Throwback Thursday (Oct 10)
This week's Throwback Thursday features the 1994-95 men's hockey team.
This week's Throwback Thursday features the 1994-95 men's hockey team! Check out their season recap below.
Despite entering the 1994-95 Atlantic university Hockey Conference season missing 8 key players from last season, the hockey Tigers were determined to carry on a strong winning tradition which had seen them enjoy 5 consecutive 20+ win seasons. A solid core of returning players and an outstanding group of new Tigers gave coaches Darrell Young, Kim Houston and Trevor Steinburg reason for optimism as they prepared for another competitive A.U.H.C. season.
The Tigers would start the 1994-95 season on a high note as they defeated Saint Mary’s 8-1 and the University of Prince Edward Island 10-2 in their first 2 games. They would finish October with an overall record of 6-2-1 highlighted by a two-game sweep of the highly rated Merrimack Warriors, an N.C.A.A. Division 1 power.
November would become Keifer House month at Dalhousie as he began a hot streak that would become known as the Comeback of the Year in Atlantic Hockey Conference. House would score at least one goal in every game Dalhousie played in November as the Tigers rolled to 8 consecutive victories. November was highlighted by a 5-0 shutout of the C.I.A.U. champion Moncton Blue Eagles and an 8-3 victory over Moncton in the championship game of the National Capital Tournament in Ottawa. Dalhousie would lose only their second game of the year in December and finished the first half of the A.U.H.C. season with a 10-2-1 record and the nations #1 ranking. Stephen Maltby, Keifer House, Dany Bousquet, Steve Pottie, and Randolph MacLean was tops in the league.
In January the Tigers hung tough despite several key injuries; most notably was the realization that last season’s Rookie of the Year, Mike Polano, would be lost for the season due to a back injury. Playing with differing personnel on a regular basis, the hockey Tigers were 6-3 during the month of January and remained amongst the nation’s top ranked teams.
As is always the case in February, the intensity hit a maximum as the Tigers turned up for the playoffs with wins over St. F.X. and U.C.C.B. in the two final regular season games. Once again this season the Tigers met crosstown rival Saint Mary’s in the Kelly Division semi-finals. The Tigers would not disappoint as they smoked Saint Mary’s in two straight games to advance to the Kelly Division final. Playing against three time defending champion Acadia, the Tigers rocked Dalhousie Memorial Arena defeating Acadia 6-3 in the first game. Despite a valiant effort, the Tigers’ season would end with two close losses at Acadia.
1994-95 was a notable season for the young Tigers who returned over 20 players next season. They had their 6th consecutive 20+ win season and were consistently rates as one of the top teams in Canada. Individually the highlight came on November 5th when Kevin Meisner became the All Time top scoring defenceman in the history of Dalhousie Hockey. He finished his memorable career with 143 points. As well, Keifer House capped an outstanding season in which he had 35 goals and 50 points by making the A.U.H.C. All Star team.