Chris Ray (ice hockey)

Last updated
Chris Ray
Born Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
Position Forward
Played for Colorado College
Playing career 1947–1951

Chris Ray was an American ice hockey forward who played for Colorado College after World War II and helped the program win its first National Championship in 1950. [1]

Contents

Career

After helping the US National Team to a 5th-place finish at the 1947 Ice Hockey World Championships, Ray was one of a slew of talented players who joined Colorado College after the second World War. He helped pushing the team to a 19-7 record in his freshman season and earning the Tigers a bid into the first NCAA Tournament. CC fell to Dartmouth in the semifinal but the team returned to the tournament the following year, only to lost both games by a rather large margin. Ray had one more chance to win a national championship in his junior season (the NCAA restricted athletes to three years of varsity eligibility at the time), and the team responded with one of the most overpowering offensive seasons in NCAA history. While the team again finished 2nd in the west behind Michigan, CC scored 167 goals in just 22 games, an average of more than 7.5 goals per game. Ray netted 26 of those markers himself and, in the semifinal against Boston College, Ray's 3-point night helped put the Eagles away.

The Tigers made their first Championship appearance against Boston University and the two teams remained close after 40 minutes. In the third period, however, Colorado College exploded for 10 goals (an NCAA record as of 2020) with Ray having a hand in half (three goals and two assists). CC won the game 13-4 setting a record for the most goals scored by one team in the championship game (tied with CC in 1957), the most goals scored by both teams in the championship game (surpassed by 19 from CC and Michigan in 1957), the largest margin of victory (surpassed by +10 from Denver in 1961), the most goals scored (23) and the widest margin of victory (+16) in a Frozen Four (still NCAA records). Ray's four goals in the Championship set a new NCAA record that has been tied twice but never surpassed as of 2020. His two assists also left him with 6 points which tied the NCAA record that still stands as of 2020. Ray holds the distinction of scoring the most goals in the final game of any player to not be named Most Outstanding Player. [2] The 31 goals he scored on the year earned Ray a place on the AHCA All-American Second Team [3] while his tournament exploits went entirely unrecognized. Ray played one more year at CC before graduating and finished his college career as the Tigers' all-time scoring leader with 173 points in 99 games. Ray held the program record for 23 years until he was surpassed by Doug Palazzari during the 1973–74 season.

Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1947–48 Colorado College NCAA 27—————————
1948–49 Colorado CollegeNCAA23—————————
1949–50 Colorado CollegeNCAA2431134419—————
1950–51 Colorado CollegeNCAA25182947——————
NCAA totals999677173——————


Awards and honors

AwardYear
AHCA Second Team All-American 1949–50 [4]

Related Research Articles

The 1950 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1949–50 NCAA men's ice hockey season, the 3rd such tournament in NCAA history. It was held between March 16 and 18, 1950, and concluded with Colorado College defeating Boston University 13-4. All games were played at the Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The 1954 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1953–54 NCAA men's ice hockey season, the 7th such tournament in NCAA history. It was held between March 11 and 13, 1954, and concluded with Rensselaer defeating Minnesota 5-4 in overtime. All games were played at the Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The 1957 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1956–57 NCAA men's ice hockey season, the 10th such tournament in NCAA history. It was held between March 14 and 16, 1957, and concluded with Colorado College defeating Michigan 13-6. All games were played at the Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Colorado College Tigers mens ice hockey

The Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Colorado College. The Tigers are a member of National Collegiate Hockey Conference. They will play at Ed Robson Arena on the CC campus in Colorado Springs beginning in the 2021 season.

1954–55 Michigan Wolverines mens ice hockey season

The 1954–55 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team represented the University of Michigan in college ice hockey. In its 11th year under head coach Vic Heyliger, the team compiled an 18–5–1 record, outscored opponents 107 to 70, and won the 1955 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The 1955 championship was Michigan's fifth NCAA hockey championship in eight years.

1951–52 Michigan Wolverines mens ice hockey season Sports season

The 1951–52 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team represented the University of Michigan in college ice hockey. In its eighth year under head coach Vic Heyliger, the team compiled a 22–4–0 record, outscored opponents 161 to 70, and won the 1952 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The season was the second consecutive in which the Michigan hockey team won the NCAA championship.

