League Announces Final Group in Top 50
ALBANY, N.Y. -- As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, ECAC Hockey has comprised a group of its top 50 players to recognize the storied history of the League and honor its significant players. The League today announced the ninth installment of honorees as part of its top 50 players of all-time. The top 50 players were determined by a selection committee made up of former coaches and media members. These honorees were tallied from 145 players (47 defensemen; 73 forwards; and 25 goaltenders).
The tenth and final segment of honorees includes: Clarkson goaltender Bruce Bullock, a two-time all-american (1970 and 1971), who guided the Green and Gold to 19-7-2 mark in first season of varsity competition ; Gordie Clark, New Hampshire, forward, a three-time first-team all-conference selection (1972-74), who compiled 76 goals and 86 assists for 162 points in 90 collegiate contests; Dave Johnston, defenseman, Harvard, a two-time ECAC Hockey All-Tournament First Team (1962-63) who led the Crimson to record of 21-3-2 (17-3-2 in ECAC Hockey) en route to league title in 1963; Cornell defenseman Bruce Pattison, co-captain of Cornell’s 1969 Team and a three-time league champion (1967-69); and Herb Wakabayashi, forward, Boston U., who in first year, set school, New England and ECAC Hockey record for assists in season (51) and represented Japan in 1972 Winter Olympics.
All current and former teams’ impactful players, including those from Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Middlebury, Army, etc... were reviewed in comprising the list of candidates for the special team. Five players from the top 50 all-time team will be released every two weeks throughout the season leading up the championship in March 18-19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Throughout its history, ECAC Hockey has been home to seven NCAA men’s championship teams, witnessed over 15,000 games, produced more than 500 National Hockey Leaguers, nearly 300 All-Americans, three Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners, and over 1,100 student-athletes who have earned All-Academic honors since 1999-00, the first year the League recognized these individuals.
The first group of top 50 players released on November 11 included the following: Bob Brinkworth, forward at Rensselaer (1961-64); Ken Dryden, Cornell goaltender (1967-69); defenseman Mark Fusco, Harvard (1980-83); Brian Mueller, defenseman, Clarkson (1991-95); and Boston College forward Joe Mullen (1975-79). The League released the second segment of players on November 24 which included the following; defenseman Ray Giroux, Yale (1994-98); Joe Juneau forward Rensselaer (1987-91); Colgate forward Andy McDonald (1996-00); Joe Nieuwendyk, foward Cornell (1984-87); and defenseman Ron Wilson, Providence (1973-77). The third assembly release on December 8 included the following: Joe Cavanagh, Harvard, forward, (1969-71); Yann Danis Brown, goaltender, (2000-04); Clarkson defenseman Dave Fretz (1981-85); Dan Laperriere, St. Lawrence, defenseman, (1988-92); and forward Martin St. Louis, Vermont (1993-97). On December 22, the fourth collection of top 50 players was released which included; Ralph Cox, New Hampshire, forward, (1975-79); Union goaltender, Trevor Koenig (1995-98); Boston University forward, Rick Meagher (1973-77); forward Lance Nethery from Cornell (1975-79); and Lee Stempniak, Dartmouth, forward (2001-05). The League released the fifth segment on January 5 which included the following; John Cunniff, Boston College, forward (1963-66); Harvard forward, Gene Kinasewich (1964-66); defenseman Douglas Murray from Cornell (1999-03); Vic Stanfield, Boston University defenseman (1972-75); and forward Dave Taylor, Clarkson (1973-77). The sixth group was announced on January 18 which included the following: Brown defenseman Bob Gaudreau (1964-66); Jeff Halpern, forward at Princeton (1995-99); forward Peter Lappin from St. Lawrence (1984-88); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute forward Adam Oates (1983-85); and defenseman Jack O’Callahan, Boston University (1975-79). On February 2 the League released the seventh group which included the following; Clarkson defenseman Bill Blackwood (1974-78); forward Brian Cornell from Cornell (1966-69); Yale forward Jeff Hamilton (1996-99, 2001); Lane MacDonald, Harvard forward, (1985-87, 1989); and goaltender Tim Thomas, Vermont, (1993-97). Group No. 8 was released on February 16 which included; Boston University Defenseman Bob Brown (1970-72); forward Doug Ferguson from Cornell (1964-67); Colgate forward Dan Fridgen (1979-82); Tim Sheehy, Boston College forward, (1967-70); and forward Todd White, Clarkson, (1993-97). Group No. 9, released March 2 included the following; Reid Cashman, Quinnipiac, defenseman, (2003-07); Scott Fusco, Harvard, forward, (1982-83, 85-86); Tom Mellor, Boston College, defenseman, (1969-71, 1973); Randy Velischek - Providence, defenseman, (1979-81, 1983); and Terry Yurkiewicz, Clarkson, goaltender, (1963-66).
