Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team

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Varsity Blues
Head coach: Darren Lowe
Conference: Ontario University Athletics
Division: Mid East
Venue: Varsity Arena (4,100)
Colours: Blue & White
Mascot: True Blue

The 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 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]

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. The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup in 1921 and 1927, and won the gold medal at the 1928 Winter Olympics.

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.

Contents

[edit] 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 Cups. The Varsity Blues were chosen to be the Canada national men's ice hockey team and competed in ice hockey at the 1928 Winter Olympics where they won the gold medal after going undefeated in the medal round robin. Conn Smythe coached the team, which included Charles Delahay, Frank Fisher, Louis Hudson, Norbert Mueller, Herbert Plaxton, Hugh Plaxton, Roger Plaxton, John Porter, Frank Sullivan, Joseph Sullivan, Ross Taylor and David Trottier.

[edit] 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

[edit] NHL alumni

List of National Hockey League alumni involved with the Varsity Blues.[3] (seasons in parentheses)

[edit] References

  1. ^ www.azhockey.com
  2. ^ Toronto Marlboros history
  3. ^ Legends of hockey alumni search

[edit] External links

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