Cyril L. "Cheddy" Thompson was a Canadian ice hockey coach. He was the head coach of Colorado College after World War II during their most successful era and led the team to their first national title in 1950.

Anthony J. Frasca (1927-1999) was an American ice hockey player and coach for the varsity programs at Colorado College. He helped CC win its first national title in 1950.

1976–77 Wisconsin Badgers mens ice hockey season

The 1976–77 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in college ice hockey. In its tenth year under head coach Bob Johnson, the team compiled a 37–7–1 record and outscored all opponents 264 to 161. The Badgers received the WCHA's automatic bid to the 1977 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament by winning the 1977 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, the only singular WCHA tournament champion over a 16-year period. They defeated the New Hampshire Wildcats in the Frozen Four semifinals and then beat WCHA- and Big Ten-rival Michigan Wolverines by a 6–5 score in overtime to win the national championship in Detroit, Michigan.

1949–50 Colorado College Tigers mens ice hockey season

The 1949–50 Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey team represented the Colorado College in intercollegiate college ice hockey during the 1949–50 NCAA men's ice hockey season. The head coach was Cheddy Thompson and the team captain was Milo Yalich. The team won the 1950 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The team's leading scorer was Harry Whitworth, who finished third in the nation with 60 points.

1956–57 Colorado College Tigers mens ice hockey season

The 1956–57 Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey team represented Colorado College in college ice hockey. In its 2nd year under head coach Tom Bedecki, the team compiled a 25–5–0 record, outscored opponents 205 to 106, and won the 1957 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The Tigers defeated Michigan 13–6 in the championship game at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. CC tied the record for the most goals scored in a championship game (1950) and combined with the Wolverines for the most total goals in a title game (19). As of 2018 this is the last time Colorado College has won the national title in ice hockey.

1957–58 Denver Pioneers mens ice hockey season

The 1957–58 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey team represented University of Denver in college ice hockey. In its 2nd year under head coach Murray Armstrong the team compiled a 24–10–2 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time. The Pioneers defeated North Dakota 6–2 in the championship game at the Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first national title not held at the Broadmoor Ice Palace. Denver became the first team to win its inaugural championship appearance since Michigan in 1948, the first time the tournament was held.

1960–61 Denver Pioneers mens ice hockey season

The 1960–61 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey team represented University of Denver in college ice hockey. In its 5th year under head coach Murray Armstrong the team compiled a 30–1–1 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years. The Pioneers defeated St. Lawrence 12–2 in the championship game at the DU Arena in Denver, Colorado. Denver set a record for the most wins by a team in one season, breaking the previous high of 27 they had earned the previous year.

1974–75 Michigan Tech Huskies mens ice hockey season

The 1974–75 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team represented Michigan Tech University in college ice hockey. In its 19th year under head coach John MacInnes the team compiled a 32–10–0 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in its history. The Huskies defeated Minnesota 6–1 in the championship game at the St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, a rematch of the previous season's championship game.

1982–83 Wisconsin Badgers mens ice hockey season

The 1982–83 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in college ice hockey. In its first year under head coach Jeff Sauer, the team compiled a 33–10–2 record. The Badgers won the 1983 National Championship, their fourth title.

1996–97 North Dakota Fighting Sioux mens ice hockey season

The 1996–97 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey team represented the University of North Dakota in college ice hockey during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. In its 3rd year under head coach Dean Blais the team compiled a 31–10–2 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the thirteenth time. The Fighting Sioux defeated Boston University 6–4 to win the championship game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Ron Hartwell was a Canadian ice hockey right wing who helped Colorado College win its first national championship in 1950.

Kenneth Kinsley is a Canadian retired ice hockey goaltender who was the MOP of the 1952 NCAA Tournament for Colorado College.

Don Wishart was a Canadian ice hockey defenseman and forward who captained Colorado College to the National Championship in 1957.

Edward 'Eddie' MacDonald is a Canadian retired ice hockey goaltender who was a two-time All-American for Clarkson was in net for every game of their undefeated season in 1955–56.

References

  1. ↑ "60 years ago, Tigers were hockey's best". The Gazette. March 17, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  2. ↑ "NCAA Division I Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  3. ↑ "1949-1950 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  4. ↑ "1949-1950 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.