplemented by gate receipts from contests with colleges and semi-professional clubs.

By next year, with the 1958 Olympics following the regular hockey season, Heyliger would lik e to see the National squad set up headquarters in Colorado. Like the hubbub over the Summer Olympiad in Mexico City, the Winter Games w ill also be in the high altitude of the Alps. The Columbine State offers the closest thing to that for acclimztization and physical conditioning.

'We've got to go to the young players, though,' Heyliger declared. 'There are enough players in college right now to form a good nucleus for the team. But we'll have to provide a training camp for them.'

'Those old players we've been using just can't be pumped up with enthusiasm,' the Yanks skipper said. ' I spent most of the time in Europe ju st trying to get something extra from them—but they've played so much hockey there is n 't anything l e f t . '

There was one among the squad this year who couldn't skate any faster than Vic's daughter, according to the veteran coach. But when volunteers have to give up jobs, money, and time to play with the team, they have to take what they get.

A fter going through several exhibition games and then nearly the entire World Tournament schedule, the United States fin a lly did win a couple games. But, that was a fa r cry from the Olympic T itle , captured back in 1960 at Squaw Valley.

' I t seems lik e we've been going downhill ever since winning the Gold Medal,' Heyliger said. 'But that was a near miracle. The team had great goal- tending from Jack McCarten, who v irtu a lly won the games against the Russians and Canadians—but he played a couple games a fter that with the New York Rangers and then has hardly been heard of since.'

Heyliger recalls that when he was playing for the Chicago Black Hawks, he wasn't the only American in the National Hockey League. The Hawks had eight of 160

them—including 'Doc' Romnes, now working at the Broad­ moor Gold Club. But now there is but a single United States citizen in the NHL.

'It's not that we don't have a lot of young play­ ers. There are more youngsters playing hockey now than ever before,' Heyliger said. 'But i t 's the way they play, and the time on the ice that counts.'

He explained that in Russia, where he took one of our semi-professional clubs for games last winter before the World Tournament, they have added hundreds of indoor rinks. Youth teams are playing everywhere.

'In Canada the teenage teams can play as many as ninety games a season, if they are in the play-offs. That's the difference,' Heyliger stated.

'In comparison, right here in Colorado Springs, the teams play only about 20 games. More important, they practice only now and then. When they do have a game, it 's for 12-minute periods instead of 20 minutes..Even i f they would increase the time to 15 minutes that would add 180 minutes a season of playing time. I t s t ill wouldn't equal the time spent on the ice in other coun­ tries, but it would help.'

He further pointed out that this trend to shorten games has even extended into baseball. 'For instance, a game last week that I saw between Cheyenne and Wasson was only seven innings but, i f they had played the two more fo r a regular nine-inning game, i t might have made a lot of difference,' Heyliger said.

Heyliger has twin boys playing with Cheyenne, which won that game 4-1. They also play hockey for the Indi­ ans and participate in football. They are reportedly headed fo r Vic's former school, Michigan, upon gradua­ tion.

Finally, Vic stated: 'Watching the Russians play in the World Championships was something to see. They are great. But what was amazing to me was watching the two 17-year-olds they had, who didn't play here at Christmas time in the Broadmoor Tournament. Comparing them with my own boys, there was such a difference. It 's because of the time they spend in practice.23

23 Loy Holman, "Time to Train," Colorado Springs Gazette- Telegraph, Undated CHAPTER IX

THE AIR FORCE PROGRAM

According to o ffic ia ls at the United States A ir Force Academy, hockey has been a part of th eir athletic program ever since i t moved to Colorado Springs from Lowry A ir Force Base in Denver. Dur­ ing the early years, it was more of a recreational activity at the mercy of the weatherman, as there was no ice arena and no a rtific ia l ice. It was definitely unstructured and informal.

Shortly after the first season in Colorado Springs, Air Force personnel remember seeing the cadets skating and playing hockey in one of the open areas not too fa r from the existing rink of today.

They also remember seeing a fellow with a cigar and an "M" on his hat. This was Vic Heyliger, returning to college hockey.

Vic's association with the A ir Force Academy started very loosely and very informally. He personally discovered that there were some students who were interested in hockey attending the

Academy. He received permission from A ir Force o ffic ia ls to use an area for hockey. I t was plowed and smoothed, banked and flood­ ed. The result was an outdoor skating area. Every year, slight im­ provements were made—with the "rink" fin a lly being b u ilt under

the cadets' dorm, where i t was sheltered from the erratic Colorado

rain, snow, and sun. 161 162

During the early period, Heyliger is working fu ll-tim e in his bus-bench advertising business, as well as being interested in a meat packing plant, a restaurant, a museum, and a couple of d iffe r­ ent real estate ventures. He is also involved with serving as

General Manager of the World Hockey Tournament, coaching the West

German National Team, and also coaching the United States National

Team.

Tony Frasca, the Colorado College Hockey Coach at that time;

Art Berglund, a former Colorado College hockey player and Assistant

Manager of the Broadmoor World Arena; and Vic Heyliger provided the nucleus of the opposition fo r the cadets during these early days.

Paul Cheland, the swimming coach at A ir Force from 1959-62, was also helpful in getting the program going. He approached Vic Heyliger and Tony Frasca, inviting them up to the Academy for th e ir advice on a hockey program. They ate with the cadets, and an announcement was made over the public address system stating that there would be try ­ outs. There are pictures showing the cadets playing hockey during these early days. Two football players who really got involved in i t were Brock Strom, a cadet from Michigan who was an All-American before graduating in 1959; and Mike Quinlin, Class of 1961. Many hours were spent shoveling off the ice surface, flooding it with water. Art Berglund and Tony Frasca were also referees during the club period and varsity competition.

In the fa ll of 1965, the United States Air Force Academy re­ ceived club status—thanks to the efforts of Vic Heyliger and Air 163

Force Academy Athletic Director, George Simler. Heyliger set up the schedule fo r ten games. Since they didn't have th eir own rink, they played th eir home games at the Broadmoor World Arena. Heyliger was also involved with the United States National Team the same year, so he was a busy man. The club team finished with a record of three wins and seven losses.

Vic Heyliger was appointed the ice hockey coach at the United

States A ir Force Academy during the summer of 1966. The announcement was made by Colonel E. A. Rafalko, Director of Athletics at the

Academy. Colonel Rafalko said.

We feel very fortunate to have a man of Vic Hey­ lig e r's talent and experience to build up our hockey program. He has been extremely successful at organi­ zing hockey programs at other in stitu tio n s, and we are confident he will do the same for us.l

The Air Force plan was to have a two-year period to build up its hockey program and enter the intercollegiate ice hockey picture in the 1968-69 season. That date was to coincide with the completion of the fie ld house and the new hockey rink.

It should be pointed out that Vic Heyliger was s till in no less than six other businesses during the period of time he coached at the A ir Force Academy. He was actually a part-time employee but a fu ll-tim e coach.

In an a rtic le from the Colorado Springs Sun, Heyliger was quoted:

^Undated clipping in unidentified newspaper. 164

The A ir Force Academy told me that they were going to get a hockey program going and that they wanted me to coach. When we started, they didn't even have an ice rink. It was rough recruiting kids to come to the Academy—like trying to sell an iceberg in Siberia. But we got them to come and b u ilt the program from there. I remember when we would have to get on a bus, go to the Broadmoor, practice, change without showering, and get back to the Academy dining hall by 6:00 P.M. I t was a tough lif e for the kids, but they gave i t a ll they c o u l d . 2

The 1966-67 season is usually referred to as the f ir s t club team by the A ir Force o ffic ia ls , because this was the f ir s t year that they had a paid coach and a budget fo r hockey. Prior to th is, everything had been put together piece by piece by volunteers and interested parties. The schedule was ambitious with 18 games. Nine games were played at the Broadmoor. These were three separate trip s —fir s t to Chicago, where they played the University of Dayton,

University of Notre Dame, and Northwestern University; a second to

Boston, where they played Babson In s titu te , Massachusetts In stitute of Technology and Wesleyan College; and a third trip , to Philadel­ phia to play Villanova University, Rutgers University, and Bowling

Green University. The team finished with eight wins and ten

losses.

The f ir s t A ir Force Invitational Hockey Tournament was held

during this season with the University of Notre Dame, Denison Uni­

versity, and the University of Colorado competing against Air

^Colorado Springs Sun, March 4, 1974. 165

Force in the tournament. According to Morris Fraser of the Colorado

Springs Gazette-Telegraph:

The Air Force Academy won the f ir s t Invitational Hockey Tournament at the Broadmoor on the strength of the cadets' 12-2 win Friday over Denison University. The Air Force Academy claimed the championship on to­ tal goals scored. Notre Dame was second with ten goals.3

This concept of tournament hockey had always been a deep-seated

b e lie f with Heyliger to promote college hockey. The idea had been with him since his early coaching days at Illin o is when he took his

teams to the West Coast to play the University of California, Los

Angeles; Southern C alifornia; Santa Rosa University; and the Univer­

s ity of California at Berkeley. He had also taken his teams East

to play Dartmouth, Yale, and other Eastern schools.

The 1967-68 season was a decided e ffo rt to upgrade thé sched­

ule. Included on the schedule for the f ir s t time were Colorado Col­

lege, Ohio University, St. John's University, Macalester College,

the University of Toledo, Bowling Green, and the Ohio State Univer­

s ity . The University of Illin o is , the University of Colorado, and

Notre Dame were kept on the schedule.

The games were again played in the Broadmoor World Hockey Arena.

The team finished with 5 wins and 13 losses. Heyliger was trying

to build a competitive schedule in order to keep with the recruit­

ing.

^Morris Fraser, Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, February 19, 1967. 166

Recruiting for hockey is especially rough for a service academy [related Heyliger]. The great major­ ity of good hockey players are Canadian and, naturally, we can't get them.

At Air Force, we had to h it the road quite a b it to Minnesota. We spent a great deal of time at the Minnesota State High School Tournament. We sent a le tte r and a card to every high school coach in the country, te llin g them about our program. This inclu­ ded the academic and physical qualifications neces­ sary to be admitted to.school. We had no problem helping to get them appointments, i f they could meet the entrance requirements. Of course, the competition for players was tough at A ir Force. I t is getting more difficult all the time. When I was recruiting, you could be more lenient in what you did to recruit. You had more leeway in how to recru it. Now, i f you take a kid to see a program, he has to buy his own tic ket. You can't even buy him a coke. Coaching is getting to be a young man's profession, because so much time is spent on the road away from your fa m ily - recruiting, recruiting, recruiting!^

The 1968-69 season marked the debut of the United States Air

Force Academy into NCAA intercollegiate hockey. The team embarked on an ambitious varsity schedule, as coach Heyliger fin a lly found a permanent home in their new rink in the recently-completed Field

House. A 26-game slate, with 18 home games, was planned. All home contests were to start at 8:00 P.M. The public was invited with­ out charge. The arena had 2,600 seats.

"The team, though short in experience, will be long in desire and ambition," stated Heyliger. "The schedule, though demanding, w ill provide local fans with some fin e , hard-hitting hockey."5

^Colorado Springs Sun, op. c it.

^United States A ir Force Academy, "Ice Hockey," 1968-69. 167

The 1968-69 United States Air Force hockey team produced a record of 8 wins, 14 losses against very good opposition. The sport was very well received by the spectators, and the games produced ca­ pacity or standing-room crowds every game. A ir Force o ffic ia ls were very pleased with the success and progress of the program.

The following letter to the Athletic Director of the Air Force

Academy demonstrated th e ir satisfaction:

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

USAF ACADEMY, COLORADO 80840

Reply to Attn of: DFEE (Major Ray Bubick / 472-3256) 18 April 1969

SUBJECT: End of Season Report (Ice Hockey)

TO: DA

1. I believe that this past Ice Hockey season (the first varsity season) was a most successful one in terms of attendance and in sport interest created among both cadets and staff personnel.

2. The enthusiasm generated by the sport among the cadets and fac­ ulty from my viewpoint was excellent. With the increase in caliber of play and better scheduling, I can envision the day when Ice Hockey w ill be the number two sport--in attendance at the Academy. When the day comes that we can compete against Colorado College and Denver, there won't be sufficient seats available in the present arena.

3. The following are a lis t of recommendations Coach Heyliger and I feel would help the sport in future seasons;

a. Present player and penalty boxes are much too small. We recommend removal of the row of seats immediately behind the player boxes, and moving the present wall back. 168

b. We feel that i f an admission charge is made next season, that i t should be a reasonable fee. I would suggest (on a single game basis) $1.00 for adults and 25t or 50

c. An increase in the budget to account for the ad­ ditional away trips, which are tentatively scheduled for next year, and also to include payment of goal judges, penalty box keeper, score-board keeper, and ushers, which was not budgeted for this past season.

d. Coach Heyliger would like to have T/Sgt Larry Cronk, his assistant coach who is presently assigned to the Navigation Training Branch, re­ assigned to the Department of Athletics on a fu ll-tim e basis to run the ice arena as well as to help coach. I believe his reassignment would alleviate many of the present problems at the arena.6

It was a great day for Vic Heyliger when the Air Force assign­ ed Technical Sergeant Larry Cronk to hockey at the Falcon Arena.

I t gave Vic Heyliger some "o ffic ia l help" in the program. Larry is a very personable man, who had been instrumental in starting the pro­ gram. Cronk had a hockey background coming from Newberry, Michi­ gan. He worked very hard as an Air Force employee on the "inside" to get hockey accepted as a club sport in 1965. He also was instru­ mental in starting the Academy's Youth Hockey Program in 1968.

Cronk stayed with Vic Heyliger a ll through Vic's career at A ir

Force and, without question, was a very integral part of the success­ ful program.

The 1969-70 hockey season was a concentrated e ffo rt to im­ prove the schedule, the caliber of the program, and to attract

^Letter from Major Raymond J. Bubick to the Director of Ath­ le tic s , U.S.A.F.A., April 18, 1969. 169 better athletes. "Right on schedule" is the way A ir Force Academy hockey coach, Vic Heyliger, termed the success of the Falcons after finishing their second varsity season.

The Falcons, who wound up with an 11-17-1, had progressed ac­ cording to Coach Heyliger's long-range plans.

I figured it would take time to build a team that could compete with the major opponents, [he said]. This year's team is thirty percent better than last season. They played the caliber of ice hockey which earned a lo t of respect from our opponents. We should be much stronger next season. I am looking for another th irty percent improvement, since we w ill be fieldin g our f ir s t really experienced squad.'

Heyliger went on to point out that he would only lose one play­ er through graduation—Bob Stewart of Norwood, Massachusetts. He cherished the idea that the Falcons would have three balanced front lines for the f ir s t time. Vic considered his All-American candidate goalie, Kim Newman, as one of the best in collegiate competition.

