McGill Redbirds ice hockey

Last updated
McGill Redbirds ice hockey
Mcgill athletics logo.png
University McGill University
Conference OUA
OUA East Division
Head coach David Urquhart
Since 2021–22 season
Assistant coachesPatrick Delisle-Houde
Peter Smith
Arena Place Bell
Laval, Quebec
ColorsRed, White, and Black
     
U Sports tournament champions
2012
U Sports tournament appearances
2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2024
Conference tournament champions
2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018

The McGill Redbirds ice hockey team is an ice hockey team representing the McGill Redbirds and Martlets athletics program of McGill University. The team is a member of the Ontario University Athletics conference and compete in U Sports. The Redbirds play their home games at the McConnell Arena in Montreal, Quebec. [1]

Contents

History

In 1873, James Creighton, along with several students from McGill, reportedly attempted to play a version of lacrosse on the Victoria Skating Rink. Shortly thereafter, Creighton drew up the first set of rules for "ice hockey". While its unknown if this story is true, what is known is that two years later, Creighton led two contingents of McGill students onto the Victoria Rink for the first indoor ice hockey game in history. [2] The Montreal Gazette was on hand to report on the inaugural match with took place between two 9-man teams. Initially there was some fear for the safety of spectators as previous similar games had shown a tendency for a ball to fly about in a dangerous manner. However, fears were allayed when Creighton announced that a flat, wooden disk would be used instead. The matches were well received by the audience and within a few short years, McGill formed its first official team. [3]

Ice hockey at McGill in 1884 Ice hockey McGill University - 1884.jpg
Ice hockey at McGill in 1884

In what is believed to be another ice hockey first for McGill, the 1881 team posed for a team photograph and is the earliest existing image of a squad. Two years later the for ice hockey tournament was played at the Montreal Winter Carnival. McGill won the world's first ice hockey championship and received the Winter Carnival Cup, which is on display at the McCord Stewart Museum in Montreal. [4] McGill would continue to participate in the tournament until the Carnival's discontinuation in 1889. [5]

1886 saw the first official ice hockey league formed when five teams from Montreal (including McGill) joined to start the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA). By the mid-1890s, ice hockey was beginning to spread south of the border and a barnstorming troupe of American college students from various universities took a trip through Canada the first international ice hockey game took place on February 23, 1894 and saw McGill defeat the American squad 14–1.

McGill team of 1904 McGill Hockey Team, Montreal, QC, 1904.jpg
McGill team of 1904

Just after the start of the 20th century, McGill partnered with Queen's and Toronto to create the first collegiate conference in Canada. From then until the mid 1950's, McGill would play both college- and senior-level ice hockey, winning several championships along the way. In 1954, however, most Canadian schools switched entirely to college matches and McGill became an inaugural member of the Quebec-Ontario Athletic Association (QOAA). The team continued on with the conference until 1971 when the leagues were realigned along provincial borders and McGill joined the newly-created Quebec Universities Athletic Association. The league remained in place for the better part of two decades but, by the end of the 1980s, league membership had fallen to just four schools. In 1987, McGill, along with the other surviving programs, joined the Ontario Universities Athletics Association and have been an associate member ever since.

The upheaval during those years did not help McGill and the one lofty program had fallen on hard times. However, by the mid-90s, McGill began to recover its former strength and started posting good records. Postseason success eluded the Redmen until the 21st century and the team won its first conference championship in 2008. Several more titles followed and McGill was eventually able to capture a national championship in 2012. [6]

Moniker

Beginning in 1927, the McGill athletic teams were known as the 'Redmen'. While this was initially intended as a reference to the hair color of the school's founder, James McGill, the allusions to native peoples were unavoidable. [7] Unofficially, the team was referred to as the 'Indians' during the 1950s and 60s while native iconography was included on jerseys up until it was forcibly removed in 1992. [8] Despite the change in imagery, the name remained until a referendum by the student body overwhelmingly supported a change in the nickname. [9] The athletic department went without an official moniker for its men's teams from April 2019 to November 2020 when 'Redbirds' was announced as the program's new name. [10]

