SDU Men's Hockey Team 1964-1965

The year 1965 is one that will be remembered in the hockey highlights of St. Dunstan’s University. With three sturdy skating forward lines, a hard-hitting defense corps, and the solid goaltending of George MacNeill, the Saints were on a roll. On February 17, 1965, the IS rankings showed SDU as the number one team in the country with a 8–0 record. They eventually went 10–1 in League play.

Coached by Jack Kane, Jr., the Saints had nine consecutive wins to secure the Maritime title. They split their final weekend, losing to St. Thomas but defeating UNB. The Maritime crown gave the Saints the right to represent the MIHL at the nationals in Winnipeg on March 12–13. St. Dunstan’s travelled to Wiinipeg on March 11; and, in their semifinal game, they came from behind to dump Sir George Williams 3–1. Gord Whitlock, Mike Kelly, and Bill MacMillan scored in the winning effort.

SDU met the University of Manitoba in the final, but the size and experience of the Bisons allowed them to build a first-period lead and defeat the Saints 9–2.

For the Saints, it was a year to be proud of. The team scored 40 more goals than the year before, and ended the year as the number two team in the country.

The 1965 team was led by the League’s leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, Bill MacMillan. He and Vince Mulligan were named 1st Team All-Stars, while Gord Whitlock was named to the 2nd Team. Other members of the MIHL Champs were Mike Kelly, a 2002 Hall of Fame inductee; Denis DeCarufel, Andre Gelinas, Mike Harley, Jack Hynes, Glen Hughes, Arthur LeClair, Rex McCarville, George MacMillan, George MacNeill, George Monaghan, Derrel Pollock, Maurice Roy, and Yvon St. Armand. Jim Levy was Manager and Dave McConnell was Trainer. Five members of this strong squad have also gone on to coach the Panthers: Jack Kane, Jack Hynes, Vince Mulligan, Bill MacMillan, and Gord Whitlock.