Once again. Major Bubick's le tte r to the A thletic Director,

Colonel M e rritt, gives a very clear picture of the progress the Air

Force Academy's hockey program was making.

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

USAF ACADEMY, COLORADO 80840

REPLY TO ATTN OF: DFEE/Maj Bubick / 472-3150

SUBJECT: End of Season Report (Ice Hockey) 3 April 1970

^United States A ir Force News Release, Office of Sports Infor­ mation, March 18, 1970. 170

TO: DA/Col M erritt

1. As Officer Representative for the hockey team for the past three seasons, I have seen hockey grow from a 'rinky-dink' club sport to the number two sport in attendance and fan enthusiasm at the Academy. Because of the nature of the sport, speed and body contact, I think it will remain the top winter sport at the Academy since i t is most compatible with the environment under which the cadets liv e and, therefore, appeals more to them.

2. I would like to make the following recommendations to further enhance the continued growth of the sport in both quality and interest:

a. That a full-time assistance coach to Coach Heyliger be hired. There have been many problems over three years which could have been alleviated by such an assistant. The fact that Vic is just part-time himself, and the fact that his presence on many occasions was required, would prevent contact and scheduling delays, for example. I think that recruiting quality would improve with a fu ll-tim e assistant who would be more free than Vic to make recruiting trips. I think this assistant should be hired with the intent of eventually succeeding Coach Heyliger. (John Matchefts, Head Hockey Coach at Colorado College, would make a good candidate for this job.) I think the continued growth of the sport w ill eventually demand such a person.

b. That the penalty and timekeeper's boxes be moved from th eir present location to the west side of the arena. This would eliminate verbal harassment and confusion which results in penalties during games.

c. That children (under 18) be charged $.25 per person next season, so that the local boy scout troup, for example, doesn't bring in 100 or so kids to games, since seats w ill be a premium for most games.

d. That there be an increase in the budget to allow the hiring of better officials for next season. We received many com­ plaints, from fans and opposing coaches, of the poor quality of officiating this past season.

e. That the Athletic Association take over the supply account for the hockey team. I think a ll the problems that have arisen because of supply requisition, would be eliminated by the better-trained personnel in supply of the Athletic Association. 171

f . Lastly, I would like to recommend the name of Major Daniel W. Buehler, DFEE, as my replacement fo r Officer Representa­ tive to the hockey team for next season. He personally volunteered and flew our team to a ll of our away trips this year, has shown a genuine interest in the team, and has done more to indicate to me that he would do the best job for Coach Heyliger.8

Major Bubick's suggestion for an assistant coach as well taken and, less than a year la te r, the suggestion was implemented. On

February 12, 1971, John Matchefts, head ice hockey coach at Colorado

College, was named to the athletic s ta ff at the United States Air

Force Academy. Academy Athletic Director, Colonel Frank M e rritt, who made the announcement said that Matchefts would join the s ta ff on

April 1, with duties as assistant ice hockey coach and physical edu­ cation instructor.

"We are happy to have John Matchefts join our athletic staff," said Colonel M erritt. "His high professional reputation and coach- 9 ing experience w ill be a valuable asset to our program."

"He was a great player in college, and he'll be a great help from the coaching standpoint," said Heyliger. "He is fundamentally sound. He has proven that with this coaching at Colorado College."10

"I'm happy to be back with my old coach," said Matchefts.

"This certainly presents a great challenge. Air Force has a young

hockey team, and I can speak from experience that each year th eir

^Letter from Major Raymond J. Bubick to the Director of Ath­ letics, Col. Merritt, USAFA, April 3, 1970. Q United States A ir Force News Release, February 12, 1971.

l°Ib id . 172 11 program gets stronger."

Matchefts, 30 years old at that time, was in his fifteenth season as head coach at Colorado College. A native of Eveleth,

Minnesota, he was a member of the Michigan teams coached by Vic Hey­ lig e r that won national collegiate title s in 1951, 1952, and 1953.

He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament teams in 1951 and 1953.

He was named the Most Valuable Player in the la tte r tournament. John was also an All-American in 1951 and again in 1953. (He had only played h alf of the 1951-1952 season, due to an academic problem, but he s t i l l scored over 20 goals.) Matchefts was a member of the 1955

United States National team and the 1956 United States Olympic team.

After serving as a lieutenant in the Marine Corps, he became head hockey coach at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, Minne­ sota. Two years la te r, he became head ice hockey coach at Eveleth

High School, returning to the place where he was a high school star in 1947, 1948, and 1949. Matchefts was named Western Collegiate

Hockey Association's Coach of the Year in the 196.8-69 season. Get­ ting an assistant coach from Minnesota or someone with a Minnesota background or connection was v it a l, because this was an area where

Air Force recruited most of its talent.

The 1970-71 ice hockey outlook appeared brighter to Coach Hey­

lig e r. He was extremely optim istic about the prospects of a winning

season. He even predicted it. The return of senior rightwing Steve

H all; junior Bob Ross; sophomore center David Skalko; and sophomore

rightwing David Stangl appeared to be able to give the Falcons the

IT Ibid. 173 scoring punch they needed. With All-American candidate, Kim Newman, in the goal, Heyliger was confident.

Vic fe lt that his freshman class was very good. Jim Skalko,

Dave's brother; Mike Lucca, a good playmaker and excellent skater;

Ron Nagurski, a hard h itte r and son of Bronco Nagurski, legendary football great; and Dave Bunker, who was an excellent scorer, appear­ ed to be the nucleus of the newcomers.

The 1970-71 version of the United States A ir Force Academy hockey team finished its roughest schedule in its three-year history with a 15-11-2 record. I t was th eir f ir s t winning season.

The cadets played a better caliber of hockey this year, [said head coach, Vic Heyliger]. We had more depth and skated with three solid lines most of the season. The team had a tremendous amount of determina­ tion, hustle, and desire to win. The ingredients gave us our fir s t winning s e a s o n .T2

To have the best team record ever against teams lik e Colorado

College, University of Notre Dame, St. Louis University, Ohio Univer­ s ity , and Ohio State University is quite an accomplishment. The four games against W.C.H.A. "power" Colorado College was particu­ la rly rewarding to Heyliger. They tied 7-7 in one game and, la te r in the season. A ir Force upset Colorado College 7-4.

Heyliger was concerned about the loss of goalie Kim Newman from Eveleth, Minnesota, who held every goalie record in the Falcon record book. He also feared the loss of Steve Hall of White Bear

Lake, Minnesota, who graduated with 79 goals, 74 assists, and seven

"hat tricks" among his four-year career scoring records.

^^Falcon Sports News, March 18, 1971. 174

I t was personally rewarding to Heyliger that the hockey team attracted about 40,000 paying fans for the 14 home contests. The average attendance was ju st under 3,000 per game.

Vic Heyliger, the eternal optimist that he is, was expecting even greater things for the 1971-72 season after his f ir s t winning season the previous year with a record of 15-11-2. There were a few question marks that concerned him about the coming season and, at the head of the lis t , was finding a replacement for his graduated goalie, Kim Newman. The prime candidates fo r the job were freshmen

Allan Morrison and Phil Growseth and sophomore Bob Ligday. Hey­ lig e r f e lt that i f a number one goalie emerged from this group and i f he could develop quickly enough, the A ir Force could have an ex­ cellent chance of posting another winning season. He f e lt that he had an experienced defenseman unit with Steve M ullivain, Doug John­ son, Kerry Droppo, and Greyson Morrow. Sophomore Tim Kline and freshmen Jerry Micheletti and Todd Zetdlik were expected to help con­ siderably. Heyliger also felt he had three solid lines centered around Bob Ross, John Hanson, Mike Henehan, Dave Skalko, Kim Skalko,

Dave Bunker, and Mike Lucca. Vic promised a much-improved team and another exciting season.

They say records are made to be broken, but the 1971- 72 A ir Force ice hockey team may have set some records that w ill be hard fo r future Falcon squads to match. This year's team posted a 25-6 record, the best in the school's history. It was one of the highest scoring teams in the nation with 227 goals. More than 41,00 A ir Force fans saw the offensive-minded Falcons post a 175

14-1 record at home. The Falcons finished with an 11- 5 record on the road after their eleventh series sweep of the year.13

By any standards, the 1971-72 season was extremely successful.

Once again, the schedule got better and better. NCAA Division I

team Princeton University, St. Lawrence University, Colorado College,

St. Louis University, and the University of Denver were all formid­

able opponents. A season opening winning streak of eight straight wins and an end of the season streak of seven straight wins would

be encouraging to almost any coach. The 10-5 win over Colorado Col­

lege in th eir home rink was tremendously rewarding to Vic Heyliger

and his A ir Force team. He called this win his greatest in coach- . 14 ing.

A ir Force's only losses came at the hands of Dalhousie, St.

Louis, Colorado College (twice), Denver, and St. Lawrence.

I was pleased with the improvement of our defense, especially in the goal with A1 Morrison [commented Vic Heyliger]. He was rather inconsistent early in the season but got tougher later in the year. I was also pleased with the improvement of the third of­ fensive u n it, centered by Pat Carmichael, with Mike Lucca and Dave Stangl on the wings.15

The thirty-one game schedule of the 1971-72 season was in­

creased to thirty-two games for the 1972-73 season. A feeling of

cautious optimism prevailed among the coaching s ta ff of the A ir Force

ice hockey squad. Even though 16 lettermen were returning, the 13 United States Air Force News Release, March 14, 1972. ^^Gordon Crandall, Colorado Springs Sun, February 28, 1974. T^Ibid. 176 schedule continued to get tougher. NCAA Champion, Boston Univer­ sity; and NAIA titlis t. Lake Superior State University; the Univer­ sity of Minnesota, Duluth; Michigan State University; and Bowling

Green were added to a schedule that made i t the toughest lis t of op­ ponents the United States A ir Force Academy had ever scheduled.

They s t ill had to contend with the University of Denver, Colorado

College, St. Louis University, and St. Lawrence University—all of whom were national powers. To compound matters, Heyliger lo s t, through graduation, the A ir Force's all-tim e scoring leader. Bob

Ross. Vic f e lt his team was better overall, but that the schedule was extremely demanding.

This ambitious schedule included 20 games on the road and only

12 at home. Air Force played on the road in three tournaments:

The Christmas City of the North Tournament, the F lin t Invitational

Tournament (Michigan), and the Richfield Holiday Tournament (Minne­ sota).

The Falcons had a record of 16-16 for the 1972-73 season.

They were 8-4 at home and 8-12 on the road. They were also involved

in seven overtime games, fiv e of which they won. Their 4-3 over­

time loss to the University of Denver near the end of the season in

the Denver University Arena was called, "One of the great games in

intercollegiate history by many of the fans that saw the game."^®

Denver won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Championship

^^Personal interview with Murray Armstrong, July 12, 1972. 177 that season and went on to the finals of the National Collegiate

A thletic Association Championships in Boston, Massachusetts.

I t was in the 1973 season that Vic Heyliger fir s t gave any in­ dication of retirin g from the Air Force Academy. Of course, he had been the actual driving force to getting John Matchefts from Color­ ado College as his assistant in 1971. Matchefts knew a ll along that he was going to be the successor to Heyliger. I t was after the

Friday night game against Gustavus Adolphus (which Air Force had won 7-0) that Vic publically talked about retirement. The papers carried a story that said the win had moved the Falcon coach to his

351 win as a college coach and pushed him into the third position in the all-tim e number of wins. He now had one more win than Ned Hark- ness, who coached national championship teams at Rensselaer Poly­ technic In stitu te and Cornell, before becoming the head coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey

League. (Harkness has ju st recently returned to college coaching at Union College in upstate New York.)

" I ' l l coach through next year, and th a t'll be it , " said Hey­ liger in his first public pronouncement concerning his tenure at the

Academy. "It's getting harder to skate. It's been a lot of fun, but I need to devote some time to my w ife. She's been at this a long time, too, and I owe her something.

Only the retired John "Snooks" Kelly of Boston College (with

501 wins) and the s till-a c tiv e Murray Armstrong of the University

^^Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, February 4, 1973. 178 of Denver (with 449 wins through the 1975-76 season) are ahead of

Vic Heyliger.

Of the top five coaches in "wins," including Harvard's "Cooney"

Weiland, Heyliger is the only one to compile his record at three schools. Vic accomplished this fete with a break in coaching years between Illin o is and Michigan. This was because the Illin o is rink was taken by the Army. There was an eleven-year break from in ter­ collegiate coaching before starting Air Force's program.

The 1973-74 A ir Force season was Vic Heyliger's las t season as head coach at A ir Force. In actuality, Heyliger and John Matc­ hefts were almost co-coaches. Vic wanted to prepare John for the actual experience of handling all aspects of the program, which are somewhat d ifferen t at a United States M ilita ry Academy than they had been at Colorado College. This transition period also gave the players the experience of having John in a dominant and responsible role, rather than just being the assistant coach.

Heyliger had now coached six seasons as head varsity coach.

He also had two years before that as head coach of the club team

(1966-67, 1967-68).

The team record was 12 wins, 15 losses for the 1973-74 season.

Once again, the Falcons participated in the F lin t Tournament.

They also played in the Lake Forest Tournament. Their schedule in­ cluded W.C.H.A. powers: University of Denver, Colorado College, and

Michigan State. Opponents, St. Louis and Bowling Green, were also rated in the top ten in the national poll that year. 179

Vic Heyliger never avoided any opponent. He scheduled a ll the best teams in the country whenever possible. His record at A ir

Force bears this out.

Heyliger's career at Air Force was well-respected by coaches all over the country. It was greatly appreciated by officials of the United States Air Force Academy. The Sports Information Release of February 26, 1974, bears this out:

One of the most impressive coaching careers in the history of college ice hockey will come to ane end at the Air Force Academy this weekend.

Vic Heyliger, the Falcons' head ice hockey coach for the last eight years and one of the nation's win- ningest coaches, w ill wind up a 25-year coaching career- when Air Force meets Bowling Green of Ohio in a pair of home games at the Ice Arena Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The name Heyliger and college ice hockey are synony­ mous. During his 25 seasons as head coach at Illin o is , Michigan, and A ir Force, Heyliger posted a record of 355 victories, third best winning mark among college coaches. Included in that total are seven national collegiate championships when Heyliger coached at Michigan.

Heyliger's coaching feats at Michigan are legend, but his best coaching job was probably at Air Force— a school that cannot use Canadian players. Despite this handicap, Heyliger s t ill posted a winning record in his seven years with the Falcons.