Season-by-season results

Senior and collegiate play

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points

Extra-League Champion U Sports SemifinalistConference regular season championsConference Division ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTPts*FinishGPWLT%
Senior and Collegiate Hockey
1902–03 CIAU 421151st?????
1903–04CIAU413023rd?????
1904–05CIAU431061st?????
1905–06CIAU422042nd?????
1906–07CIAU422042nd?????
1907–08CIAU615024th?????
1908–09CIAU624043rd?????
Harry Trihey (1909–1910)
1909–10CIAU64208T–1st?????Won Semifinal, forfeit (Toronto)
Lost Championship, 8–2 (Queen's)
Art Ross (1910–1911)
1910–11CIAU413023rd?????
Laurie Roberts (1911–1914)
1911–12CIAU440081st?????Won Championship series , 25–5 (Ottawa)
1912–13CIAU422042nd?????
1913–14CIAU413023rd?????
no coach(1914–1916)
1914–15CIAU41302T–2nd?????
MCHL 1027155th
1915–16MCHL1017245th?????
F. L. Poulin (1916–1917)
1916–17MCHL10631132nd?????
Vincent P. Heney (1917–1918)
1917–18MCHL1071216T–1st?????Won Championship, 14–1 (Loyola)Lost Art Ross Cup Challenge, 3–7 (Montreal Hochelaga)
Harry Hyland (1918–1919)
1918–19MCHL10531112nd?????
Frank Shaughnessy (1919–1927)
1919–20CIAU43106T–1st?????Lost Championship series, 4–5 (Toronto)
MCHL752010T–1stLost Semifinal, 4–5 (Montreal AAA)
1920–21CIAU422042nd?????Won Quebec Senior League Semifinal, 6–4 (La Tuque)
Won Quebec Senior League Championship, 4–2 (Quebec Royal Rifles)
MCHL743084thWon Semifinal, 7–5 (Montreal Shamrocks)
Won Championship, 6–3 (Montreal Le National)
Lost Allan Cup East Final, 0–11 (Toronto)
1921–22CIAU422042nd?????
1922–23CIAU624043rd?????
1923–24CIAU623153rd?????
MCHL7520102nd
1924–25CIAU615024th?????
1925–26CIAU615024th?????
1926–27CIAU651010T–1st?????
SG 10280104th
Wallace Whitehead (1927–1928)
1927–28CIAU422042nd?????
MSG945083rd
Vincent P. Heney (1928–1930)
1928–29CIAU00000?????Lost Championship series, 3–9 (Toronto)
MSG834174th
Walter Smaill (1929–1930)
1929–30CIAU00000?????Won Championship series , 3–2 (Toronto)
MSG1037065th
Bobby Bell (1930–1937)
1930–31CIAU00000?????Won Championship series , 6–4 (Toronto)Won Senior Final series, 4–3 (Montreal St Francois Xavier)
MSG1262416T–1stWon Semifinal series, 10–3 (Montreal Columbus Club)
Won Championship series, 17–6 (Montreal AAA)
Lost Allan Cup East Semifinal series, 4–5 (Truro Bearcats)
1931–32CIAU00000?????Lost Championship series, 3–4 (Toronto)
MSG12813191stLost Championship series, 3–4 (Montreal AAA)
1932–33CIAU430171st?????
MSG1274115T–1stTied First Place playoff, 0–0 (Montreal Canadiens)
Lost Championship series, 2–3 (Montreal Royals)
1933–34CIAU00000?????Won Championship series , 9–4 (Toronto)Won Senior Final series, 11–1 (Quebec Aces)
MSG121002331stWon Semifinal series, 7–5 (Verdun Maple Leafs)
Won Championship series, 2–1 (Montreal Canadiens)
Lost Allan Cup East Semifinal series, 2–6 (Moncton Hawks)
1934–35CIAU440081st?????
MSG12741302ndLost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Ottawa Senators)
1935–36CIAU00000?????Won Championship series , 15–3 (Toronto)
MSG14851313rdLost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Verdun Maple Leafs)
1936–37CIAU6600121st?????
IIL 101000201st
MSG16122238T–1stLost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Quebec Aces)
Hugh Farquharson (1937–1942)
1937–38CIAU6510101st?????
IIL10910181st
QSHL12471187th
1938–39CIAU6510101st?????
IIL10910181st
QSHL12462205th
1939–40CIAU422042nd?????
IIL8620122nd
1940–41Independent?????
1941–42Independent?????
Bobby Bell (1942–1943)
1942–43Independent?????
Lorne White (1943–1944)
1943–44Independent?????
Bobby Bell (1944–1945)
1944–45Independent?????
Dave Campbell (1945–1951)
1945–46CIAU651010T–1st?????Won Championship , 4–1 (Toronto)
1946–47CIAU962113T–1st?????Lost Championship, 0–4 (Toronto)
1947–48CIAU12930182nd?????
1948–49CIAU12660123rd?????
1949–50CIAU1239063rd?????
1950–51CIAU623153rd?????
Rocky Robillard (1951–1958)
1951–52CIAU12110134th?????
1952–53CIAU12453113rd?????
1953–54CIAU/QOAA ¿1239064th?????
TotalsGPWLT %Championships
Regular Season ? ? ? ? ?13 CIAU Championships, 3 IIL Championships, 1 MCHL Championship, 5 MSG Championships
Conference Post-season ? ? ? ? ?8 CIAU Championships, 1 MCHL Championship, 3 MSG Championships
Regular Season and Postseason Record ? ? ? ? ?1 Quebec Senior League Championship, 2 Quebec Senior Championships

