John Kelley (ice hockey)

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John "Snooks" Kelley
Sport(s) Ice Hockey
Biographical details
Born (1907-07-11)July 11, 1907
Cambridge, MA, USA
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Boston, MA, USA
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1933-1942 Boston College
1946-1972 Boston College
Head coaching record
Overall 501-244-15
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1949 NCAA National championship
8 Beanpot Titles
8 New England Championships
ECAC playoff title
Awards
Lester Patrick Trophy, 1972
Spencer Penrose Award, 1959, 1972
Records
First to coach to reach 500 wins

John "Snooks" Kelley (July 11, 1907 – April 10, 1986) is a former American ice hockey coach. Kelley was coach of the Boston College Eagles ice hockey team for 36 years. Kelley won the 1949 NCAA ice hockey title and was the first coach to win 500 games in the NCAA. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974

Career

Kelley arrived at Boston College in 1925 after attending Boston College High School. He was a two sport athlete for the Eagles, playing both baseball and ice hockey.[1] Kelley finished his collegiate playing career following his graduation in 1930. Kelley’s graduation came just after hockey was removed from as a varsity sport due to the Great Depression.[2]

On January 8, 1933 Kelley agreed to coach a group of BC students while he was completing his teaching at Cambridge Latin. The position offered no pay, and forced him to give up playing with the Boston Hockey Club,[2] but it was the beginning of a career that would last until 1972.[3] Kelley’s coaching career was put on hold with the outbreak of World War II. In 1942 Kelley joined the United States Navy and remained enlisted until 1946, before returning to coaching.[1]

Just three years after serving with the Navy Kelley lead his Boston College team over Dartmouth and win the NCAA National Championship.[2] It would be the first championship won by an Eastern school.[2] The 1949 National Championship was the only one of his career, however he would lead the Eagles back to the title game in 1965. Boston College lost the championship game to Michigan Tech 8-2.[1]

On December 26, 1952 Boston’s famous Beanpot Tournament was established. Kelley enjoyed great success in the tournament winning 5 of the first 10. Some have pointed to his success in the Beanpot leading to Kelley gaining his stature as the face of BC hockey.[3] Kelley coached BC to eight Beanpot titles in thirteen years, including three in a row from 1963-65. [4]

In addition to the National Championship and his Beanpot wins Kelley also racked up an impressive amount of accolades including: eight New England Championships, nine appearances in the ECAC Division I playoffs, one ECAC playoff title and nine NCAA Tournament appearances.[2] Kelley won the Spencer Penrose Award as College Hockey's Coach of the Year in 1959 and 1972.[5] His success at BC earned him the nickname "Dean of American College Hockey Coaches".[1]

In a February 23, 1972 game against rival Boston University Kelley eared his 500th win making him the first NCAA Division-I men's hockey coach to reach that mark. For his career Kelley posted a record of 501-243-15 in his 36 year career.[1] He had spent most of the first 47 years of his adult life on the Heights as either a player or coach.

In 1970 Kelley was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame.[6] Two years later, in 1972, Kelley received the Lester Patrick Trophy[4] for his contribution to hockey in the United States, not only for his accomplishments on the ice but also because he steadfastly refused to recruit players from Canada. Kelley felt recruiting Canadians would deprive Americans of a chance to develop their hockey potential.[2] In 1974 Kelley be inducted in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.[4]

On April 10, 1986 following a long bout with an illness John ”Snooks” Kelley died, he was 78 years old.[7]

College Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Boston College Eagles (Division I Independent) (1932-33–1941-42)
1932-33 Boston College 3-2-1
1933-34 Boston College 2-6-1
1934-35 Boston College 7-3-0
1935-36 Boston College 7-4-1
1936-37 Boston College 8-4-1
1937-38 Boston College 9-6-0
1938-39 Boston College 9-7-0
1939-40 Boston College 12-5-1
1940-41 Boston College 13-1-0
1941-42 Boston College 12-2-0
Boston College: 82-40-5
Boston College Eagles (Division I Independent) (1946-47–1960-61)
1946-47 Boston College 15-3-1
1947-48 Boston College 14-5-0 NCAA Semifinal
1948-49 Boston College 21-1-0 NCAA National Champion
1949-50 Boston College 14-5-0 NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1950-51 Boston College 12-8-0
1951-52 Boston College 17-3-0
1952-53 Boston College 11-4-1
1953-54 Boston College 17-4-0 NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1954-55 Boston College 13-8-0
1955-56 Boston College 14-7-0 NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1956-57 Boston College 14-7-1
1957-58 Boston College 9-12-2
1958-59 Boston College 20-8-0 NCAA Consolation Game (Win)
1959-60 Boston College 15-8-1
1960-61 Boston College 19-5-1
Boston College: 225-88-7
Boston College Eagles (ECAC Hockey) (1961-62–1971-72)
1961-62 Boston College 15-12-1 13-11-0 12th ECAC Quarterfinals
1962-63 Boston College 22-9-0 19-5-0 3rd NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1963-64 Boston College 18-9-1 16-7-1 5th ECAC Quarterfinals
1964-65 Boston College 24-7-0 15-5-0 2nd NCAA Runner-Up
1965-66 Boston College 16-12-0 12-10-0 6th ECAC Quarterfinals
1966-67 Boston College 20-8-0 14-6-0 3rd ECAC Third Place Game (Win)
1967-68 Boston College 19-11-1 14-8-1 7th NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1968-69 Boston College 19-7-0 16-5-0 2nd ECAC Quarterfinals
1969-70 Boston College 16-10-0 14-7-0 6th ECAC Quarterfinals
1970-71 Boston College 11-15-0 9-12-0 10th
1971-72 Boston College 14-16-0 10-11-0 10th
Boston College: 194-116-3 152-87-2
Total: 501-244-15

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Source:[8]

References

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External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Spencer Penrose Award
1958–59
1971–72
Succeeded by
Jack Riley
Len Ceglarski