His other contributions, besides coaching, included helping start the National Collegiate Tournament—now the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. He also has coached the West German National Team and the 1965-66 United States National T e a m .18

Vic Heyliger has brought the Air Force program to the point that they were competitive with anyone in the country. Their

IBunited States A ir Force News Release, February 26, 1974. 180 schedule seemed as tough as any team in intercollegiate hockey. This was done in an era when the m ilitary and m ilitary schools were not very popular due to the Viet Nam situation. Most R.G.T.C. (Reserve

O fficer Training Corps)’ programs were being attacked on major univer­ s ity campuses throughout the country. As a result, a few R.O.T.C. programs were dropped by colleges and universities. The big factor was that many students did not want to face m ilitary duty a fte r they graduated from college, but Heyliger sold them on the program anyway.

Perhaps not being in a league or in an association that permit­ ted them an opportunity to get to the national tournament was as big an obstacle to overcome as any that he faced, but Heyliger did not le t this stop him. His schedules were excellent.

The fact that he had no Canadian players on his clubs, because they were a United States Military Academy, certainly did not help

A ir Force to become the number one rated team in the United States.

But, this was not Heyliger's main goal. He always fe lt that he was an educator—a teacher of men about life and reality, about joy and sorrow; good times, and bad. He was helping to prepare men fo r a career. He made i t fun, but he reminded them of th eir Air Force

Academy missions "to provide instruction, experience, and motiva­ tion to each cadet, so that he will graduate with the knowledge, character, and qualities of leadership essential to his progressive development as a career office in the United States Air Force.

^^United States A ir Force Academy, 1970-71, Air Force Ice Hockey Fact Book. 181

The big question around the United States Air Force Academy on

March 2, 1974, was: "Can A ir Force 'win one for Vic' in its season hockey finals against Bowling Green?"^^

The cadets had a lackluster performance in losing 6-2 to Bowl­ ing Green in the series opener Friday. Bowling Green had a 19-7 record going for them in the regular season. They were to go on, enter, and win the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Tourna­ ment the next week. A ir Force's record was 11-15 entering the final game.

Heyliger had been honored between periods of the Friday night game by the o ffic ia l of the Academy. He was presented with a sabre from the members of the Falcon hockey team. He cherishes i t as one of his most prized possessions. The sabre he received is usually only awarded to A ir Force Academy cadets and, for this reason, i t has special meaning to Vic.

The headlines of the Sunday paper read: "Air Force Wins One for Vic; 2-1 Over Bowling Green at Cadet Field House."

' I t was everybody's goal,' echoes Air Force defense­ man, Gerry M icheletti. 'We weren't winning any big ones all year. Everyone was hepped up. We wanted to win this one for V ic .'21

'For us to beat that club—it's a great win,' said Heyliger. ' I t took a l i t t l e heart, but we did i t . D efinitely, we were an emotional club tonight. That's the toughest thing to do here. This is what we've worked fo r—emotion. These cadets go through so much

^^Larry Woodburn, Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, March 3, 1974.

Ib id . 182 pressure on the h ill. It 's the toughest thing to do here—generate emotion. *22

'It's been a great career. I have been involved in hockey fo r almost 40 years, (about 25 as a coach) and I've gotten greater enjoyment and satisfaction from every year. However, my other interests—the advertising business in Colorado Springs and Denver, the meat packing business, the restaurant and cafe, and the museum in Cripple Creek, have got to where I ju st don't have time at the A c a d e m y . '23

Vic's record at Air Force has to be amazing. With a ll the restrictions on the cadets before, af­ ter, and during their stay at the Academy, Heyliger has made the A ir Force hockey program grow. He has turned the program into one of the most respected hockey teams in the region as well as in the country. Heyliger who has always enjoyed getting a hockey program moving as well as obtaining recognition for the school, is recognized as one of the best auth­ o rities on amateur hockey in the United States as well as the world.24

As Vic was completing his last year at the Air Force Academy, the newspapers gave glowing accounts of Vic Heyliger's career and his record as a coach:

HUSTLING HEYLIGER RETIRING TO RECRUIT TOURISTS

Next year, the sports industry w ill lose the P.T. Barnum of amateur hockey. Vic Heyliger w ill sur­ render his Air Force Academy hockey coach's job to Johnny Matchefts, a favorite protege who starred on two of Heyliger's national collegiate champion­ ship teams.

Heyliger will spend full time on an odd assort­ ment of businesses. His projects include Cripple

22ibid.

2%teve Page, Colorado Springs Sun, March 4, 1974.

24[randall, op. cit. 183

Creek Museum, which originally was the e lite brothel among-43 parlor houses in the old Colorado mining town. Another is a Cripple Creek restaurant-saloon, and yet another is an advertising business with of­ fices in Colorado Springs and Denver.

Heyliger's peculiar businesses aren't surprising. They remind colleagues that the guy has been success­ ful in various enterprises—as a coach, promoter, and sports entrepreneur.

Veteran fans may remember Heyliger as the man who coached Michigan to seven national collegiate hockey championships in ten years, still a record. Or, maybe they recall that Heyliger coached United States and West German hockey teams. Or, they may remember him as a one-time General Manager of the World Ama­ teur Hockey Championships at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

GREAT RECRUITER

Few remember that Heyliger was one of the sneaki­ est and most successful player recruiters in Big Ten history. Until about 1950, one man at each Big Ten school did nearly all of the recruiting for its foot­ ball and basketball squads.

Heyliger recruited Bob Zuppke's Illinois team that beat UCLA 45-14 in the 1947 Rose Bowl. He assem­ bled the Whiz Kids, an Illinois basketball team that dominated the Big Ten for three seasons in the late 1940's.

He recruited some of Fritz Crisler's Michigan players, who whipped Southern California 49-0 in the Rose Bowl, and he signed many of the Wolverines who beat California 14-6 at Pasadena in 1951.

Heyliger was perfectly cast in a recruiting role in the years when major universities pirated players from each other. He was a superb ath letic kidnapper. Notre Dame figured i t had bagged Les Bingaman, a 300-pound lineman who later was an a ll-p ro . Heyliger gave a box of cigars to Bingaman's father and a bottle of perfume to his mother. Les showed his magnanimous appreciation for Heyliger's petty philanthropy and played for Illin o is . 184

While tracking down a much-courted fullback, Hey­ lig e r discovered that the youth's father had a chronic craving for booze. Vic gave the dad a case of bourbon. 'That kid (the fullback) got us into a Rose Bown,' Heyliger said.

SKULDUGGERY KING

In the 1940's the collegiate code forbade the kind o f generous aid to athletes that's legal today. Re­ cruiters had to resort to skulduggery; Heyliger prob­ ably led the Big Ten in skulduggery fo r quite a few years—at Illinois and Michigan.

Heyliger himself was recruited. Impressed by Vic's proficiency in player piracy, Michigan's Crisler lured Heyliger away from Illin ois.

'I had a good gimmick,' Heyliger confided. 'I'd sign football players in the spring and during the sum­ mer, some other Big Ten recruiter would try to steal them. I hid some of my players in a Montana summer camp which I ran for 13 years.'

One of Heyliger's recruiting gimmicks is s till a common practice today. While player prospects were visitin g the Michigan campus, Heyliger served as a kind of social counselor. He lined up sorority g irl dates for his young football clien ts. I f the young man needed an automobile for coed-courting, Vic man­ aged to borrow a car for him. Comforted by such care and companionship, the prospect usually wound up playing for Michigan.

One year, Heyliger had trouble convincing three outstanding high school seniors that they should matriculate at Michigan. He took them to a Rose Bowl game as guests of the team. The youngsters were im­ pressed by th eir generous host, and Heyliger acquired three more football apprentices.

'There was a lot of under-the-table payoffs to athletes in the 1940's,' Heyliger said. 'Everybody was doing i t . Michigan booster clubs used to run several.special trains to road games—especially to Ohio State. They'd jack up the fares and use the extra money for recruiting. Sometimes, one trip would raise $40,000 for the fund.' 185

It's ironic that most of the illegal recruiting ploys used by Big Ten recruiters in the 1940's com­ prise standard operating procedure today and are sanc­ tioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Associa­ tion. Yet, according to Heyliger, 'Recruiting rules are more s tric t in some ways than they used to be. There's more policing by the NCAA.'

Heyliger primarily 'recruited against' Ohio State, Michigan State, and Notre Dame. He preferred to shop for players in Michigan, Ohio, and selected areas of Illin o is and Indiana. He found many of his better prospects in steel towns and the tough neigh­ borhoods of Chicago.

'I recruited the mothers,' Heyliger said. 'If I sold her on Illin o is or Michigan, i t was a cinch that the son would go to my school.'

How would Heyliger fare today as a recruiter?

'It would be easier to recruit hockey players,' Heyliger said. 'Now, they get full rides—free tui­ tio n , room and board, books and spending money. When I was coaching at Michigan, I had to find jobs for players and sometimes even line up bicycles fo r them so they could get to the jobs. I had to hustle rooms for them. Athletes today are livin g in clover.'

Heyliger's success in sports and business prob­ ably results from his genius in human relations. He's a natural psychologist and motivator. He can read people. It 's a t r a it that comes naturally to some coaches, such as the University of Denver's Murray Armstrong and the Denver Broncos' John Rai­ son.

Heyliger is an old-fashioned press agent. He's also a successful salesman who disdains modem hucks- terism. He peddles himself and his products in the manner of a turn-of-the-century country drummer. He charms customers who con themselves into believing Vic is just 'a good old boy from Whiffletree, Iowa.'

Actually, Heyliger is a Bostonian, University of Michigan graduate, world-renowned authority on hockey, and now an expert on the erotic history of -Cripple Creek. 186

But, he's still a gimmick guy. He invites folks to drop into his Cripple Creek parlor house, open dur­ ing the summer. He charges $1 for a v is it to the former brothel—now called the Homestead Museum. Everything's s t ill there, except the madam and the g ir ls .25

A newspaper a rtic le by Larry Woodburn e n title d , "Mr. Hockey

World" gave the following accolade:

It was a different place (the University of Michigan) and a different time (1957), but Vic Hey­ liger had been there before.

The cigar-smoking Heyliger, one of collegiate hockey's all-tim e greatest coaches who came out of retirement seven years ago to lead an A ir Force pro­ gram out of its infancy, was honored by the Academy between periods of the Bowling Green A ir Force hockey game Friday night. Senior team captain Jim Skalko, who missed the final dozen games of the season because of a broken arm, did the honors. Heyliger, a sure bet for the College Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame, was presented the symbolic leader­ ship sabre usually reserved for awarding to out­ standing cadets.

Air Force was fortunate to get a man of Vic Hey­ lig e r's talents—and Heyliger found i t more reward­ ing than he ever expected.

' I knew i t was going to be an awful comedown from coaching the quality-type player I had at Michigan when I took the A ir Force job on a seasonal basis seven years ago,' Heyliger related. 'But, looking back, i t has been as rewarding developing players here as i t was winning seven national championships at Michigan.'

Heyliger, who has been semi-retired for several seasons, w ill continue in his ourdoor advertising business and w ill remain in partnership in a couple of other businesses in Cripple Creek.

25Harry Farrar, "Hustling Heyliger Returning to Recruit Tour­ is ts ," Denver Post, December 13, 1973, p. 87. 187 'We've won some pretty darn good games,' Heyliger said, pointing to upsets of Colorado College, split­ ting two-game series with upstart St. Louis for three consecutive years, beating Notre Dame. . . .'We've had some outstanding players like Kim Newman and Bob Ross who could play with anyone. And to have a play­ er the caliber of (freshman) Check Delich this year and one coming along lik e (freshman) Doug Leibbrand, who is going to be outstanding, is very satisfying.'

COLLEGE HOCKEY CHANGING

'At Michigan, I had the Canadian player who was a l­ ready polished when he got to college. But i t 's reward­ ing to see these boys develop here and to help them do as much as they possibly can. They have a great a t t i­ tude and when a few of them come along lik e they have, i t gives you satisfying results.'

In 24 years of collegiate hockey, following three years of playing with the professional Chicago Black Hawks, Heyliger coached teams at Illin o is , Michigan, and A ir Force in winning 368 games. He ranks third in career collegiate hockey victories behind John 'Snooks' Kelley of Boston College and Murray Armstrong of Den­ ver University.

'I knew nothing but success under him.' said his replacement, John Matchefts, an Air Force assistant the past three years, who played for three of Heyliger's Michigan Championship teams. 'He's gotta be Mr. Hockey World. Vic's had such an influence on college hockey in general. Certainly, he will be missed.'

Although Heyliger turns over duties to Matchefts following tonight's season-ending game, he retains an 'emeritus' coaching rank.

'We feel Vic is s till part of the team,' emphasized Col. Frank Merritt, the Academy's Athletic Director. ' I can remember when Vic used to help us out in the early stages of our program. He's done so much for us, and we feel we owe him a debt of gratitude.'

Heyliger retired from coaching a fter his 1957 team won the national crown. An asthma problem sent him West, but Vic remained active in hockey. He was General Manager of the World Hockey Tournament held at the Broadmoor World Arena in 1962 and coached both the West 188

German and U.S. National teams that same year. He re­ turned to collegiate coaching in 1966 when he took charge of the Academy team that played on club status until 1968.

THE EARLY DAYS WERE ROUGH

'It was a tough thing starting at that time,' re­ calls Heyliger. 'We had no rink of our own, and we had to bus down to the Broadmoor rink for practice. With no home rink recruiting was difficult. We couldn't get the Canadian hockey player because of Academy restrictions. Then the military aspect, as i t remains now, added to the d iffic u lty .

'There was a te r r ific change when we got to play in our own rink—as differen t as night and day. When we had bused to the Broadmoor at times, the boys were forced to dress on the bus coming down and change again on the way back.'

'Scheduling is the biggest thing. The Academy needs to keep a good, attractive program. I t has a schedule 't ie r one' teams like Colorado College and Denver University . . . even though you have a slim chance of winning. This could change in the future.'

TEAMS LEVELING OFF

'The reason I can say this is that most American college hockey teams have been dominated by Canadian players. But, ever since they made Canadian Junior A players ineligible, American teams are leveling off with more and more American players. College teams now are faced with developing th eir own players.'

'The greatest thing for me to see is the develop­ ment of college hockey in the last ten years, espec­ ia lly in the East and West. High school hockey pro­ grams are developing in places lik e D etroit, Chicago, parts of Ohio, Wisconsin, Nashville, Louisville, Los Angeles, San Diego. . . . '

' I t sort of startles you. The game is growing in warmer climate cities as well as in the colder c li­ mates. Weather conditions no longer w ill hold hockey back as i t has in the past.' 189

'Actually, our young kids are ahead of Canada's up to the first or second year of high school. We have to improve our hockey program in the high school. For example, Canada has junior leagues instead of high school programs, and those kids can play 50-60 games a year. In the United States, there's a lim it (maybe about 20 games) on how much a kid can p la y .'