† The International Intercollegiate League (IIL) was a joint venture between Canadian and American colleges.
¿ Sometime between 1953 and 1955 the CIAU changed their name to QOAA (Quebec-Ontario Athletic Association).

Collegiate only

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points

U Sports Champion U Sports SemifinalistConference regular season championsConference Division ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTOTLSOLPts*FinishGPWLT%
Rocky Robillard (1951–1958)
1954–55 QOAA 12660122nd12660.500
1955–56QOAA124808T–3rd12480.333
1956–57QOAA12750142nd12750.583
1957–58QOAA1248084th12480.333
Ken Murray (1958–1961)
1958–59QOAA12011114th120111.042
1959–60QOAA1439284th14392.286
1960–61QOAA12210044th122100.167
Kelly Burnett (1961–1964)
1961–62QOAA11650123rd11650.545
1962–63QOAA12561114th12561.458
1963–64QOAA1244413T–4th12444.500
Dave Copp (1964–1968)
1964–65QOAA1631217T–7th163121.219
1965–66QOAA16411198th164111.281
1966–67QOAA16411198th164111.281
1967–68QOAA16214049th162140.125
Brian Gilmour (1968–1971)
1968–69QOAA15591118th15591.367
1969–70QOAA1557313T–8th15573.433
1970–71QOAA1558212T–7th15582.400
Dave Dies (1971–1972)
1971–72 QUAA 21120028th211200.048
Herb Madill (1972–1979)
1972–73QUAA247152166th247152.333
1973–74QUAA186102145th186102.389
1974–75QUAA207112164th217122.381Lost Semifinal, 1–9 (Loyola)
1975–76QUAA20314395th203143.225
1976–77QUAA20313410T–5th203134.250
1977–78QUAA16952203rd18972.556Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1978–79QUAA20992204th229112.455Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Concordia)
Ken Tyler (1979–1988)
1979–80QUAA24321067th243210.125
1980–81QUAA245154145th245154.292
1981–82QUAA249150185th249150.375
1982–83QUAA301119022T–5th3011190.367
1983–84QUAA24910523T–2nd2810135.446Lost Semifinal series, 1–3 (Ottawa)
1984–85QUAA198101174th218121.405Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Chicoutimi)
1985–86QUAA209101193rd2310121.457Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Ottawa)
1986–87QUAA184122.2783rd256172.280Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Ottawa)
Lost Championship series, 0–4 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1987–88OUAA25138430T–6th3116114.581Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Concordia)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Al Grazys (1988–1990) / Jean Pronovost (1988–1994)
1988–89OUAA261943413rd302163.750Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1989–90OUAA221282266th2412102.542Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1990–91OUAA22127329T–6th251393.580Won First Round, 5–4 (York)
Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1991–92OUAA22155232T–3rd251672.680Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Toronto)
1992–93OUAA221183258th2512103.540Won First Round, 3–2 (Concordia)
Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Ottawa)
1993–94OUAA241310115T–7th2413101.563
Jamie Kompon / Martin Raymond (1994–1995)
1994–95OUAA2413101277th2815121.554Won Division Semifinal, 3–1 (Concordia)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Terry Bangen (1995–1996)
1995–96OUAA26159232T–5th2715102.615Lost Division Semifinal, 3–5 (Ottawa)
Martin Raymond (1996–2009)
1996–97OUAA261410230T–6th3016122.567Won Division Semifinal, 7–2 (Ottawa)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1997–98OUA261210428T–6th2913124.517Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Concordia)
1998–99OUA261394166th261394.577
1999–00OUA26215042T–2nd312470.774Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2000–01OUA2410113239th2610133.442Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Concordia)
2001–02OUA241392287th2613112.538Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2002–03OUA241662346th261682.654Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Ottawa)
2003–04OUA249942249th249114.458
2004–05OUA241761035T–1st292081.707Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2005–06OUA2420130431st322543.828Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Ottawa)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Queen's Cup Final series, 1–2 (Lakehead)
Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 4–3 (Wilfrid Laurier), 1–5 (Alberta)
2006–07OUA2815751366th3317115.591Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Concordia)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Toronto)
2007–08OUA281890139T–4th3726101.716Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Carleton)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Queen's)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Queen's Cup, 4–1 (Brock)
Lost Pool 2 Round-Robin, 1–7 (Alberta), 3–0 (Moncton)
2008–09OUA281881138T–6th3725111.689Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Toronto)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Queen's Cup, 4–1 (Western Ontario)
