the blue and white fund for men's hockey · in hockey facilities, equipment, and techniques,...

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Photos courtesy of Phil Latreille ’ 61 and Special Collections and Archives, Middlebury College. The Team That Set the Standard Collegiate ice hockey was a vastly different game 50 years ago. Goalies did not wear masks. The slap shot was not widely used. Checking in the of- fensive zone was not permitted. The season was shorter, too; at Middlebury, the first hockey practice wasn’t held until the last football game had been played. College hockey was a higher-scoring affair back then, especially when Middlebury played. Many games ended 10-2 or 7-6 —or even 17-3, which was the score in games against both Dartmouth and Norwich in the winter of 1961. Coach Walter “Duke” Nelson’s 1960–61 team won 19 games and lost only two. The Panthers averaged more than nine goals per game, while the squad’s stellar netminders—Frankie Costanzo ’ 61 and Chuck Gately ’ 62allowed fewer than three goals per contest. The stars were aligned for the hockey team that year. After the 1959–60 campaign’s 16-7 record, most of Duke’s lettermen returned. Five of the high-flying freshmen who entered Middlebury in 1957 were now seniors: Frank Coy, Bob and Jerry Fryberger, Tor Hultgreen, and the captain, Phil Latreille. The Fryberger twins and their brother, Dates ’ 63, formed the only all-brother line in college hockey. The team’s headliner was the high-scoring Phil Latreille. The Montreal native and three-time all-American registered an NCAA-record 80 goals that season to complete his Middlebury career with 250 goals and 96 assists. He still holds seven NCAA scoring marks. Although the 1960–61 icemen had the best record in the Tri-State League, Middlebury was not selected for the NCAA tournament. But the team’s 19-2 record against bigger schools like Princeton, RPI, Clarkson, and Yale earned it plaudits as one of the greatest Middlebury teams of all time. The Blue and White Fund for Men's Hockey The College has made fund-raising for its varsity athletics teams a priority and has created a family of funds to ensure that student athletes can com- pete at the highest level. Through the Blue and White Funds, the College aims to create an endowed fund to support each of the 31 varsity sports at Middlebury. The Blue and White Fund for Men’s Hockey will provide operational support for the program. The goal is to raise $1 million, which will meet current operating needs and allow for future growth. Gifts to the fund are a great way to ensure that future Middlebury athletes have the same great coaching and opportunities that current players enjoy. A donor or group of donors can name the Blue and White Fund for Men’s Hockey in honor of a specific person by fully endowing the fund. To make a gift to the Blue and White Fund for Men’s Hockey, please visit http://go.middlebury.edu/givemenshockey . For more information, contact Kristy Laramee Kerin ’ 01 at 802.443.5633 or kkerin@middlebury.edu. C e l e b r a t i n g e i g h t d e c a d e s o f P a n t h e r h o c k e y Middlebury's Ice Men

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Page 1: The Blue and White Fund for Men's Hockey · in hockey facilities, equipment, and techniques, the coaches’ philosophy has always been the same. They have been dedicated not only

Photos courtesy of Phil Latreille ’61 and Special Collections and Archives, Middlebury College.

The Team That Set the Standard

Collegiate ice hockey was a vastly different game 50 years ago. Goalies did not wear masks. The slap shot was not widely used. Checking in the of-fensive zone was not permitted. The season was shorter, too; at Middlebury, the first hockey practice wasn’t held until the last football game had been played.

College hockey was a higher-scoring affair back then, especially when Middlebury played. Many games ended 10-2 or 7-6—or even 17-3, which was the score in games against both Dartmouth and Norwich in the winter of 1961.

Coach Walter “Duke” Nelson’s 1960 –61 team won 19 games and lost only two. The Panthers averaged more than nine goals per game, while the squad’s stellar netminders—Frankie Costanzo ’61 and Chuck Gately ’62—allowed fewer than three goals per contest.

The stars were aligned for the hockey team that year. After the 1959 –60 campaign’s 16-7 record, most of Duke’s lettermen returned. Five of the high-flying freshmen who entered Middlebury in 1957 were now seniors: Frank Coy, Bob and Jerry Fryberger, Tor Hultgreen, and the captain, Phil Latreille. The Fryberger twins and their brother, Dates ’63, formed the only all-brother line in college hockey.

The team’s headliner was the high-scoring Phil Latreille. The Montreal native and three-time all-American registered an NCAA-record 80 goals that season to complete his Middlebury career with 250 goals and 96 assists. He still holds seven NCAA scoring marks.

Although the 1960–61 icemen had the best record in the Tri-State League, Middlebury was not selected for the NCAA tournament. But the team’s 19-2 record against bigger schools like Princeton, RPI, Clarkson, and Yale earned it plaudits as one of the greatest Middlebury teams of all time.

The Blue and White Fund for Men's Hockey

The College has made fund-raising for its varsity athletics teams a priority and has created a family of funds to ensure that student athletes can com-pete at the highest level. Through the Blue and White Funds, the College aims to create an endowed fund to support each of the 31 varsity sports at Middlebury.