'What's really great is a place like St. Louis, which has 3,000 kids playing in Young American-type programs. However, there s t i l l remains a lack of rinks and a lack of ice time. We're getting a new rink in the city, but we should have four or five.'

Yes, Air Force hockey w ill miss Vic Heyliger. But, college hockey w ill miss him even more.26

The following account is an interview with Walt Grinewich, who is presently the Athletic Ticket Manager for the United States Air

Force Academy. The interview gives a special insight into Vic Hey­ lig e r. I t unquestionably gives a very candid opinion of Vic as a coach and as a human being.

Mr. Grinewich was asked the question, "How did hockey s ta rt at the Air Force Academy?"

Actually, I was in charge of athletic facilities in the late 1950's and early I960's. The Air Force Academy opened here in 1959. We moved from Lowry A ir Force Base in Denver the summer of 1959 and started classes in August of 1959.

At that time, there was no hockey program here. We were s t ill concerned only with sports fo r which we had facilities. I noted that, as soon as I started here in 1959, there was a request to plow up a certain area. They wanted to build a bank around i t and flood i t with water, because they were going to have a temporary hockey rink. That is when I first noticed Vic Heyliger starting to appear on the scene. In fa c t, he scrounged a couple of goals—hockey nets. He just ramrodded i t by himself. We started as primitive as you possibly

^^Larry Woodburn, Mr. Hockey," Undated clipping in uniden­ tifie d newspaper. 190 could imagine. I supposed he had permission from 'The Brass,' but we ju st found an open area (the Academy is 18,000 acres) near the athletic fields, poured dirt around it, filled it up with water, and let it freeze.

Then we went high class. We found a nice level area under the cadet quarters that was the proportion of an ice arena. The next thing you know, there was Vic again and a lo t of kids having fun.

I don't know what year they became a club but, before you knew it , there they are playing down at the Broadmoor. Vic was the power that got us in the Broadmoor.

Vic was involved our f ir s t year here. That is where i t started, and there is no doubt who pushed it all the way. It was Vic. The Athletic Director was a Col. Simler. He became a Four Star General, who was k ille d in an airplane crash on his way to a new assignment.

Col. Marty Martin took over. He was here when the program became active. The rink opened in 1967, but i t was not until the 1967-68 season that we opened here on a club status and played our fir s t games here.

The 1969 NCAA consolation game was an example of Vic ramrodding something through. People fe lt that i t could never be done, because i t was not an A ir Force event. We didn't even charge anyone to see the game. We can't charge Air Force personnel to see a non-Air Force event in our building.

It was a great public relations move on Vic's part, because a ll the coaches in the American Hockey Coaches Association had the opportunity to see.the new facility. It kindled a lot of interest on their part to come out to play the Air Force with their respective teams. He was a one-man machine for hockey. The funny thing was that hockey, as popular a sport as it is, was not a familiar sport to the Athletic Director or anyone else here. No one down­ stairs in athletics knew hockey. The American sports­ man knows football, basketball, and baseball. It took Vic to clue them in on hockey. The A thletic 191

Director le t Vic do what he wanted, and Vic did what he wanted. You have to give him cred it. Nothing de­ terred him. He worked for three Athletic Directors. He'd get into a problem with the Athletic Directors because of a ll the regimentation and paperwork of the m ilita ry . When he got through shaking hands and pat­ ting the Colonel on the back, things were solved— Vic's way. A great p o litic ia n , no doubt—smooth. He ju st looks lik e a country bumpkin when you fir s t see him. He has the cigar in his mouth, which he never smokes, and he ju st shuffles in. The next thing you know, you are trapped. I did a lot of work for him in facilities and sports information. It was a plea­ sure working with him. He is a gracious host. I'v e been invited to some of his parties. He has a lovely wife and fine children. He is really something else!

I don't think he has ever had an enemy in his life . He doesn't care what your status is. He treats you equally. He could be talking to Thayer Tutt of the Broadmoor. H e'll talk to him the way he does to me or someone else. He treats you with respect. You can get 'loosey goosey' with him and, at the same time, he has a motive behind everything he does—hockey. He's a great promoter.

The obstacles here were the lack of fa c ilitie s and a general apathy for hockey. You can't play hockey without equipment. You need gear, uniforms, hockey sticks, skates, and all the other equipment. At that time, we just didn't have the budget we wanted. I think he bought a lo t of the equipment himself. He brought the original hockey sticks around. I t was a long time before you began to see hockey sticks on the supply rosters. We finally began to buy hockey sticks.

He slowly, but surely, developed the program a ll by himself. Now he probably had some o fficer who was a hockey fan that was assigned to help Vic. Vic would have this o ffic e r 'bird dog' the equipment, but Vic was a prime example of a one-man job. There were a lo t of obstacles: How can you schedule teams without having a home rink? How can you recruit without having a home rink? So, he goes down to the Broadmoor. The next thing you know, they are playing teams there, and he is getting government airplanes to take his team somewhere else. He probably wanted other people to take care of the details. Vic just wanted to coach. 192

He surrounded himself with good guys lik e Larry Cronk. Cronk would do anything for Vic. Vic got Larry over here in the athletic department. The next thing you know, Cronk was the arena manager. I f you worked fo r Vic, he rewarded you one way or the other. He appreciated anything and everything you did for him.

Recruiting has always been a problem here. Get­ ting the good athlete was difficult because, if a kid has a lot of talent, he wants to be a professional or go to a bigger school. He also has a commitment when he graduates. If there ever was a problem in recruit­ ing here for Vic, he overcame i t by himself. There is no doubt that we w ill miss his recruiting.

I don't know what methods of recruiting he used to get these good athletes here but, whatever they were, they were successful. He has had nothing but winning seasons.

I have a hunch he ju st went to Minnesota, because that's where they are all from and he 'glad-handed' his way around. With his personality, you had to lis ­ ten to him. We are not in a class of the WCHA but, if he had been able to stay longer, we probably would have been. The wins over Colorado College last season were fantastic.

The peculiar thing about Air Force hockey is that everyone loved i t . However, we know that we are never going to reach the pinnacle of the sport because, once again, we are a m ilitary academy confined to academic standouts-, physical standards, and other special prob­ lems of m ilita ry academies.

What he brought in fo r years and years was amazing. Simply amazing. This Delich kid is something else—a great one. I have a hunch that i t is going to be a harder road to hoe now that Vic has retired . No one has his personality; no one is the politician that Vic Heyliger is. He is smooth. You don't ever know that he is slipping it to you.

There is no doubt that all the kids loved him here at A ir Force. There was never a problem or personality clash with the students. You could compare him with Ben Martin, the football coach. Vic would avoid any 193 problem. By th at, I mean you couldn't get in an argu­ ment with him, you would have a hell of a job. You just can't. He disarms you with his grim, a few state­ ments, a slap on the back, and you'd wonder what you had been worried about. There were times that he clenched the cigar a l i t t l e tig h t, but he was always grinning. I couldn't ever say that there were any problems. I f there were, they would have gotten out. Nothing ever public for sure—never. The guy is a char­ acter; that's the best thing you can say.

Air Force was his greatest challenge in all of his coaching career. This was a civilian in a military organization. There are a million regulations. He never broke any, but he sure as heck bent them. He had more ways to see that the job gone done, despite the fact that there was a regulation that said you couldn't do it that way. He did it all the time. Many a time. I'd be at a s ta ff meeting and the Colonel would say, 'I've got to talk to Vic Heyliger. There are a few things I'v e got to straighten him out on.' The meeting would occur late that afternoon. Vic would walk in smiling and wink at me. Then, after a while, you'd see the Colonel and Vic coming out. The Colonel would say, 'I'm sorry I bothered you Vic, but you know what my problem was.' He never got anyone in trouble though.

I'd say, 'How'd i t work out, Vic? Vic would say 'No problem. Everything is okay.'

I remember him in 1959, when I didn't even know who he was. I'd always remember his cigar. I t was never l i t but always in his mouth. I t didn't take long to know that hockey was going to be a major sport. I wish I could te ll you something that was or is controversial about Vic, but there just isn't. The only thing that people ever ask, and they do i t laughingly, is, 'How the hell did he ever get away with it in a school like this?' That's what people ask. Every other sport started on the books. There was a budget, a coach, an equipment expense, a regu­ la tio n , and always a m ilitary man around running i t . Here comes hockey--starting in a dirt area—and, . through Vic, becoming the second-largest, income- producing sport and second-drawing sport at the Air Force Academy, playing in a beautiful arena. Our 194

biggest mistake was not making a bigger arena and putting more seats in it. They fill it or have stand­ ing room only every game. I t is the winning tra d i­ tion that they have picked up in hockey. When you mention hockey here at Air Force, your mind auto­ matically hits the word, 'Heyliger.' That's all! Everyone knows i t . . . everyone! He was the 'Father of Air Force Hockey.' He was a plugger and a pusher. His job was not a simple one. When you deal with the military, you are dealing with an ani­ mal that has a book fu ll of regulations to hamper you. ,A guy is looking after his army career. M ili­ tary people are often reluctant to do anything that might jeopardize or hurt his promotion. So, Vic wants this or he wants that, and we know that he is treading on thin ice in some cases—but he gets the job done. He doesn't hurt anyone. No one was ever hurt careerwise by what he did; and, I think, Vic would have been the fir s t one to be upset i f he ever thought he had hurt anyone. He pushed and prodded but never hurt anyone.

We used to le t everyone into the arena for nothing when i t was a club team. The place was packed. We miss him. I know I miss him. When he le f t here, they had a hell of a ceremony. They gave him a sword, and he was th rille d . I t was a tremendous tribute to him. He was always grinning—never a hardship. He never would run anyone down. I have a feeling i f he fe lt he was going to be confronted with a bad situa­ tion, he would ju st turn around and walk away. I never saw him have a harsh word with anyone. I'v e seen him raise his voice, but he always came away the 'Victor.' He is a winner. He lulls you into a false sense of security; but, when he is done with you, you have given him a l i t t l e of your blood. He should have been an A ir Force General. He could have changed a lo t of things and kept everyone smiling while he was doing it. He is a character. It takes character to keep the world m o v in g .27

ZTpersonal interview with Walt Grinewich, Ticket Manager, U.S.A.F.A.,.July 6', 1976. 195

USAF ACADEMY HOCKEY CLUB GAMES

WHILE VIC HEYLIGER WAS COACH

1965-1966

USAF Academy...... 3 Aspen Leafs...... 5

USAF Academy...... 4 University of Illinois.. 6

USAF Academy...... 5 University of Dayton 4

USAF Academy...... 8 University of Colorado.. 7

USAF Academy...... 4 Aspen Leafs...... 5

USAF Academy...... 5 University of Colorado.. 3

USAF Academy...... 2 Ohio State University... 6

USAF Academy...... 4 Notre Dame...... 7

USAF Academy...... 2 St. Cloud State...... 15

USAF Academy...... 1 St. Cloud State...... 9

Season Summary

Games Won, 3; Lost, 7; Tied, 0.

Points for Academy, 38; For Opponents, 67. 196

1966-1967

USAF Academy...... 4 Alumni...... 5

USAF Academy...... 5 Aspen Leafs...... 6

USAF Academy...... 5 Colo. School of Mines... 4

USAF Academy...... 4 University of Dayton 7

USAF Academy...... 0 Notre Dame...... 14

USAF Academy...... 5 Northwestern University. 6

USAF Academy...... 5 University of Illinois.. 4

USAF Academy...... 2 University of Illinois.. 5

USAF Academy...... 3 Babson In s titu te...... 8

USAF Academy...... 3 Mass. Inst, of Tech 4

USAF Academy...... 6 Wesleyan College...... 1

USAF Academy...... 4 Colorado University 3

USAF Academy...... 12 Denison University 2

USAF Academy...... 4 Notre Dame ...... 5

USAF Academy...... 4 Villanova University.... 3

USAF Academy...... 10 Rutgers...... 5

USAF Academy...... 6 Bowling Green Univ 8

USAF Academy...... 6 Colorado University...... 4

Season Summary

Games Won, 8; Lost, 10; Tied, 0.

Points fo r Academy, 88; For Opponents, 94.

I 197

1967-1968

USAF Academy...... 2 Bowling Green...... 4

USAF Academy...... 2 Bowling Green...... 5

USAF Academy .♦...... 2 Colorado College...... 3

USAF Academy...... 4 Colorado College...... 9

USAF Academy...... 7 Colorado University...... 10

USAF Academy...... 14 Colorado University...... 3

USAF Academy...... 3 Ohio State University.... 7

USAF Academy...... 7 Illinois University...... 0

USAF Academy...... 4 Illinois University...... 2

USAF Academy...... 1 St. John's U n iv e rs ity .... 3

USAF Academy...... 1 Macalester College 3

USAF Academy...... 0 Ohio University...... 11

USAF Academy...... 1 Ohio University...... 4

USAF Academy...... 7 Toledo University...... 6

USAF Academy...... 2 Bowling Green...... 8

USAF Academy...... 6 Colorado University 4

USAF Academy...... 6 Notre Dame...... 9

USAF Academy,...... , . . . . 4 Notre Dame...... 6

Season Summary

Games Won, 5; Lost, 13; Tied, 0.

Points fo r Academy, 73; For Opponents, 97. 198 USAF ACADEMY VARSITY HOCKEY GAMES

WHILE VIC HEYLIGER WAS COACH

1968-1969

USAF Academy...... 9 Colorado All S ta rs .... 7

USAF Academy...... 21 Aspen...... 3

USAF Academy...... 4 Colorado College J.V .. 8

USAF Academy...... 6 Colorado College J.V.. 7

USAF Academy...... 1 Notre Dame...... 8 . 4 Notre Dame...... 5

USAF Academy...... 2 Bowling Green...... 5

USAF Academy...... 1 Bowling Green...... ,11

USAF.Academy...... 11 Ohio State...... 4

USAF Academy...... 4 Ohio State...... 6

II^ÛF AfAdpmv ...... 6 Illin o is ...... , ?