Lost Pool B Round-Robin, 1–4 (Saint Mary's), 4–3 (Western Ontario)
Jim Webster (2009–2010)
2009–10OUA2822600442nd382990.763Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Nipissing)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Carleton)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Queen's Cup, 3–1 (Lakehead)
Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 4–5 (OT) (Manitoba), 2–4 (Saint Mary's)
Kelly Nobes (2010–2019)
2010–11OUA2824202501st393342.872Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Nipissing)
Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Queen's Cup, 6–2 (Western Ontario)
Won Pool A Round-Robin, 2–1 (St. Francis Xavier), 6–3 (Alberta)
Lost Championship, 0–4 (New Brunswick)
2011–12OUA2822420461st383170.816Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Queen's)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Queen's Cup, 4–1 (Western Ontario)
Won Pool A Round-Robin, 6–3 (Moncton), 3–4 (Saskatchewan)
Won Championship, 4–3 (OT) (Western Ontario)
2012–13OUA281770438T–2nd311894.645Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Nipissing)
2013–14OUA282151144T–2nd382891.750Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Carleton)
Lost Queen's Cup, 2–3 (Windsor)
Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 3–2 (Carleton), 2–3 (2OT) (Alberta)
2014–15OUA2621500422nd342590.735Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Concordia)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Queen's)
Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Bronze Medal Game, 1–2 (OT) (Windsor)
2015–16OUA2821610432nd322390.719Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Carleton)
2016–17OUA2821421452nd362691.736Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Laurentian)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Queen's)
Won Bronze Medal Game, 6–3 (Windsor)
Lost Quarterfinal, 1–4 (St. Francis Xavier)
2017–18OUA2822411461st382981.776Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Laurentian)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Ottawa)
Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Concordia)
Won Queen's Cup, 5–1 (Brock)
Lost Quarterfinal, 1–4 (Saskatchewan)
2018–19OUA2817731385th3320121.621Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Carleton)
Liam Heelis (2019–2021)
2019–20OUA28161020347th3117140.548Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Concordia)
2020–21Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
David Urquhart (2021–Present)
2021–22OUA1761100.35317th218130.381Won Division Quarterfinal, 3–2 (OT) (Queen's)
Won Division Semifinal, 3–1 (Nipissing)
Lost Division Final, 0–1 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Bronze Medal Game, 1–2 (Ryerson)
2022–23OUA2614831327th3016131.550Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Concordia)
2023–24OUA2821511441st372791.743Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Bronze Medal Game, 5–2 (Brock)
Won Quarterfinal, 3–2 (British Columbia)
Lost Semifinal, 4–5 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Bronze Medal Game, 5–2 (Toronto Metropolitan)
TotalsGPWLT/SOL %Championships
Regular Season1494756626112.5442 Far East Division Titles, 6 East Division Titles, 6 OUA Championships
Conference Post-season179100790.5595 OUA Championships
U Sports Postseason2110110.47610 National tournament appearances
Regular Season and Postseason Record1694866716112.5441 National Championship

Note: Totals include results from 1954–55 onward.

See also

McGill Martlets ice hockey

References

  1. "McConnell Arena". McGill University. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  2. "THIS WEEK IN HISTORY (Mar. 3, 1875): World's first organized hockey game was played in Montreal". McGill Athletics. March 3, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  3. "McGill's contribution to the origins of ice hockey". McGill Athletics. March 17, 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  4. Kitchen, Paul (2008). Win, Tie or Wrangle. Manotick, Ontario: Penumbra Press. ISBN   978-1-897323-46-5.
  5. Dufresne, Sylvie. "Le Carnaval d’hiver de Montreal, 1803-1889," Revue d’Histoire Urbaine 11, 3 (February 1983),26.
  6. http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mice/2011-12/releases/20120325-final Redmen capture first University Cup
  7. "'The Redmen': The History Of McGill's Nickname — And The Fight For Its Removal". WBUR. 8 February 2019.
  8. Provost's Task Force on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education (PDF) (Report). McGill University. 2017.
  9. Stevenson, Verity (13 November 2018). "McGill students vote to change Redmen sports teams' name". CBC News.
  10. Labeau, Fabrice (17 Nov 2020). "Naming of the McGill men's varsity teams".