The top 50 players were determined by a vote of a selection committee of 10 individuals, which include Joe Bertagna, former student-athlete at Harvard, former hockey commissioner of the ECAC and current commissioner of Hockey East; Ed Carpenter, former Sports Information Director at Boston U.; Bill Cleary, former student-athlete, head coach and director of athletics at Harvard;
John Connolly, long-time sports reporter at the Boston Herald; Dan Fridgen, former student-athlete at Colgate and former head coach at RPI; Mike Gilligan, former head coach at Yale (interim) and Vermont; Lou Lamoriello, former student-athlete and head coach at Providence and current CEO/President/General Manager of the New Jersey Devils; Mark Morris, former student-athlete at Colgate and former head coach at Clarkson; Tim Taylor, former student-athlete at Harvard and former head coach at Yale; and Adam Wodon, editor of the College Hockey News Web site.
Bruce Bullock - Clarkson, Goaltender, (1968-71) - Toronto, Ontario
Two-Time All-America (1970-71) ... 1970-79 ECAC Hockey All-Decade First Team ... 1971 ECAC Hockey Player of Year ... 1971 All-Conference First Team ... Two-Time ECAC Hockey All-Tournament First Team (1970-71) ... 1970 ECAC Hockey Tournament Most Outstanding Player ... 1970 NCAA All-Tournament … Posted 61-19-3 Record, .905 Save Percentage and 2.95 Goals-Against Average in 83 Games from 1968-71 … As Sophomore (1968-69), Guided Green and Gold to 19-7-2 Mark in First Season of Varsity Competition … As Junior (1969-70), Backstopped Knights to One of Best Seasons Ever at Clarkson, Ranking Second in Nation with 24-8 Record, Including Second-Place Showings in ECAC Hockey and NCAA Tournaments … Posted 30 Saves in Clarkson’s 4-3 Victory Over Michigan Tech in 1970 NCAA Semifinals and Followed Performance with 40 Stops in 1970 Title Game -- 6-4 Loss to Cornell … As Senior (1970-71), Set School Record for Most Wins in Season, Posting 27-4-1 Record While Recording .920 Save Percentage and 2.37 Goals-Against Average … First Golden Knights Player to Compete in National Hockey League (NHL), Tending Crease for Vancouver Canucks ... Played in 16 NHL Games from 1972-77, Posting 3-9-3 Record … Also Played Professionally for Seattle Totems in World Hockey League and Tulsa Oilers in Central Hockey League (CHL) … Closed Professional Career with Phoenix Roadrunners in Pacific Hockey League (PHL) … A 2005 Clarkson Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee.