___7 Illin o is ...... n

USAF Academy...... 6 Ohio University...... , 9

USAF Academy...... 2 Lake Forest...... 4

USAF Academy...... 4 Oshkosh U niversity.... 7

USAF Academy...... 6 Oshkosh U niversity.... 8

USAF Academy...---- ...... 6 Bowling Green...... 7

USAF Academy..o...... 4 Bowling Green...... 6

USAF Academy...... 5 Ohio State...... 7 . 7 Ohio State...... 4

. 6 St. John's...... 1

USAF Academy...... 8 St. John's...... 6

Season Summary Games Won, 8; Lost, 14; Tied, 0. Points for Academy, 125; For Opponents, 125. 199

1968-1969 HOCKEY ROSTER

NAME POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN

Louis T. Tetlow D Senior H o llis, New Hampshire

Robert Stewart F Junior Norwood, Massachusetts

Kim L- Newman G Sophomore Eveleth, Minnesota

Robert D. Fleury F Sophomore Norwood, Massachusetts

Steve J. Hall F Sophomore White Bear Lake, Minn.

Jon D. Hanson F Freshman Warroad, Minnesota

Willard J. Heppner F Freshman Warroad, Minnesota

Doug M. Johnson D Freshman St. Paul, Minnesota

Robert B. Ross F Freshman Lakewood, Colorado

Tom Perrot F Sophomore Chicago, Illin o is

Tom Waugh F Sophomore Hudson, Massachusetts

William Olson D Freshman Warroad, Minnesota

Tom Murray F Freshman International Falls, Minnesota

Paul Starkovich D Freshman Silver Bay, Minnesota

Tom Love M Senior Fort Wayne, Indiana

Roger McFarland M Sophomore Columbus, Ohio 200

1969-1970.

USAF Academy 3 Rainy River 5 USAF Academy 8 Rainy River 5 USAF Academy 1 Colorado College 5 USAF Academy 2 Colorado College 8 USAF Academy 4 Gustavus Adolphus 8 USAF Academy 4 Gustavus Adolphus 2 USAF Academy 4 Penn State 6 USAF Academy 1 Ham.i 1 ton 2 USAF Academy 9 St. Mary's 3 USAF Academy 2 St. Mary's 4 USAF Academy 4 Lake Forest 2 USAF Academy 5 Lake Forest 0 USAF Academy 0 Ohio State 2 USAF Academy 1 Ohio State 7 USAF Academy 5 Notre Dame 11 USAF Academy 5 Notre Dame 4 USAF Academy 9 River Falls University 3 USAF Academy 7 River Falls University 6 USAF Academy 4 Ohio University 5 USAF Academy 4 Ohio University 4 USAF Academy 8 Lake Forest 2 USAF Academy 6 Ohio University 3 USAF Academy 6 Ohio University 4 USAF Academy 2 Ohio State 5 USAF Academy 5 Ohio State 6 USAF Academy 3 . Notre Dame 4 USAF Academy 3 Notre Dame 6 USAF Academy 4 Royal M ilitary College 5 USAF Academy 2 Royal M ilitary College 6

Season Summary

Games Won, 11; Lost, 17; Tied, 1.

Points for Academy, 121; For Opponents, 133. 201

1969-1970 HOCKEY ROSTER

NAME POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN

Bob Burger F Freshman Wellesley H ills , Mass.

Jerry Droppo D Freshman Thief River Falls, Minn.

Steve Hall F Junior White Bear Lake, Minn.

Jon Hanson F Sophomore Warroad, Minnesota

Will Heppner G Sophomore Warroad, Minnesota

Michael Henehan D Freshman Eveleth, Minnesota

Doug Johnson D Sophomore St. Paul, Minnesota

Stephen Jordan D Freshman Concord, New Hampshire

Greyson Morrow D Freshman Richfield, Minnesota

Steve Mull vain D Freshman Minneapolis, Minnesota

Thomas Murray F Sophomore International Falls, Minn.

Kim Newman G Junior Eveleth, Minnesota

Thomas Perrot F Junior Chicago, Illin o is

Bob Ross F Sophomore Lakewood, Colorado

David Skalko F Freshman G ilbert, Minnesota

David Stangl F Freshman Coleraine, Minnesota

Tom Starkovich D Sophomore S ilver Bay, Minnesota

Bob Steward F Senior Norwood, Massachusetts

Thomas Waugh F Junior Hudson, Massachusetts 202

1970-1971

USAF Academy 3 Ohio University 2 USAF Academy 4 Ohio University 3 USAF Academy 4 Wise. St.-Superior 0 USAF Academy 9 Wise. St.-Superior 2 USAF Academy 4 St. Louis 7 USAF Academy 3 St. Louis 5 USAF Academy 13 Wise. St.-Superior 4 USAF Academy 8 Wise. St.-Superior 5 USAF Academy 4 Notre Dame 5 USAF Academy 2 Notre Dame 4 USAF Academy 5 Colorado College 8 USAF Academy 7 Colorado College 7 USAF Academy 2 Ohio State 3 USAF Academy 5 Ohio State 2 USAF Academy 4 Royal Military College 2 USAF Academy 5 Royal Military College 5 USAF Academy 4 Gustavus Adolphus 5 USAF Academy 6 Gustavus Adolphus 5 USAF Academy 7 Colorado College 5 USAF Academy 5 Colorado College 0 USAF Academy . 4 Ohio State 0 USAF Academy 1 Ohio State 5 USAF Academy 6 St. Louis 4 USAF Academy 7 St. Louis 6 USAF Academy 4 Ohio University 3 USAF Academy 5 Ohio University 4 USAF Academy 0 Notre Dame 5 USAF Academy 1 Notre Dame 4

Season Summary

Games Won, 15; Lost, 11; Tied, 2

Points fo r Academy, 132; For Opponents, 117 203

1970-1971 HOCKEY ROSTER

NAME POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN

Dave Bunker F Freshman Washburn, Minnesota

Bob Burger F Sophomore Wellesley H ills , Mass.

Pat Carmichael F ‘ Freshman Dearborn, Michigan

Jerry Droppo D Sophomore Thief River Falls, Minn.

Steve Hall F Senior White Bear Lake, Minn.

John Hanson F Junior Warroad, Minnesota

Will Heppner G Junior Warroad, Minnesota

Michael Henehan D Sophomore Eveleth, Minnesota

Doug Johnson D Junior South St. Paul, Minn.

Stephen Jordan D Sophomore Concord, New Hampshire

Mike Lucca F Freshman International Falls, Minn.

Greyson Morrow D Sophomore Richfield, Minnesota

Steve Mull vain D Sophomore Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ron Nagurski D Freshman International Falls, Minn.

Kim Newman G Senior Eveleth, Minnesota

Tom Perrot F Senior Chicago, Illin o is

Bob Ross F Junior Lakewood, Colorado

Dave Skalko F Sophomore G ilbert, Minnesota

Jim Skalko F Freshman G ilbert, Minnesota

Dave Stangl F Sophomore Coleraine, Minnesota 204

1971-1972

USAF Academy 8 Lake Forest 4 USAF Academy 8 Lake Forest 2 USAF Academy 4 Wise. St.-Superior 3 USAF Academy 10 Wise. St.-Superior 5 USAF Academy 9 St. Thomas 2 USAF Academy 4 St. Thomas 2 USAF Academy 10 Colorado 2 USAF Academy 7 Colorado 2 USAF Academy 5 Dalhousie(Bowdoin Tour) 6 USAF Academy 6 Princeton(Bowdoin Tour) 1 USAF Academy 5 Royal Military College 2 USAF Academy 6 Royal M ilitary College 5 USAF Academy 4 St. Louis 6 USAF Academy . 7 St. Louis 5 USAF Academy 4 Colorado College 12 USAF Academy 16 Stanford 3 USAF Academy 8 Fresno Hockey Club-xx 3 USAF Academy 3 Denver 6 USAF Academy 3 St. Lawrence. 5 USAF Academy 7 St. Lawrence 4 USAF Academy 6 Gustavus Adolphus 4 USAF Academy 4 Gustavus Adolphus 1 USAF Academy 11 Colorado 1 USAF Academy 14 Colorado 5 USAF Academy 3 Colorado College 11 USAF Academy 14 Stanford 3 USAF Academy 15 Stanford 4 USAF Academy 5 Concordia (Minn.) 3 USAF Academy 9 Concordia (Minn.) 3 USAF Academy 10 Colorado College 5 USAF Academy 3 Iowa State 2 USAF Academy 7 Iowa State 0

XX—Exhibition game—does not count in record

Season Summary

Games Won, 25; Lost, 6; Tied, 0

Points fo r Academy, 232; For Opponents, 122 205

1971-1972 HOCKEY ROSTER

NAME POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN

Dave Bunker F Sophomore Minneapolis, Minnesota

Pat Carmichael F Sophomore Dearborn, Michigan

Jerry Droppo D Junior Thief River Falls, Minn.

Phil Gronseth G Freshman St. Louis Park, Minn.

Jon Hanson F Senior Warroad, Minnesota

Mike Henehan F Junior Eveleth, Minnesota

Doug Johnson D Senior St. Paul, Minnesota

Tim Kline D Sophomore Bloomington, Minnesota

John Koelling F Freshman White Bear Lake, Minn.

Bob Ligday G Sophomore St. Paul, Minnesota

Mike Lucca F Sophomore International Falls, Minn.

Mario Mel 1 urn F Freshman International Falls, Minn.

Gerry Micheletti D Freshman Hibbing, Minnesota

Allan Morrison G Freshman White Bear Lake, Minn.

Greyson Morrow D Junior Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Steve Mull vain D Junior Richfield, Minnesota

Bob Ross F Senior Lakewood, Colorado

Dave Skalko F Junior G ilbert, Minnesota

Jim Skalko F Sophomore G ilbert, Minnesota

Dave Stangl F Junior Coleraine, Minnesota

Fred Whitican F Freshman Port Huron, Michigan

Todd Zejdlik D Freshman Crystal, Minnesota 206

1972-1973

USAF Academy 7 Lake Forest 6 USAF Academy 7 Lake Forest 2 USAF Academy X 4 Boston University 10 (Christmas City Tourney) USAF Academy 2 Minnesota-Duluth 7 (Christmas City Tourna) USAF Academy 3 Lake Superior 14 (Christmas City Tourngr) USAF Academy 6 Concordia (Minn.) 5 USAF Academy 5 Concordia (Minn.) 4 USAF Academy 3 Colorado College 6 USAF Academy 4 Colorado College 6 USAF Academy 4 Bowling Green 3 (F lin t Tourney) USAF Academy 1 Michigan State 4 (F lin t Tourney) USAF Academy 4 Augsburg 6 (Richfield Tourney) USAF Academy 6 Concordia 2 (Richfield Tourney) USAF Academy 9 Wisconsin St.-River Falls 4 USAF Academy 11 Wisconsin St.-River Falls 2 USAF Academy 1 Michigan State 10 USAF Academy 5 Michigan State 11 USAF Academy 4 Colorado College 14 USAF Academy 5 Royal M ilitary College 4 USAF Academy 7 Royal M ilitary College 8 USAF Academy 7 Gustavus Adolphus 0 USAF Academy 3 Gustavus Adolphus 7 USAF Academy 6 Lake Forest 3 USAF Academy 8 Lake Forest 2 USAF Academy 3 Denver 4 USAF Academy 4 St. Lawrence 7 207

1972-1973 (Cont.)

USAF Academy 3 St. Lawrence 10 USAF Academy 6 Colorado College 9 USAF Academy . 7 St. Thomas (Minn.) 3 USAF Academy 8 St. Thomas (Minn.) 4 USAF Academy 8 St. Louis 9 USAF Academy 5 St. Louis 4

X—Game forfeited to Air Force. Boston U used ineligible player.

Season Summary

Games Won, 16; Lost, 6; Tied, 0

Points for Academy, 166; For Opponents, 190 208

1972-1973 HOCKEY ROSTER

NAME POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN

Dave Bunker F Junior Minneapolis, Minn.

Jerry Droppo D Senior Thief River Falls, Minn.

Phil Gronseth D Sophomore St. Louis Park, Minn.

Mike Henehan F Senior Eveleth, Minn.

Jim Jorgenson F Freshman International Falls,Minn.

Tim Kline D . Junior Bloomington, Minn.

John Koelling F Sophomore White Bear Lake, Minn.

B ill Kolstad F Freshman Minneapolis, Minn..

Bob Ligday G Junior St. Paul, Minn.

Mike Lucca F Junior International Falls,Minn.

Gerry Micheletti D Sophomore Hibbing, Minn.

Allan Morrison G Sophomore White Bear Lake, Minn. .

Greyson Morrow D Senior Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Steve Mull vain D Senior St. Paul, Minn.

Kevin Pederson F Freshman St. Paul, Minn.

Charles Pribyl F Freshman Owatonna, Minn.

Dave Skalko F Senior Gilbert, Minn.

Jim Skalko F Junior Gilbert, Minn.

Dave Stangl F Senior Port Huron, Mich.

Todd Zejdlik D Sophomore Crystal, Minn.

Fred Whitican F Sophomore Coleraine, Minn. 209

1973-1974

USAF Academy 9 Lake Forest 2 USAF Academy 13 Lake Forest 2 USAF Academy 4 Denver 6 USAF Academy 1 Colorado College 15 USAF Academy 4 Colorado College 6 USAF Academy 3 Michigan State 7 USAF Academy 4 Michigan State 6 USAF Academy 6 Michigan (F lin t Tour.) 7 USAF Academy 4 York (Canada) 5 (Flint Tour.) USAF Academy 6 Gustavus Adolphus 3 USAF Academy 2 Gustavus Adolphus 4 USAF Academy 13 St. Mary's 0 USAF Academy 10 St. Mary's 3 USAF Academy 2 Ohio State 5 USAF Academy 2 Ohio State 5 USAF Academy 5 Royal M ilita ry —Canada 2 USAF Academy 7 Royal M ilita ry —Canada 5 USAF Academy 7 St. Thomas (Minn.) 2 USAF Academy 4 St. Thomas (Minn.) 10 USAF Academy 3 St. Louis 9 USAF Academy 3 St. Louis 11 USAF Academy 8 Augsburg (Minn.) 2 USAF Academy 10 Augsburg (Minn.) 3 USAF Academy 2 Merrimack (Lake Forest Tournament) 4 USAF Academy 8 Lake Forest (Lake Forest Tournament) 5 USAF Academy 2 Bowling Green 6 USAF Academy 2 Bowling Green 1

Season Summary

Games Won, 12; Lost, 15; Tied, 0

Points for Academy, 144; Points for Opponents, 136 210

1973-1974 HOCKEY ROSTER

NAME POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN

James Barker F Freshman Hoyt Lake, Minn.

Dave Bunker F Senior Minneapolis, Minn.

Charles Delich F Freshman Eveleth, Minn.

Pete Green D Freshman Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Phil Gronseth F Junior St. Louis Park, Minn.

Tim Kline D Senior Bloomington, Minn.

John Koelling F Junior - White Bear Lake, Minn.

Doug Leibbrand D Freshman Hastings, Minn.

Mike Lucca F Senior International Falls,Minn.

