Hockey Legend Jack Riley '44 Passes Away at 95

HANOVER, N.H. – Hockey legend and former Dartmouth captain John “Jack” Riley Jr. passed away Wednesday at the age of 95.

A member of the Class of 1944, Riley's career in Hanover took a four-year hiatus as he served as a naval aviator in the Pacific Theatre. Upon his return to Dartmouth, Riley picked up where he left off, captaining the team in 1946-47 to a 16-2-2 record and a share of the North American title with the University of Toronto.

“It was an honor for me to know Jack,” head coach Bob Gaudet '81 said. “Being here at Dartmouth gave me an opportunity to interact with Coach Riley frequently. To be around a legendary player and coach, and a man who was behind the first 'miracle on ice' team in 1960, was truly inspiring.

“To have a chance to connect with him was something that was really special to me,” Gaudet added. “I can't state enough how proud we are as a program to be able to claim Jack Riley as one of our alums.”

Following his time at Dartmouth, Riley would go on to be a player-coach for the US National Team at the 1949 World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. Riley was also a member of the 1948 Olympic team as a player in Saint Moritz, Switzerland, scoring 15 goals and registering 18 points.

Riley is perhaps best known for his coaching at Army and with the US Olympic Team in 1960. He served as the head coach at West Point from 1951 to 1986, amassing 542 career victories and twice being named the NCAA Coach of the Year. He had just six losing campaigns in 36 years behind the Army bench, retiring as second-winningest college hockey head coach in NCAA history.

In 1960, Riley coached the US Olympic Team to its first-ever gold medal in Squaw Valley, California, as the Americans defeated Canada, Russia, Czechoslovakia and Sweden en route to the historic finish.

“One of my fondest memories at Dartmouth was Jack's introduction on the ice at a packed Thompson Arena during the Eddie Jeremiah Celebration a few years back,” Gaudet remarked. “He stood out amongst a crowd of so many Dartmouth hockey legends on the ice that night, receiving the biggest ovation from a crowd that clearly understood his impact on the game.”

Riley was a two-time recipient of the Lester Patrick Award in 1986 and 2002. The award is presented annually for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. He was inducted in the the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 and the International Ice Hockey Feederation (IIHF) Hall of Fame in 1998.

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