Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team
Encyclopedia
| Varsity Blues | |
| Head coach: | Darren Lowe Darren Lowe Darren Craig Lowe , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team.- Playing career :... |
|---|---|
| Conference: | Ontario University Athletics Ontario University Athletics Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public... |
| Division: | Mid East |
| Venue: | Varsity Arena Varsity Arena Varsity Arena is an arena in Toronto, Ontario. It is located at 299 Bloor Street West and is primarily home to the ice hockey teams of the University of Toronto, the Varsity Blues, though it also hosted the Toronto Toros of the WHA from 1973–74 and the Toronto Planets of the RHI in 1993... (4,100) |
| Colours: | Blue and white |
| Mascot: | True Blue |
The Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team operated by the Varsity Blues
Varsity Blues
The Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 26 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation...
athletics program of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
in 1921 and 1927, and won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at the 1928 Winter Olympics
1928 Winter Olympics
The 1928 Winter Olympics, officially known as the II Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 11–19, 1928 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The 1928 Games were the first true Winter Olympics held on its own as they were not in conjunction with a Summer Olympics...
.
The Blues play in the Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
conference, and are coached by Darren Lowe
Darren Lowe
Darren Craig Lowe , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team.- Playing career :...
. The team is based at Varsity Arena
Varsity Arena
Varsity Arena is an arena in Toronto, Ontario. It is located at 299 Bloor Street West and is primarily home to the ice hockey teams of the University of Toronto, the Varsity Blues, though it also hosted the Toronto Toros of the WHA from 1973–74 and the Toronto Planets of the RHI in 1993...
on the University downtown campus in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The current Varsity Blues have won ten CIAU
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
Championships, in 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1984.
History
The Varsity Blues were founded in 1891, and are the longest continuously operated ice hockey program in the city of Toronto. The program currently includes only players enrolled at the University, however the Varsity Blues have historically had a junior ice hockeyJunior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team for students, and a senior ice hockey
Senior ice hockey
Senior hockey refers to amateur or semi-professional ice hockey competition for players too old to play junior ice hockey. The top senior amateur teams in Canadian leagues compete annually for the Allan Cup....
team for graduates.
Notable coaches of the Varsity Blues include Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
, Ace Bailey
Ace Bailey
Irvine Wallace "Ace" Bailey was an ice hockey player who competed for the Toronto Maple Leafs during eight seasons, from 1926–1933.-Playing career:...
, Tom Watt
Tom Watt
Tom Watt is a pro scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to joining the leafs, Tom worked with the Florida Panthers on August 16, 2005, as Pro Scout. He previously worked in Player Development for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He originally joined the Mighty Ducks on January 5, 2001 as Special...
, and Mike Keenan
Mike Keenan
Michael Edward Keenan is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Calgary Flames, and former General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He is currently working as an analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG Network.Keenan was a player for the St...
, and Lester Bowles Pearson later Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
recipient and Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
.
Senior team
The Varsity Blues graduates were a successful OHA Senior "A" team in the 1920s and 1930s. The team won the 1921, 1927, 1929, and 1930 OHA Championship, the 1921 and 1927 Allan CupAllan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
s.
1928 Winter Olympics
The Varsity Blues were chosen to be the Canada national men's ice hockey team and competed in ice hockey at the 1928 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1928 Winter Olympics
At the 1928 Winter Olympics, the ice hockey event was contested by 11 teams. The competition was held from Saturday, February 11, 1928 to Sunday, February 19, 1928....
. The team, coached by Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
, won the Olympic gold medal for Canada after going undefeated in the medal round robin.
1928 Olympic roster
- Charles Delahaye
- Franklyn FisherFrank FisherFranklyn Wood Fisher was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics.In 1928, he was a member of the University of Toronto Grads, the Canadian team which won the gold medal....
- Louis HudsonLouis HudsonLouis Henry Dewey Hudson was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics.In 1928 he was a member of the University of Toronto Grads, the Canadian team which won the gold medal....
- Herbert PlaxtonHerbert PlaxtonHerbert Alfred Wellington "Bert" Plaxton was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics....
- Hugh PlaxtonHugh PlaxtonHugh John Plaxton was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics and later served in the Canadian House of Commons....
- Roger PlaxtonRoger PlaxtonHayward Alan "Roger" Plaxton was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics.In 1928 he was a member of the University of Toronto Grads, the Canadian team which won the gold medal....
- John Primeau
- Frank SullivanFrank Sullivan (ice hockey)Frank Gerald Sullivan was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics.In 1928 he was a member of the University of Toronto Grads, the Canadian team which won the gold medal....
- Joseph SullivanJoseph Albert SullivanJoseph "Joe" Albert Taylor Sullivan was a Canadian Olympic ice hockey player, physician, surgeon, and politician....