Mike McQuillian F Freshman St. Paul, Minn.

Mario Mel 1 urn F Junior International Falls,Minn.

Gerry Micheletti D Junior Hibbing, Minn.

A1 Morrison G Junior White Bear Lake, Minn.

Kevin Pederson F Sophomore St. Paul, Minn.

Chuck Pribyl F Sophomore Owatonna, Minn.

Jim Skalko F Senior Gilbert, Minn.

Dave Spannbauer F Freshman St. Paul, Minn.

Tom Uren F Freshman Babbitt, Minn.

Fred Whitican F Junior Port Huron, Mich.

Todd Zejdlik D Junior Crystal, Minn. CHAPTER X

SUMMARY

On Friday, June 28, 1974, Vic Heyliger was named to the United

States Hockey Hall of Fame. Vic was overwhelmed at the news that he would be enshrined on Saturday, October 26, 1974, at Eveleth,

Minnesota. He is one of two coaches to have ever been so honored; the other is John "Snooks" Kelley of Boston College, itsall-time collegiate leader in coaching victories. Heyliger is third on that li s t , just behind Denver's Murray Armstrong.

Vic Heyliger is not a man to be at a loss for words, but he came close to i t on this particular day.

It 's a te r r ific honor. I'v e won NCAA t it le s , but this honor is even more fantastic, because it 's so engrossed in the national scope of hockey. I didn't figure such an honor could come so quickly after my retirement from the A ir Force Academy's hockey pro­ gram. I'm flattered to be recognized. It's prob­ ably the biggest moment o f my lif e in hockey. So many get an honor lik e this so late in lif e they can't enjoy i t . I lik e to look back to the things that have happened to me and the development of hockey. It's unbelievable.1

The plaque below his picture in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame reads:

VICTOR HEYLIGER

COACH

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

^Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, June 28, 1974, pp. 2-6.

211 212

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Born: September 26, 1912, West Roxbury, Massachusetts

Vic Heyliger, with his ever-present cigar clenched between his teeth, came out of the East to forge an outstanding coaching record at his alma mater, Michi­ gan, as well as at the University of Illin o is and the United States Air Force Academy.

The stocky, black-haired coach played high school hockey at Concord and prep school hockey at the Law­ rence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. Entering Michigan in 1934, he starred in 1935-36-37, earning All-American honors at forward. He scored 116 goals, a school record at the time, which was la te r broken by one of his players, Gordon McMillan. Following graduation in 1937, Heyliger played fo r the Chicago Black Hawks in 1937-38 and 1943-44, while sandwich­ ing in coaching at Illinois in the intervening years. With the Black Hawks, Heyliger alternated at le ft wing and center with Johnny Gottselig, who la te r coached the Chicago team. He attributed his own development as a coach to the teaching of former Black Hawk coaches. B ill Stewart and Paul Thompson.

Heyliger's greatest years were at Michigan. Starting with the f ir s t NCAA Championships ever staged in 1948 at Colorado Springs, the Wolverines captured six national title s . Dartmouth fe ll 8-4 that year to be followed by Boston College in 1951, Colorado College in 1952, and the University of Minnesota in 1953. The la tte r victory was particu­ la rly noteworthy, as the Gophers had defeated the Wolverines in three of the four regular season meet­ ings. In 1955, Michigan opposed Colorado College in the final and took home a 5-3 victory. Heyliger's sixth and fin al national t i t l e followed the next year with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over St. Law­ rence, when Michigan's Tom Rendall scored from the faceoff. Among the outstanding American players coach­ ed by Heyliger at Michigan were John Matchefts and Willard Ikola. Both helped the United States to a silver medal victory in the 1950 Olympics. 213

After a period of retirement, Heyliger became coach at the United States Air Force Academy, guiding that relatively new hockey program through its early years, before retiring at the close of the 1973-74 season.2

Don Heyliger, one of Vic's twin sons, indicated that the hap­ piest he ever saw his Dad was when Vic returned from the Hall of

Fame enshrinement.

There was great celebration of Vic's latest accomplishments in Colorado Springs. Naturally, the more honors bestowed on Vic, the more he became a celebrity. But Vic always took things in per­ spective. He was everyone's friend. I f you met him even once, you. would never forget him. I t seems that everyone has a warm and

friendly remembrance of Vic. You mention the name, Vic Heyliger,

and people want to te ll you funny stories about him. For some rea­

son, people that know him always chuckle when you bring up his name.

In an interview with Mr. Fred Sindt, the Director of Publicity

for the Hotel Broadmoor, i t became apparent that Vic Heyliger is

also a legend in Colorado Springs.

In 1958, I became head of publicity at the Broad­ moor Hotel. I got to know Vic Heyliger through our involvement in hockey. Vic was a good friend of Thayer Tutt, the president of the Broadmoor and, as you know, a man deeply involved in hockey a ll over the world. Thayer also recognized Vic's obvious talent as a hockey coach. He had a tremendous repu­ tation as a hockey coach. You might even call Vic Heyliger, 'Vic Hockey.' His name is synonymous with hockey. Thayer and Vic are both very flamboyant characters, both gregarious and outgoing. They are so much alike. They don't like thmselves to get bogged

^Inscription on plaque of Victor Heyliger, The United States Hall of Fame, Eveleth, Minnesota. 214 down with details. They are men who see a great over­ a ll picture and get the job done. My major contact with Vic was when Thayer decided to host and promote the world games in 1962. I t was to be the f ir s t time ever that the world ice hockey championship was to be held in the United States.

The games were to be played here at the Broadmoor and at the Denver Coliseum. All the teams in the In ter­ national Ice Hockey Federation were to play—some 20 teams, I believe. Thayer named Vic as Co-Chairman and General Manager of the World Tournament. Then, there were several of us here at the Broadmoor who had duties in various aspects of the games. There were promo­ tions, programs, souvenirs, and advertising campaigns to be coordinated, as there were many details and com- lications due to the fact that the games were being held here and in Denver. Everything would have been fine except, unfortunately, about a month before the tournament was to s ta rt, the entire Communist Bloc pulled out of the tournament because of a problem over whether or not there should be one or two German teams. The Russians didn't come, the Czechs, Yugoslavs, the East Germans, the Bulgarians—none of the Soviets came—and, unfortunately, the tournament wasn't as great as i t could have been.

It was a political thing—nothing to do with hockey. Throughout the whole thing, Vic was cool and calm. He took i t in stride as one of those things.

Thayer was s t ill always a promoter of Vic's. He was instrumental in bringing Vic out here to Colorado Springs. He helped Vic also get the position with the German National Team and also the United States National Team.

Then I d id n 't get too involved with Vic until the Broadmoor hosted the NCAA tournament in 1969. I t was the f ir s t time that the Broadmoor had hosted the tourna­ ment since 1957. Vic was at Air Force and Colorado College. A ir Force co-hosted the event. As you know, Thayer, Vic, and Cheddy Thompson were the ones who got the national tournament here o rig in ally.

Vic is a guy who you don't want to get involved in details, but he has great ideas and foresight. He is 215 everybody's friend. The Broadmoor was fu ll for the NCAA game—every seat sold. A bus-load of cadets from Air Force showed up at the side door. They knocked on the door and said, 'Uncle Vic sent us.' This was a phrase used around here fo r many years in regard to all types of a c tiv itie s . He was always a great one fo r sending people out here to see me to have a favor done. He'd say, 'Go out and see Uncle Freddie; h e 'll take care of you.' He must always have a thousand people who are always taking care of things for 'Uncle Vic.' Most people always w ill, because there is something about him you lik e and you cannot refuse him. That's the type of guy he is . He gets away with i t .

Vic wanted to bring the NCAA back, and i t worked out very w ell. In fa c t, we are talking about bringing it back for a 3-5 year contract. It was really a great event with a ll the ac tiv itie s that were here.

Vic, personally is a very warm-hearted guy—very generous and very gracious. He gives a lo t, but he expects a lo t in return. Any time you get something from Vic Heyliger, you have to figure that a day, a week, or even a year la te r, you are going to get a call from Uncle Vic, asking i f you have a couple of tickets for this or th at. He is a master of give and take. He is nobody's fool. Vic is a very smart guy. Some people, because he is such a character, take him as a baboon. He is not. He is not going to be tricked too many times either. Vic knows what is going on at a ll times. He is a promoter. That's what made him a very good coach, because he promoted people. I t was give and take. He gives his players a big shot in the arm, and he'd take it out in his expertise on the ice. He liked glory; he's not shy. He liked publicity, and he won't turn it down.

I remember Thayer put me in charge of a Vic Hey­ lig e r party that was held here to celebrate his induc­ tion into the Hall of Fame. He wanted me to plan the program, work out the in vitation and who was to be in ­ vited, how the room should be decorated, and everything else. Well, I got a hold of Vic right away, because I figured he's be the best person to ta lk to about his own party. I was right. He designed the invitations, told me who should be there, what to do, and how to do i t . That party cost the Hotel Broadmoor about $3,000. I t was done ju st the way he wanted i t . I t was done 216

right. We had every professional freeloader in the state of Colorado there. He had governors, ex-governors, and a ll types of people who could do him a favor some day i f he needed one. He v/as a very humorous guy. He chews those 'crooks' down to nothing. Vic would play in a Colorado Springs Press Club charity game here every year. Vic lends himself well to the game. He wore a blonde wig and, with a cigar in his mouth, he would bring down the house. They raised over $5,000 from the game. He's just a natural clown. But I don't know anyone that I'd rather sit down with for a drink than Vic Heyliger. He is also a gracious host. A fter any hockey game, he'd always invite you to a lavish party at his house. Everyone was invited. But, when he comes by here at lunch time, you know that you are going to buy him lunch.3

The Denver Post carried an interesting article about the party that Fred Sindt mentioned. I t would seem appropriate to examine i t :

Heyliger Honored at Dinner. A testimonial dinner Monday night at the Broadmoor Golf Club honored Vic Heyliger of Colorado Springs in recognition of his scheduled induction into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

More than 100 friends (including Denver Mayor B ill McNichols and Walter Bush, president of the National League's Minnesota North Stars) paid tribute to Hey­ lig e r. Bush is also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Among those who praised Heyliger at the dinner was Thayer T u tt, president of the Broadmoor Hotel and a Char­ te r Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee. Tutt announced that the International Ice Hockey Federation and the United States Amateur Hockey Association adopted resolutions commend­ ing Heyliger's forthcoming induction. Messages of con­ gratulation were read from United States Senator Peter Dominick Republican from Colorado; former Minnesota hockey coach John Mariucci; and representatives of the American Hockey Coaches Association. Speakers included

3 Personal interview w ith Fred S indt, July 12, 1976. 2.17

Colonel Frank M e rritt, Air Force Academy Athletic Direc­ to r; Tony Frasca, former Colorado College hockey coach; and John Matchetts, who succeeded Heyliger as AFA hockey coach.

Heyliger coached Michigan to six National Hockey Championships. He was one of the founders of the NCAA hockey tournaments. Heyliger is internationally res­ pected as a hockey coach and administrator. He was General Manager of the World Tournament at the Broad­ moor. He once coached the United States National Team and also the West German National Team. He then went on to coach the AFA, returning in 1973-74.'^

Dwayne Hartnett wrote a very colorful and stylish account about the same party:

The conversation and drinks poured free ly.

I t was a blending of ice hockey's e lite and th eir ladies. It was party time. Broadmoor style.

They came from the Springs, the Air Force Academy, Denver, Lansing, Michigan, and Eveleth, Minnesota. And those who couldn't make i t sent congratulatory wi res.

The occasion was a cocktail and dinner party in honor of Vic Heyliger's induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

But i t was more than that.

I t was a trip down memory lane, back to the early days of ice hockey at the Air Force Academy, and the World Hockey Tournament held at the Broadmoor World Arena.

Vic Heyliger's name is synonymous with both.

Because it was under Heyliger's direction that the Broadmoor became known as a hotbed for amateur ice

4 Denver Post, October 1, 1974. 218 hockey. And i t was under Heyliger that ice hockey first received varsity status at the Academy.

Of course, Heyliger didn't earn Hall of Fame recogni­ tion on the strength of his Broadmoor and AFA con­ nections. Far from i t . The Concord, Massachusetts native and 1938 graduate of the University of Michi­ gan is one of the few collegiate coaches in the na­ tion with over 300 career wins.

Heyliger posted 228 of the wins during a 13-year span at his alma mater. I t was at Ann Arbor that his teams dominated collegiate ice hockey. The Wol­ verines won seven national titles under Heyliger.

Heyliger helped start the NCAA ice hockey program in 1948 and, in 1950, was instrumental in organizing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. He was named National Collegiate Coach of the Year three seasons la te r.

After leaving the collegiate ranks, Heyliger remained active in hockey and was named General Manager of the World Hockey Tournament held at the Broadmoor in 1962.

The same year he was named coach of the West German National team and also coached the 1962 United States National team that played the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

That year was the beginning of a relationship that was to lite r a lly put Colorado Springs and the Broad­ moor on the world hockey map. I t marked the uniting of Heyliger and Broadmoor president Thayer Tutt, a tireless worker for amateur ice hockey in the United States and on the international scene.

The common bond between the two ice hockey giants is stronger than ever today. I t was Thayer Tutt who threw Monday night's bash, and i t was Tutt that read a citation from fifty-nine nations honoring Heyliger's contributions to ice hockey.

So naturally, when Heyliger rose to the podium, he was quick to point out the contributions Tutt has made to ice hockey. 'Ice hockey wouldn't be what i t is today in this part of the country and especially 219

at the Academy, i f i t weren't for Thayer T u tt,' said Heyliger.

'When we needed ice time before our arena was b u ilt, Thayer made sure we got i t . He has done so much fo r ice hockey at the Academy and in the c ity . His con­ tribution to high school ice hockey may never be fu lly recognized. But I can te ll you he has been marvelous.'

About that time, someone joked aloud, 'I thought we were honoring Vic, not Thayer.'

I t was hard to te ll who got the biggest laugh from the wisecrack—Vic Heyliger or Thayer Tutt—because both are hearty, fun-loving people, the kind of men w illin g to share th e ir time and efforts for the en­ joyment of others.

But, on this night, it was their turn to be on the receiving lin e —the target of raised glasses and flowering tributes.

Vic Heyliger has stepped aside as an active hockey coach. But, the legacy he has le f t w ill endure throughout time. So w ill his friendship with Thayer Tu tt, the Broadmoor, and Colorado Springs. 5 And that's nice.

Vic's business partner in his advertising business is his son.

