Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey
| Toronto Varsity Blues | |
| |
| Head coach: | Darren Lowe |
|---|---|
| Conference: | Ontario University Athletics |
| Division: | Mid East |
| Venue: | Varsity Arena (4,100) |
| Colours: | Blue and white |
| Mascot: | True Blue |
The Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey team operated by the Varsity Blues athletics program of the University of Toronto. The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup in 1921 and 1927, and won the gold medal for Canada at the 1928 Winter Olympics.
The Blues play in the Ontario University Athletics conference, and are coached by Darren Lowe. The team is based at Varsity Arena on the University downtown campus in Toronto, Ontario. The current Varsity Blues have won ten CIAU Championships, in 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1984.[1]
History
The Varsity Blues were founded in 1891, and are the longest continuously operated ice hockey program in the city of Toronto.[2] The program currently includes only players enrolled at the University, however the Varsity Blues have historically had a junior ice hockey team for students, and a senior ice hockey team for graduates.
Notable coaches of the Varsity Blues include Conn Smythe, Ace Bailey, Tom Watt, and Mike Keenan, and Lester Bowles Pearson later Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Prime Minister of Canada.
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, and the 1921 and 1927 Allan Cups.
1928 Winter Olympics
The Varsity Blues were chosen to be the Canada men's national ice hockey team and competed in ice hockey at the 1928 Winter Olympics. The team, coached by Conn Smythe, won the Olympic gold medal for Canada after going undefeated in the medal round robin.
- 1928 Olympic roster[3]
Some sources[4] show the names of Norbert Mueller and John Porter as being on the Olympic roster, but those two names are not listed in the "Official" Olympic Winter Games guide.[5]
Junior team
The Varsity Blues formerly operated a junior ice hockey team, that played in the Ontario Hockey Association in the 1930s, but withdrew from the junior loop during the 1939–40 season. Former NHLers Hugh Plaxton, Dave Trottier and Dunc Munro all played for the Varsity Blues.
- Season-by-season results
| Season | 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 League alumni involved with the Varsity Blues.[6] (seasons in parentheses)
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See also
References
- ^ www.azhockey.com
- ^ Toronto Marlboros history
- ^ The Official Olympic Games Companion: The Complete Guide to the Olympic Winter Games 1998 Edition, London - Washington: Brassey’s Sports, 1998, p. 128, ISBN 1-85753-244-9
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/hockey/feature?id=1300946
- ^ The Official Olympic Games Companion: The Complete Guide to the Olympic Winter Games 1998 Edition, London - Washington: Brassey’s Sports, 1998, p. 128, ISBN 1-85753-244-9
- ^ Legends of hockey alumni search