The Blue and White Fund for Men’s Hockey will provide operational support for the program. The goal is to raise $1 million, which will meet current operating needs and allow for future growth. Gifts to the fund are a great way to ensure that future Middlebury athletes have the same great coaching and opportunities that current players enjoy.

A donor or group of donors can name the Blue and White Fund for Men’s Hockey in honor of a specific person by fully endowing the fund.

To make a gift to the Blue and White Fund for Men’s Hockey, please visit http://go.middlebury.edu/givemenshockey.

For more information, contact Kristy Laramee Kerin ’01 at 802.443.5633 or [email protected].

Celebrating eight decades of Panther h

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Middlebury'sIce Men

Page 2: The Blue and White Fund for Men's Hockey · in hockey facilities, equipment, and techniques, the coaches’ philosophy has always been the same. They have been dedicated not only

Club teams began playing on frozen ponds in the 1860s, and students were no doubt competing in informal games before that. But it wasn’t until the 1922–1923 season that a Middlebury hockey team formally competed against other colleges. That team didn’t have a coach, substitute players, or enough sticks to go around (the goalkeeper played with a catcher’s mitt), and it lost all three of the games it played that season.

The Panther’s first victory did not come until the team’s third season, in 1924–1925, after a total of nine losses

and one tie. But the team was improv-ing rapidly, and in its fourth season it won the Vermont Championship. In 1926–1927, after the Panthers completed a 6-0 season and claimed their second consecutive Vermont Championship, ice hockey was officially granted minor-sport status at Middlebury.

Legacy of CoachesIn the decades since, the men’s ice hockey program has been shaped by three head coaches who have directed the Panthers for a total of 58 years:

Walter “Duke” Nelson ’32, Wendell “Wendy” Forbes ’51, and William “Bill” Beaney. They have worked with generations of players to make Middle-bury’s hockey program one of the best in the nation. And while the passing years have brought enormous changes in hockey facilities, equipment, and techniques, the coaches’ philosophy has always been the same. They have been dedicated not only to winning, but to developing their players as scholars and as men, recognizing that sports teach lifelong lessons of discipline, commit-ment, focus, and teamwork.

A standout player as a defenseman for the Panthers from 1929 to 1932, Duke Nelson remained with the team

as coach following his graduation. He held that position for 22 years, with a 10-year hiatus in the mid-1930s and early ’40s. Nelson gradually built the hockey team into a powerhouse, and Middlebury became a dominant force in eastern collegiate hockey. He retired in 1964 with a career record of 208-166-6, one of the sport’s most respected coaches.

Nelson’s successor was one of his best players, Wendy Forbes, who coached the team for more than two decades. He was named national coach of the year in 1975 and took his team to the ECAC playoffs seven times, win-ning the ECAC Division II West title in 1978–1979. By the time he retired, he

had compiled a record of 254-234-18.Bill Beaney took over the hockey

program in 1986 and led the team to five consecutive national cham-pionships (1995–1999), an NCAA record. The Panthers won another three-straight crowns between 2004 and 2006. Middlebury appeared in 13 straight NCAA tournaments (1995–2007) during his tenure, while win-ning eight NESCAC championships. In 2009–2010, the team again won the NESCAC title and made it to the NCAA quarterfinals. Beaney has also led his team to six ECAC tournaments, with a championship in the 1990–1991 season.

Hockey, On and Off IceOver the years, ice hockey has become an integral part of Middlebury’s identity. Both the men’s and women’s teams have collected a legion of fans on campus and off. Hockey alumni list lessons learned on the ice and friend-ships formed there among the most important and cherished parts of their Middlebury experience. And every hockey season, the whole College community becomes more closely connected through a shared enthu-siasm for the game and the Panthers’ winning tradition.

Middlebury competes in its first intercollegiate

ice hockey game, against RPI.

Middlebury wins first game ever,

1-0, over RPI.

Walter “Duke” Nelson ’32 named ice hockey coach.

Ice hockey moves indoors with completion of War Memorial Field House.

Mike Karin ’59 sets all-time Middlebury record for most goals (10)

and assists (13) in a single season.

The 1960–61 team finishes 19-2; Phil Latreille ’61 plays for New York Rangers.

Duke Nelson ends ice hockey coaching career with record of 208-166-6;

Wendell “Wendy” Forbes ’51 takes over.

Team wins ECAC championship.

Women’s ice hockey established as varsity sport;

Nelson comes out of retirement to coach.

Forbes ends coaching career at 254-234-18;

Bill Beaney takes over.

Team wins ECAC championship.

Men’s team wins first of five consecutive NCAA

D-III championships.

Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena opens.

Men’s ice hockey goes 27-3 and starts streak of three consecutive

NCAA D-III championships.

Men win NESCAC championship.

A winning tradition:Middlebury hockey 1930s–2000s

iddlebury students have been playing ice hockey for at least 150 years.