Don, who gave this author a very candid and personal account of his dad's career in hockey:

I didn't really have a clear view of what my dad was really like until I got older and went to the Uni­ versity of Michigan. ■ More so from word of mouth of players and people he knew when he was coaching there. I think one of Dad's biggest assets that sticks in my mind about his coaching is that he commanded respect from his players, because he did a lot for them.

Back in those days, getting a scholarship was something that was really big for a young man who

^Dwayne Hartnett, Undated clipping from an unidentified news­ paper. ■ • 220 didn't have the money to go to college on his own. He got those kids jobs, meal jobs, spending money jobs. He really ran around and promoted jobs for them, and they appreciated i t a ll. The scholarship which he got for them, he hustled himself. He would find someone, either an alum or a businessman in the area, to sponsor a young man. Then this sponsor person would send a check to the Financial Aids Office, and the kid would get a scholarship.

These were not full scholarships usually, as Dad fe lt that the kid should contribute something to­ wards his own education. To make a long story short, the players appreciated the fact that he spent so much time and e ffo rt hustling around to set them up for the various financial gains they were able to receive.

This was reflected in the way that teams played for him. He had teams that had only two lines and three defensemen. They would s t i l l go out and win a championship for him. I think that one of the biggest things that was a point in his favor was that he made it fun. It was fun to practice and fun to play. At Christmas time, he took teams out to California to play schools like the University of Southern Califor­ nia and some of those other schools. They would stay out there a couple of weeks playing and then go to see the Rose Bowl.

I always remember that he had told them one thing: 'When you get on the ice, fool around as much as you want. But, when I come on the ice and start practice, le t's be serious and work hard.' The kids knew th is, and they worked hard. There was no fooling around a fte r that for an hour or an hour and a h alf.

He was a stickler on pre-season training. His conditioning reflected his attitude towards the game. They were in shape, and they were successful. He com­ manded th eir respect, rather than demanding i t . He never put himself above the players. He would bend over backwards for his kids, and they did the same for him. I think i t is a l i t t l e differen t with the kids of today who are so heavily recruited that they lose touch with re a lity . They feel they have too many op­ tions on where to go and also too many offers of what they can receive. Back then, i t was not a question of 221 where you would go to school or what o ffer to accept as much as i t was a case of being lucky enough to receive an offer--period.

I was nine when my Dad le f t Michigan. I remember the games w ell. They always sold out. The hockey pro­ grams had a very good atmosphere about i t . Dad always talked about the kids and never about himself. He was very humble. He has always been that way.

There was a lo t of pressure on Doug and me to go to Michigan. All the time we were growing up, i t was a l­ ways Michigan, Michigan. We were not great players at Michigan, but we got the job done. We didn’t have the background we needed, with only two hours of hockey each week in Colorado Springs. Weather was a big factor. We never got on the ice more than three or four hours per day, lik e kids from Minnesota or Canada. Myself, I would not trade my four years at Michigan for anything.

I found out that my Dad was really a great student of the game the fir s t year that I coached at Cheyenne Mountain High School. I never really sat down about strategies and drills until that year. We used to sit down at lunch, and he’d draw diagrams on placemats and napkins. I was amazed at his knowledge. He really got me organized on a productive practice. He blended team play with individual play. This was probably the reason fo r his great success at the A ir Force Academy. This was his greatest challenge and probably his most rewarding experience in college coaching.

He was a superb recruiter at a ll the schools he was at. He always turned losing teams into winning teams. From a player’s point of view, it was always enjoyable.

His educational philosophy was that we were going to college from day one. He is not ju st sports-minded. Education was paramount in our lives. We were a ll fairly good students. We didn't overlook why we were really at college.

I t was a great experience playing for my Uncle A1 at Michigan. It was again a lo t of pressure on Doug and me. Our teammates never said anything, but we fe lt we had to be better than anyone else because we were his nephews. A1 was a great guy, a real nice guy— maybe too nice to the whole team. 222

Dad got his great joy in coaching from coaching the Air Force Academy. There is no question about i t . He started i t from scratch. His clubs were very team- oriented. They check—and check—and check. They could stay with anyone. They placed a top schedule. Dad never took the job home with him from practice, a l­ though he did take i t home concerning the game.

Building up the program at Air Force to the level where they could play on an evan basis with Colorado College, Denver University, Boston University, St. Louis, and all the other proven teams in the country, was tre­ mendously rewarding to him. He did a ll this with less talent. He might have been a little frustrated with the regulations. I remember one case where he was going to take the A ir Force team up to Boulder to play the University of Colorado for a Friday and Saturday night series. The Athletic Director said they had to come back after Friday's game and go back up on Satur­ day. Dad wanted to stay up there and le t the kids have a break from school. Dad pulled his w allet out, put i t on the Athletic Director's desk, and said, 'We are going to stay up there for the weekend. Either you are going to pay for i t , or I'm going to pay for i t . We want to get them o ff the campus and le t them enjoy themselves.' They stayed up there on Friday night.

The greatest moment in coaching as fa r as he was concerned, I would fe e l, would have been the night that he had his last game at A ir Force Academy. They pre­ sented him with a military sword, usually just reserved for the graduating cadets.

One of the funniest stories was when they were re­ turning from the West Coast one year. They got snow­ bound in Nebraska for one whole week. All they had to eat for a week was hamburger. Hamburger for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The players slept on the floor of the railroad station, and the Athletic Director slept on the bench.

Dad took my mother's death fa irly w ell. He didn't le t himself get in a ru t. She died in June from Cancer. He had just returned from coaching the East German team. Perhaps he never would have coached Air Force i f she had lived, because I think that she preferred that he stay out of coaching. 223

An additional great moment and perhaps the greatest moment would have been his induction into the United States Hall of Fame. I picked him up from the airport coming back from Eveleth, and he just grinned from ear to ear. I'v e never seen him happier or prouder. He was really thrilled.6

Vic is ju stly proud and enthusiastic about his accomplishments in hockey. He is really quite humble for one who has done so much.

He keeps everything in perspective. He is probably one of the great­ est proponents of intercollegiate athletics and sports that you can find.

The greatest thing in the world is to be involved in athletics. There is never a place you can go that you don't run into someone you know—a coach, a player, a referee, or a sports equipment salesman. Sport has been great to me. It 's been my whole lif e . Too many youngsters want something for nothing, and they are not w illing to work. Think of the enjoyment one gets from athletics. It's the greatest.'

Vic never forgot or ever forgot people. He gave you the im­ pression he has known you a ll his lif e . He remembers everyone's name. I t seems as i f he knows everyone. He can ta lk about his play­ ers fo r hours and hours, but he seems proudest when he talks about

the occupation—the doctors, businessmen, bankers, or coaches into which his former players have developed.

He talks with great affection about his hockey and his teams.

Vic has a sense of great personal satisfaction; in fa c t, he helped

young men get an education. He always stressed éducation and not

just hockey when he talked to his players.

^Personal interview with Don Heyliger, July 8, 1976.

^Personal interview with Vic Heyliger, July 7, 1976. 224

Vic Heyliger is extremely proud of his six national champion­ ships, but he is even prouder of the fact that fiv e of his former players went on to coach in the strong Western Collegiate Hockey As­ sociation. Amo Bessone, a 25-year veteran coach at Michigan Tech and

Michigan State, played fo r Heyliger at Illin o is . Neil Celley, former

Illinois player under Vic, coached at the University of Denver for six seasons. John Maclnnis, a 20-year veteran coach at Michigan Tech, was a goalie for Vic at Michigan. John Matchefts, a two-time A ll-

American at Michigan and a player on three straight national champion­ ship teams, coached four years at Colorado College before moving to a sim ilar position at the A ir Force Academy. A1 Renfew, who played at Michigan on the f ir s t NCAA championship team in 1948 and is also

Vic's brother-in-law, coached at Michigan Tech and also at North

Dakota. I t was A1 who stepped in at Michigan in 1957 when Vic re­ tire d . Heyliger takes great pride in the fact that he helped to get these men th e ir jobs. He is equally proud of th e ir success as men and coaches. CONCLUSION

This dissertation has been an attempt to pay tribute to a man,

Vic Heyliger, who has given so much of his lif e and his energy to his greatest love on this earth—the game of hockey. The accolades attributed to him are too many and too long to enable them to a ll be presented in this biographical endeavor. Without question, Vic Hey­ lig e r is a "hockey legend," "a liv in g legend," "a legend in his own time."

He has had the distinction of being:

—an All-American hockey player on two differen t occasions

—an American-born player in the National Hockey League

—a team member of a Stanley Cup Championship team

—a head hockey coach at three differen t major universities

—the coach of six national championship teams on ten straight

occasions

—a coach whose team won the WCHA t i t l e on two occasions

—voted Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches

—a leader who helped form the American Hockey Coaches

Association

—one of the major forces or perhaps the major force in

starting the National Collegiate Hockey Tournament

—the organizer of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association,

a "league" that has dominated college hockey

225 226

—the only man ever to be the head coach of a national

hockey team for two different countries (West Germany

and the United States)

—a coach whose players were named All-American on 36

different occasions

—the man who started college hockey at the Air Force

Academy

—a man who was elected to the University of Michigan

Hall of Fame

—a man who was elected to Collegiate Hockey's Hall of

Fame

—a man who was elected to the United States Hockey Hall

of Fame

Any one of these accomplishments might seem an appropriate reward to most men, but Vic Heyliger is not an ordinary man.

Without question, Vic Heyliger is "a hockey legend," "a living legend," and "a legend in his own time." But, more impor­ tan tly, he is "Uncle Vic" to everyone who knows him. BIBLIOGRAPHY

227 BIBLIOGRAPHY

I. Primary Sources

A. Unpublished

1. Letters written to author regarding Victor Heyliger:

From Mr. Hal Bateman, Sports Information Director, U.S. A ir Force Academy, May 28, 1976.

From Mr. Tab Bennett, Sports Information Director, Univer­ sity of Illin o is , May 18, 1976.

From Bob Bowie, Sports Editor, Denver Post, June 14, 1976; June 29, 1976.

From Ronald Caron, Assistant-General Manager, Montreal Canadians Hockey Club, June 4, 1976.

From Elbert P. Fletcher, Director of Recreation, City of Melrose, Massachusetts, January 21, 1970.

From Mrs. Marion C. Head, Alumni Secretary, The Lawrence Academy at Groton, July 1, 1976.

From N. A. Henry, Admissions Counselor, The University of Michigan, July 23, 1976.

From Desmond Heyliger, Cousin of Victor Heyliger, August 11, 1976.

From Dick H ilker, Former Denver Post Sports W riter, July 8, 1976.

From Mr. B ill Jacobs, Sports Information O ffice, University of Michigan, July 30, 1976.

From John Matchefts, Hockey Coach, U.S.A.F.A., May 25, 1976.

From Donald Murphy, Publicity Director, Chicago Black Hawks Hockey Club, May 10, 1976.

From Will Perry, Director, Sports Information, University of Michigan, June 2, 1976.

228 229

From Hike Pearson, Assistant Sports Information Director, University of Illin o is , May 21, 1976.

From Dennis Poppe, Assistant Director of Events, The Na­ tional Collegiate Athletic Association, July 21, 1976.

From A1 Renfrew, former University of Michigan Hockey Coach and presently Athletic Ticket Director, July 6, 1976.

From William Thayer T u tt, President Broadmoor Hotel, June 3, 1976; August 11, 1976.

2. Personal interviews by author:

Murray Armstrong, University of Denver Hockey Coach, July 11, 1375.

Amo Bessone, Michigan State University Hockey Coach, June 27, 1976.

Hal Bateman, Sports Information Director, United States Air Force Academy, July 7, 1976.

Art Berglund, Assistant Manager, Broadmoor World Arena, July 12, 1976.

Bob Bowie, Sports Editor, Denver Post, July 6, 1976; July 7, 1976.

Dan Farrell, Hockey Coach, University of Michigan, July 1, 1976.

Tony Frasca, former Hockey Coach, Colorado College, July 9, 1976.

Johnny Gottselig, former Coach of Chicago Black Hawks Hockey Club, July 1 , 1976.

Susan Handy, daughter of Victor Heyliger, July 9, 1976.

Don Heyliger, son of Victor Heyliger, July 8, 1976.

Phyllis Heyliger, wife of Victor Heyliger, July 7, 1976; July 8, 1976; July 9, 1976; July 10, 1976; July 11, 1976.

Victor Heyliger, April 18, 1976, April 19, 1976; April 20, 1976; June 20, 1976; July 1, 1976; July 2, 1976; July 10, 1976; November 4, 1976; November 5, 1976; November 6, 1976; February 3, 1977; February 4, 1977; February 5, 1977. 230

Willard Ikola. Hockey Coach, Edina High School, Edina, Minnesota, and former All-American at Michigan, March 5, 1976.

John Matchefts, Hockey Coach, United States A ir Force Academy, January 1, 1976; November 5, 1976.

A1 Renfrew, former Hockey Coach, University of Michigan, July 1,1976.

Fred Sindt, Director of Public Relations, Hotel Broadmoor, July 12, 1976.

3. Telephone interviews by author:

Bob Bowie, Sports Editor, Denver Post, May 20, 1976.

John Gottselig, former Coach, Chicago Black Hawks Hockey Club, June 16, 1976.

B ill Reay, Coach, Chicago Black Hawks Hockey Club, May 4, 1976.

Don Murphy, Publicity Director, Chicago Black Hawks Hockey Club, May 6, 1976.

4. Various records and reports:

a. Located at the University of Denver

University of Denver, "Ice Hockey," 1953-54; 1954-55; 1955-56; 1956-57; 1957-58; 1958-59; 1959-60; 1960- 61; 1961-62.

University of Denver Library Archives, "History of Denver Hockey."

University of Denver, Sports Information records and file s .

University of Denver, "Winter Sports Information," 1953-54; 1954-55; 1955-56; 1956-57; 1957-58; 1959-60.

b. Located at the University of Illinois

Tobin, L. M., Sports Information News Release, Univer­ sity of Illin o is , June, 1939. 231

University of Illinois, Publicity Office Release, Novem­ ber 29, 1944.

University of Illinois, Athletic Publicity Office, March 30, 1944.

University of Illin o is, Sports Information News Release, May 27, 1939.

University of Illinois Archives, Sports Information Records and Releases. c. Located at the University of Michigan

E tte r, Les, University of Michigan, Ice Hockey Press Ma- 'terial, 1952-1953, Ann Arbor, 1952.

E tte r, Les, University of Michigan, Ice Hockey Press Material', 1953-1954, Ann Arbor, 1953.

Etter, Les, University of Michigan, Ice Hockey Press Material', 1954-1955, Ann Arbor, 1954.

Etter, Les, University of Michigan, Ice Hockey Press M aterial, 1956-1957, Ann Arbor, 1956.

