The Saint Thomas University hockey team enjoyed a “season for the ages” in 1961.
With an even (3W-3L) regular season record, they were able to squeak by UNB (also 3W-3L) by a one goal margin in head-to-head goals for and against, (6-5) to advance to the NB-PEI final against the season-long undefeated Mt. A. Mounties. After tying 2-2 in the first of a two-game total goal series, the Tommies downed the Mounties 2-1 in Sackville on an early goal by John Lordon and a third period marker by Larry Wood.
The Maritime final against St. F. X. saw a lot more scoring. The Tommies overpowered the X-men , 6-1 at the LBA in Chatham. Although the X-men prevailed in game two, 9-7, in Antigonish, the Tommies copped the Maritime crown with an aggregate score of 13-10.
It was a David and Goliath scenario for the Tommies throughout, with STU’s population a little over 200 versus Mt. A (1500), UNB (3000) and St. F.X (2000+).
About half of the Tommies team were native Miramichiers , giving them a local flavour and resulting in a large fan base throughout the area. It was not unusual to have crowds of over a thousand at games. When the new Maritime champs returned from Antigonish, they were greeted by more than 500 cheering fans at the Newcastle train station, more than double the student population.
Team members included: Tom Buggie, Keith Raymond, Terry Gulliver(deceased), Bryan Jones, Ed Hospodar, Jean Claude Richard (deceased), Mike McKee, Gary Allen, Don Ross, Dave Butler(deceased), Rev. E. Casey(deceased), Aurelle Legere, Paul Daigle, John Lordon, Vance Toner(deceased), Bernie Keating, Larry Wood, Joe Richard, Ron Hachey(deceased), Ray Beliveau(deceased), and Joe Wilson.