Gordie Clark - New Hampshire, Forward, (1971-74) - Glasgow, Scotland
Two-Time All-America (1973-74) ... Three-Time All-Conference First Team (1972-74) ... 1970-79 ECAC Hockey All-Decade Second Team ... Captain of UNH’s 1974 Team ... School’s First Two-Time All-America Honoree ... Compiled 76 Goals and 86 Assists for 162 Points in 90 Collegiate Contests ... Compiled Career-Best Goals (27), Assists (30) and Points (57) During First Collegiate Season (1971-72) ... Named All-New England in 1974 ... Two-Time Recipient (1973-74) of UNH’s Roger A. Leclerc Trophy Presented to Team’s Most Valuable Player ... Presented Wildcats’ Most Improved Player Award in 1972 ... Earned UNH’s 1973 Ted Karmeris Fan Favorite Award ... 1974 Leonard Fowle Award Winner as New England Player of Year ... Selected as 1974 Herb Gallagher Award Recipient as New England’s Outstanding Forward ... Following Graduation, Played for Boston Bruins of National Hockey League (NHL) and Cincinnati Stingers of World Hockey Association (WHA) ... Spent Nine Years in American Hockey League (AHL), Amassing 267 Goals and 332 Assists for 599 Points in 540 AHL Games .. Finest Season in AHL was 1981-82 with Maine Mariners, Registering 50 Goals and 51 Assists for 101 Points in 80 Games ... Served as Assistant Coach with NHL’s Boston Bruins (1989-92) and New York Islanders (1996-98) ... Inducted into Wildcat Athletics Council Hall of Fame in 1982
Dave Johnston - Harvard, Defenseman, (1961-63) - Sudbury, Ontario
Two-Time All-America (1962-63) ... Two-Time All-Conference First Team (1962-63) ... 1963 ECAC Hockey Defensive Defenseman of Year ... Two-Time ECAC Hockey All-Tournament First Team (1962-63) ... Led Crimson to Record of 21-3-2 (17-3-2 in ECAC Hockey) En Route to League Title in 1963 ... Assisted on Game-Winning Goal by Gene Kinasewich in Overtime of 1963 ECAC Hockey Championship Game ... Assist was 25th of Season -- Then-Harvard Record for Defensemen ... 1963 Recipient of Harvard’s John Tudor Memorial Award for Team Most Valuable Player Despite Not Scoring One Goal During Season ... Awarded the Francis H. Burr ’09 Scholarship in 1963 -- Presented to Senior Who Combines Qualities of Character, Leadership, Scholarship and Athletic Ability... Member of the 1963 League Champions ... Currently Serves as Canada’s Governor General
Bruce Pattison - Cornell, Defenseman, (1966-69) - Aurora, Ontario
Two-Time All-America (1968-69) ... Two-Time All-Conference First Team (1968-69) ... Two-Time ECAC Hockey All-Tournament First Team (1968-69) ... 1969 NCAA All-Tournament First Team ... Amassed 85 Career Points, Including 28 Goals, in 86 Collegiate Contests ... Of his 28 Goals, Netted 11 Power-Play and Eight (8) Game-Winning Tallies ... Enjoyed Most Productive Offensive Campaign as Junior (1968), Registering 43 Points, Including 14 Goals ... 1968 Recipient of Cornell’s Nicky Bawlf Award as Team Most Valuable Player ... Co-Recipient of 1969 Cornell Hockey Association Award for Enthusiasm, Dedication, Desire and Unselfish Willingness to Give Team an Extra Ounce of Energy ... Co-Captain of Cornell’s 1969 Team ... Three-Time League Champion (1967-69) ... Member of 1967 NCAA Champions ... Inducted into Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983
Herb Wakabayashi - Boston U., Forward, (1966-69) - Chatham, Ontario
Two-Time All-America (1968-69) ... 1967 ECAC Hockey Rookie of Year ... Two-Time All-Conference Second Team (1968-69) ... Three-Time ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Second Team (First Team 1969; Second Team 1967-68) ... 1967 ECAC Hockey Points Co-Leader (67 points in 31 games) ... In First Year, Set School, New England and ECAC Hockey Record for Assists in Season (51) ... Assists Total Currently Ranks Second All-Time in School History ... Named New England Sophomore of Year, Most Valuable Player in Beanpot and to the All-New England and All-East Second Teams ... Completed Collegiate Career with Then-School Record for Career Assists (90) and Second All-Time Scorer (145 Points) in 92 Games ... Recipient of Terriers’ 1968 George V. Brown Award as Team Most Valuable Player ... Represented Japan in 1972 Winter Olympics ... Helped Terriers to Beanpot Titles in 1967 and 1968 ... Named Most Valuable Player of 1967 Beanpot ... Inducted into Beanpot Hall of Fame ... Inducted into Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978
