1944
Summer seems an odd time to talk about ice hockey, but the 2005-2006 season was such a highlight in Dartmouth sports history that we thought it worth a revisit.
With this as background, we thought we should see if there were other 1944 classmates on that national championship team in 1942. With the help of Jack Riley, Bob McLaughry and Eric Barradale, we found, besides the fabulous trio of Ri- ley, Rondeau and Harrison, nine others who lettered in ice hockey. All sophomores, their coach was the legendary Eddie Jeremiah (Dartmouth grad and the college hockey coach for 30 years). The men were: Harold Cannon, Wiley Hitchcock, Henry Hughes, Howard Johns, Fred Kennedy, Ted Munro, Bird Partridge, Dick Pleasants and Ed Roewer.All played in high school, usually for four years, and a majority were captains of their teams. With that one glorious season at Dartmouth over, they all departed to serve in the military.
After WWII ended and they graduated from college, everyone went into diverse careers, but half of the group never completely left hockey. Jack Riley skated in the 1948 Olympics, became the hockey coach at West Point, coached the i960 Olympic team to a gold medal and served on numerous Olympic committees. Dick Rondeau coached at Providence College and went into business, but always kept his hand in ice hockey ventures. (Both Jack and Dick entered the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.) Bill Harrison taught at Clarkson College of Technology and coached its hockey team. Henry Hughes taught history and coached hockey in Melrose, Massachusetts. Ed Roewer has taught and coached hockey in several high schools. Dick Pleasants went into business and found time to coach a boy's club in Washington.
Only jack Riley and Ed Roewer could attend the 100-years celebration, but we are sure all 12 of the 1944s counted their championship season as one of the high points in their lives, as did Dartmouth College sports enthusiasts.
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