E tter, Les, University of Michigan, Ice Hockey Press Material', 1957-1958, Ann Arbor, 1957.

E tte r, Les, Universi ty of Michigan, Ice Hockey Press Material, 1958-1959, Ann Arbor, 1958.

University of Michigan Archives, Sports Information Records and Releases.

d. Located at the United States A ir Force Academy

Office of Sports Information, USAF Academy, "Falcon leers Begin New Era," March 5, 1974.

Office of Sports Information, USAF Academy, "Falcon Ice Hockey Team on Schedule," March 18, 1970.

Office of Sports Information, USAF Academy, "Falcon leers Post Best Season Ever," March 14, 1972.

Office of Sports Information, USAF Academy, "Heyliger To End Coaching Career," February 26, 1974. 232

Office of Sports Information, USAF Academy, "Matchefts Joins Falcon Hockey S taff," February 12, 1971.

United States A ir Force Academy "Air Force Ice Hockey," 1968-69; 1969-70; 1970-71; 1971-72; 1972-73; 1973- 74; 1974-75; 1975-76.

United States A ir Force Academy Archives, Sports In­ formation Releases.

e. Located at the Denver Post

Bowie, Bob, Denver Post, "Midwest Collegiate Ice Hockey League," 1952; 1953; Western Intercollegiate Hockey League," 1954; 1955; 1956; 1957; 1958.

Sports Department Records and Files, Denver Post.

5. Other:

Heyliger Family Genealogy done by Desmond Heyliger, n.d.

Program: "Air Force Ice Hockey," 1968-69; 1969-70; 1970-71; 1971-72; 1972-73; 1973-74; 1974-75; 1975-76.

Program: NCAA Ice Hockey, First National Championships, March 18, 1948.

Program: Eighth Annual National Collegiate Hockey Champion­ ships , March 18, 1948'.

Program: Ninth Annual National Collegiate Hockey Champion­ ships, March 15, 1956.

Program: Tenth Annual National Collegiate Hockey Champion­ ships, March 14, 1957.

Program: Eleventh Annual National Collegiate A thletic As­ sociation Ice Hockey Championships, March 13, 1958.

Program: Thirteenth Annual NCAA Hockey Championships, March 17, 1960.

Program: Fourteenth NCAA Hockey Championships, March 16, 1961.

Program: Seventeenth Annual NCAA Hockey Championships, March 19, 1964.

Program: Twenty-First Annual NCAA Hockey Championships, March 14, 1968. 233

Program: Twenty-Second Annual NCAA Ice Hockey Champion­ ships, March 13, 1959.

Program: NCAA Hockey Championships, March 18, 1971.

Program: NCAA Hockey Championships, March 16, 1972.

Program: NCAA Ice Hockey Championships, March 15, 1973.

Program: NCAA Ice Hockey Championships, March 14, 1974.

Program: NCAA Hockey Championships, March 25, 1976.

Program: Colorado College Hockey, February 10, 1966.

Program: "University of Denver O fficia l Ice Hockey Program," December 21, 1955.

B. Published

1. Published writings by Victor Heyliger:

"Anent Stick Handling," The Courier, n.d.

"B4 Ranch For Boys 7-17 Years," Ann Arbor: Cushing-Malloy, In c ., n.d.

"NCAA Hockey Grew Fast," NCAA Hockey Championships Program. (March 16, 1961).

"Speed Necessary Essential," The Courier, n.d.

I I . Secondary Sources

A. Published

1. Books

Beddoes, Richard; Fischler, Stan; and G itter, Ira . Hockey. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1971.

Bowie, Bob and King, Wally. Midwest Collegiate Hockey. Denver: By the authors, 1952.

Farrington, S. Kip, Or. Skates, Sticks, and Men. New York: David McKay Company, In c ., 1972. 234

Fischler, Stan, Chicago's Blackhawks. Englewood C liffs : Prentice-Hall, In c ., 1952.

Fischler, Stan. Those Were the Days. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1976.

Hollander, Zander and Bock, Hal. (eds.). The Complete En­ cyclopedia of Ice Hockey. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice- Hall, Inc., 1970.

Magnuson, Keith. None Against. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1973.

McFarlane, Brian. 50 Years of Hockey. Winnipeg: Greywood Publishing, L td ., 1969.

Perry, W ill. (ed.). The University of Michigan All-Time Record Book. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1972.

Roxborough, Henry. The Stanley Cup Story. Chicago: Fo llett Publishing Company, 1968.

Styer, Robert A. The Encyclopedia of Hockey. South Bruns­ wick: A. S. Barnes and Company, 1973.

2. Periodicals

Godin, Roger. "United States Hall of Fame," U.S. Hockey Biz, I I (September 1974) 14-16.

Kelsey, Fenton, (ed.) "Thayer Tutt and the Broadmoor—U.S. Hockey Leadership For Thirty Years," U.S. Hockey Biz, I (June 1973) 3-6.

O'Brien, Eddie. "Showdown in Detroit City," Hockey, III (March 1977) 9-11.

O'Brien, Eddie. "The Way We Were: The F irst NCCA Champion­ ship Heaven on Ice." Hockey, I I I (April 1977) 25-27.

Wright, Jim. "Vic Heyliger: A Hockey Legend," Colorado A thlete, I I (January 1974) 56-59.

3. Newspaper references

"AFA Inks Top Hockey Coach," undated clipping in unidenti-' fied newspaper. 235

"AFA T iffs Ohio in Ice Series," Colorado Sun, March 3, 1971.

"Air Force Hockey Season Kicks Off at Lake Forest," un­ dated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Air Force leers Use Road to Record Early 4-0 Slate," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, December 3, 1970.

"Air Force 'Wins One For V ic ,’ Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, March 3, 1974.

Arndt, Joe, "Tentative 16-Game Schedule Faces Illin o is Hockey Squad," undated clipping in unidentified news­ paper.

"Bessone's Last Farewell Appearance—Positively," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

Birkmayer, Don T., Editor, The Intercollegiate Hockey News­ le tte r , November 18, 1960.

"Blackhawks Defeat Rangers Third Time, 3-1," Chicago Daily Tribune, December 27, 1937.

Block, Woody, "Heyliger, Illin o is Coach, Proposes New Mid­ west Hockey League," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Bowling Green Wins; Heyliger Sees Loss," Colorado Sun, March 2, 1974.

"Bruins and Bad Cold Spoil Heyliger's Debut," Boston Globe, n.d.

Buessner, Fred, "Vic Heyliger Enters Hockey Hall of Fame," undated clipping from unidentified newspaper.

"Bus Bench Advertising B ill Passes 5-3," Denver Post, n.d.

"Center Responsible for Winning," undated clipping in un­ id entified newspaper.

"Chin Topped Tourney Scorers For Second Straight Year," Western Hockey News, 1953.

"Concord Boy Selected to Coach Illin o is in Big-Time Hockey," Boston Globe, n.d. 236

"Colorado Hockey Will Miss Heyliger," The Denver Post, December 14, 1973.

Crandell, Gordon, "Crandell's Corner," Colorado Springs Sun, February 28, 1974.

"Do You Thirst for an Illinois Victory? Well Watch This Hockey Team." Undated clipping in an unidentified newspaper.

'Dreamer Heyliger Sees International Ice Loop," Denver Post, n.d.

"Falcon's Greatest Win Bags Tigers, 10-5," Colorado Springs Sun, March 6, 1972.

"Falcon-Tiger Hockey Rivalry in Second Series Tonight," Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, February 12, 1971.

Farrar, Harry, "Moscow Bound," Denver Post, n.d.

Farrar, Harry, "They Had to Git To Beat 01' Vic," Denver Post, n.d.

Farrar, Harry, "Vic Heyliger to Coach West German Hockey," Denver Post, n.d.

Farrar, Harry, "Vanishing Vic in New Venture," Denver Post, n.d.

"Glory Days Return for 9 Hockey Greats," The Duluth News, October 27, 1974.

"Have Skates—Will Travel," Denver Post, n.d.

"Hawks Best Wings 7-1," Chicago Daily Tribune, December 23, 1943.

Hartnett, Dwayne, "Honors Time," undated clipping in un­ identified newspaper.

"Heyliger and Gib James Win A ll-S tar Posts," undated c lip ­ ping in unidentified newspaper.

"Heyliger Back on Ice," Chicago Daily Tribune, December 9, 1937.

"Heyliger Bows Out at A.F.A. as Falcons Meet Falcons," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, March 1, 1974. 237

"Heyliger Chides College Ice Coaches for Bickering," Denver Post, n.d.

"Heyliger's Final Series," Colorado Sun, March 1, 1974.

"Heyliger's Hockey Record One of Most Impressive in His­ tory," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Heyliger Receives Belated Honor for 300th Victory," un­ dated clipping from unidentified newspaper.

"Heyliger Seeks to Set up Hockey Throne," Detroit Free Press, n.d.

"Heyliger Tells Nuggets Red leers Will Come," undated c lip ­ ping in unidentified newspaper.

"Heyliger Uses Mirrors To Put Michigan on Ice," Chicago Daily Tribune, March 6, 1955.

"Hockey Coach Runs Dude Ranch fo r Boys," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Hockey T itle at Stake—Can Sisterly Love Survive This One?" Minneapolis Star, n.d.

Holman, Loy, "Time to Train," Colorado Springs Gazette Tele­ graph, n.d.

"Hustling Heyliger Retiring to Recruit Tourists," The Denver Post, December 13, 1973.

"Ice Hockey," Western Hockey News, 1953.

"leers Return to Broadmoor for Eighth Straight Season," Denver Post, March 9, 1957.

"In Heyliger's Final Game Falcons Tip Bowling Green," un­ identified newspaper.

"Midwest Hockey League," Western Hockey News, 1953.

"Michigan Claws 6-4 Win Over Boston in Overtim e.Thriller," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Michigan Solid Choice in Hockey Series," Detroit News, March 15, 1956. 238

"Michigan Wins 4th Tourney," Western Hockey News, 1953.

"Moscow Bound," Denver Post, n.d.

"Red Wings Defeat Hawks," Chicago Daily Tribune, November 26, 1937.

"Resignation Announced by Heyliger," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Roberts, Glenn, After the Deadline," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Skating 'Round the World," Denver Post, n.d.

Stapler, Harry, "Triumph For Heyliger—One 'M' Coach Beats Wilkinson," Detroit News, March 12, 1937.

"Time To Train," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, n.d.

"Titles Nothing New to Heyliger," Western Hockey News, 1953.

"Vic Gets 369th, Delich 43rd, Micheletti Winner," Colorado Gazette Telegraph, March 3, 1974.

"Vic Heyliger Coach of West German leers," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Vic Heyliger," Mesabi Daily News, October 26, 1974.

"Vic Heyliger Mixes Blades With Wheels," Denver Post, n.d.

"Vic Heyliger Plans Games With Canadian Opponents," The Daily 111 i n i , November 8, 1939.

"U-M Again Rules College Hockey," Denver Post, n.d.

"U.S. Hockey Position Goes to Heyliger," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"U.S. Hockey Squad Based on Mustangs," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper.

"Western Ice League Now O fficial C ircuit," Western Hockey News, 1953.

W illiston, Line, "The Missing Link," undated clipping in unidentified newspaper. 239

Woodburn, Larry, "A.F.A. leers Seeing Green," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, March 2, 1974.

Woodburn, Larry, "Air Force Wins One for Vic," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, March 3, 1974.

Woodburn, Larry, "Heyliger Named to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, June 28, 1974.

Woodburn, Larry, "Injuries Aid Falcons," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, March 16, 1973.

Woodburn, Larry, "Mr. World Hockey," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, n.d.

"World Hockey Program Needed," Colorado Free Press, Novem­ ber 23, 1965.

4. Yearbooks and Programs

Bennett, Bruce, "Western Highlights," NCAA Hockey Champion­ ships Program, (March 16, 1972), 27-28.

Burke, Thomas J . , (ed.). "Looking Back: The First Quarter Century of NCAA Hockey," NCAA Ice Hockey Championships • Program, (March 15, 1973), 33-37.

Connor, Dick, "Western Changes," NCAA Hockey Championships Program, (March 14, 1974), 28-29.

Farrar, Harry, "Vic Heyliger One of Hockey's Greatest," NCAA Hockey Championships Program, (March 13, 1969), 12. Fraser, Morris, "Founding The Tournament--It All Began in 1948," NCAA Hockey Championships Program, (March 13, 1969), 7.

Hansen, Jim, "The Wild, Wild WCHA," NCAA Souvenir Magazine, (March 14, 1968), 22-25.

Hayes, Mike, "The Conference—Western Collegiate Hockey Association," NCAA Hockey Championships Program, (March 13, 1969), 23-25.

Ice Hockey: U.S. Record in Olympic and World Championships, 1920-1975. Editor, Donald M. Clark, 1975 edition. 240

Ice Hockey: The International Sport, Official Guide of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States. Editor, Donald M. Clark, 1968 edition.

Melrose Recreation Department, "Melrose Guide and Direc­ tory," City of Melrose, Massachusetts, 1964.

National Collegiate Athletic Association, Hockey Guide. College Athletics Publishing Service, 1948-1976 editions.

National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Col- ■ legiate Ice Hockey Championship Handbook, 1976 edition.

National Collegiate Athletic Association Yearbook of NCAA Convention and Proceedings, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953.

National Hockey League Guide: Published by the National Hockey League. 1967-68, 1968-69 editions.

5. Family Scrapbook

Contains undated clippings from unidentified newspapers, photographs and notations. APPENDIX

241 PLATE NO. I I

VIC HEYLI6ER AS A MEMBER OF THE

CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS HOCKEY CLUB, 1938

242

PLATE NO. I l l

WES MOULTON, BROWN UNIVERSITY; HARRY CLEVERLY, BOSTON UNIVERSITY; CHEDDY THOMPSON, COLORADO COLLEGE: AND VIC HEYLIGER, UNIVERSITY OF MICHI­ GAN: ARRIVING IN COLORADO SPRINGS FOR THE 1951 NCAA HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS.

244 245

f

m PLATE NO. IV

MICHIGAN CAPTAIN, JOHN MATCHEFTS AND COACH VIC HEY­ LIGER ACCEPTING THE 1953 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY FROM THE TOURNAMENT QUEEN.

246 247 PLATE NO. V.

THE CAMPERS AND STAFF OF VIC HEYLIGER'S B-4 RANCH, COOK CITY, MONTANA

248

PLATE NO. VI

JOHN MATCHEFTS DISCUSSES GAME SITUATION WITH U. S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY HEAD COACH, VIC HEYLIGER, 1971

250 @#0