- Ross TaylorRoss Taylor (ice hockey)Ross Croft Taylor was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics.In 1928 he was a member of the University of Toronto Grads, the Canadian team which won the gold medal.-External links:*...
- David Trottier
Some sources show the names of Norbert Mueller
Norbert Mueller
Norbert Edward "Stuffy" Mueller was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics.In 1928 he was a member of the University of Toronto Grads, the Canadian team which won the gold medal....
and John Porter
John Porter (ice hockey)
John Chester "Red" Porter was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics. In 1928 he was a member of the University of Toronto Grads, the Canadian team which won the gold medal....
as being on the Olympic roster, but those two names are not listed in the "Official" Olympic Winter Games guide.
Junior team
The Varsity Blues formerly operated a junior ice hockeyJunior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team, that played in the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
in the 1930s, but withdrew from the junior loop during the 1939–40 season. Former NHLers Hugh Plaxton
Hugh Plaxton
Hugh John Plaxton was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics and later served in the Canadian House of Commons....
, Dave Trottier
Dave Trottier
David Thomas Trottier was an Canadian ice hockey player who starred in the 1928 Olympic games and played in the National Hockey League. He won the Stanley Cup in 1935 with the Montreal Maroons. He was born in Pembroke, Ontario.-External links:...
and Dunc Munro
Dunc Munro
Duncan Brown Munro was a Canadian Olympic ice hockey player who played with and coached the Montreal Maroons. He was born in Moray, Scotland. When he was still a child his family moved to Toronto, where he learned to play hockey. In his youth Munro also excelled in track events as a runner...
all played for the Varsity Blues.
Season-by-season results
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Winning Pct. (%) | Goals for | Goals against | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937–38 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0.182 | 27 | 47 | 6th OHA |
| 1938–39 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 0.179 | 27 | 63 | 4th Group 1 |
| 1939–40 | 17 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0.059 | 39 | 108 | 6th OHA |
NHL alumni
List of National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
alumni involved with the Varsity Blues. (seasons in parentheses)
|
Brent Imlach Brent Imlach was a professional hockey player. He played 3 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs from the 1965–66 NHL season to the 1966–67 NHL season. He then retired to university hockey.-External links:* at... (1970–71) Gary Inness Gary George Inness is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and teacher.-Playing career:Signed as a free agent in 1973 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Inness would play for parts of almost three seasons in Pittsburgh before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers... (1972–73) Don Keenan (ice hockey) Donald Robert James Keenan was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one National Hockey League game for the Boston Bruins during the 1958–59 NHL season.-External links:... (1959–60) Paul Knox Paul Patrick Knox is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played in one National Hockey League game for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1954–55 NHL season.... (1954–55) Ed Kryzanowski Edward Lloyd "Sonny" Kryzanowski was a professional ice hockey player who played 237 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks.- External links :... (1945–48) Alex Levinsky Alexander "Mine Boy" Levinsky was an American professional ice hockey Defenseman who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers.... (1929–30) Darren Lowe Darren Craig Lowe , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team.- Playing career :... (1979–83,1984–86) |
Hank Monteith Henry George "Hank" Monteith was a professional ice hockey player who played 77 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings.- References :... (1962–67) Hugh Plaxton Hugh John Plaxton was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics and later served in the Canadian House of Commons.... (1921–28) Beattie Ramsay William Beattie Ramsay was a Canadian ice hockey player who won an Olympic gold medal as member of the Toronto Granites ice hockey team that represented Canada in ice hockey at the 1924 Winter Olympics.... (1919–23) Dave Reid David William Reid David William Reid David William Reid (born (May 15, 1964) is a retired Canadian ice hockey Left wing who played in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche.-Playing career:... (1954–56) Kent Ruhnke Kent Stuart Ruhnke was a professional ice hockey player who played two games in the National Hockey League and 72 games in the World Hockey Association. He played with the Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins.... (1971–76) Don Smillie Donald William Smillie was a professional ice hockey player who played twelve games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Boston Bruins.- References :... (1929–33) Dave Tataryn David Nathan Tataryn is a retired professional ice hockey player who played two games in the National Hockey League and 25 in the World Hockey Association. He played with the New York Rangers and Toronto Toros.... (1971–72) John Wright (ice hockey) John Gilbert Brereton Wright is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent three seasons in the National Hockey League in the 1970s.-Amateur career:... (1968–72) |
See also
- Canada men's national ice hockey team
- Ice hockey at the 1928 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1928 Winter OlympicsAt the 1928 Winter Olympics, the ice hockey event was contested by 11 teams. The competition was held from Saturday, February 11, 1928 to Sunday, February 19, 1928....