The Dalhousie Tigers - Dalhousie University

It was an exhilarating year for hockey at Dalhousie in 1978-79. With headlines that read, “Tigers Maul Axemen on Ice,” “Tigers Knock X out of Playoff Picture” and “Tigers Trounce Huskies,” everyone knew it was going to be a great season.

Thirty years ago, this fall, the men’s hockey team came together to eventually win, for the first time in 52 years, the Halifax Herald Ltd. Trophy as Atlantic University Hockey Conference (AUHC) champions. 

From there, they went on to successfully win two of three games played, placing second and winning silver, at the Interuniversity Athletic Union Championships (IAUC).  This was an historical first and only nationally televised hockey game featuring a Dalhousie hockey team.

The varsity hockey team took to the ice September 30, 1978 at Scotia Stadium. Coach Pierre Pagé was elated with the calibre of players. They practiced at Scotia stadium initially but made the Halifax Forum their permanent practice arena.  At the time they didn’t even have a rink to call their own as the Dalhousie rink had burned to the ground in the spring of that year.

The season started with team members skating hard in a rigorous training program. Coach Pagé had the players working on specific programs over the summer and it seemed to have paid off.

The fall season was shaping up to be a good one. The Tigers had their most impressive start in years with double victories over Saint Mary’s and 15-3 and 10-0 routs of Concordia and Trois Riviéres respectively.

By November Coach Pagé had a sense of the calibre of his team and was already hinting at the idea that the winner of the league would definitely have a good chance at the college title.

By the time the last game of the AUAA regular season was being played the team was in top form.  The Tigers faced off against the X-men in what was a “tooth and claw affair” and was being billed as the game of the season. 

AUHC Championship - Halifax

Finally, the time had arrived, and there was no lack of excitement over the show down between the Dalhousie Tigers and the Saint Mary’s Huskies. The first game between the two rivals was scheduled for Wednesday, March 7. It was a nail biter for over 3500 fans, with the Huskies winning the opener 3-2 in overtime.  It was time for the Tigers to regroup and they came back that Saturday, with a growing fan base of 5000, to rebound and win 6-3.By the time Sunday’s game arrived the excitement had reached immeasurable heights. With over 6000 students screaming, “we’re number one”, the Tigers brought the championship home with a 6-4 victory, solidified in a 10-minute overtime period.

This was the first time in 52 years a Dalhousie hockey team had won the AUHC and the Halifax Herald Ltd. Trophy.  According to reporter Chuck Percy, “The three-game series was one of the most exciting and potentially heart stopping sporting event I have ever witnessed. It was just too close for words.”

Although the names Bob Dugan, Earl Jessiman, Paul MacLean and Earl Theriault were often mentioned throughout the season, it is generally noted that this team worked hard as team, played hard as a team and won as a team. The team had chemistry that went far beyond individual talent.

CIAU Championship - Montreal

After securing the title as the best team in Atlantic Canada, the Tigers travelled to Montreal to set out to compete in the national championship. The Tigers squad was pleased with the draw for the single knockout tournament. Winning their first two games would guarantee them a spot in the championship game, televised live on national television.

The national tournament opened on March 15, 1979 with Dalhousie facing the Guelph University Gryphons. The game was reported as a seesaw affair and by the third period, the score stood tied at 5-5 and overtime loomed. But, with just thirty four seconds left in the game, Earl Theriault poked the puck past Guelph’s goaltender to break the tie and take the Dalhousie Tigers over their first hurdle with the win.

The Tigers were slated to meet the Chicoutimi Les Uniks that Saturday night.  The Tigers came to win and Dal erupted on the ice, winning this game 7-3.

There were 150 Dalhousie fans bused to Montreal to cheer on the Tigers and according to Coach Pagé, “they never let us down”. For fans that night at the Pointe Claire Arena, the win was certainly something to celebrate.  Dalhousie secured a spot in the national final against the University of Alberta Golden Bears, solid team who had easily claimed the western conference title.

The final game was televised on the national CBC network and although the game ended with a 5-1 Alberta win, those who were there and watching from home were proud to have seen the Tigers come this far.  It was Bob Dugan who scored Dal’s goal two and half minutes into the second period and Dalhousie fans, “impressed the other teams by being the loudest and most long-winded in the rink, ”  according to reports.

Two interesting and noteworthy hockey careers evolved after this season ended. Paul MacLean went on to play forward in the NHL and had a career their spanning 11 years.  He is currently assistant coach with the 2008 Stanley Cup champions, Detroit Red Wings. He is also the first former Tiger to earn a spot on a Stanley Cup.

Pierre Pagé moved on to coach in the NHL, coached the Minnesota North Stars, Quebec Nordiques, Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. He is currently head coach of the EC Red Bull’s Salzburg.

For their incredible talent, for their many firsts and for their phenomenal team spirit, we are inducting the 1978-79 men’s hockey team into the Dalhousie Sport Hall of Fame.