RI HOCKEY LEGACY

​Roger Williams College

Roger Williams Junior College began their hockey program in 1966-67 playing an informal schedule under Coach John Davis. The following season (now Roger Williams College) joined the New England Junior Hockey League played at the Boston Arena and finished in third place in both the regular season (8-2-1) and playoffs. Bob Reall took over as head coach in 1968-69 leading the team to a 15-4 record. The next season they joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) facing other New England teams. Paul Driscoll (La Salle) led the Netops in scoring in 1969-70. Fred Soares took over coaching duties in 1972-73 after Reall left for Bryant College. Coach Soares resigned after one season leading the way for Ray Maker to lead the Hawks for the next three seasons. Maker was helped by the fine performance of winger Bob Pendergast (Pilgrim) on the ice.
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​Former Hope goaltender, Dick Reniere, succeeded Maker in 1976-77 finishing with a 5-11-1 record. Former Brown defensemen, Alan Soares, took over for Reniere in 1979-80 through 1985-86. Soares helped improve the team immediately as the Hawks (18-2-1) won the 1981-82 NAIA New England College Hockey Conference Championship by beating Gordon College on an overtime goal by Dave Curtin (La Salle). They returned to the finals the next season losing a heartbreaker to Hawthorne College 5-4.  They got revenge when they won their second NAIA NECHC title in 1983-84 beating Hawthorne College 4-0. In the National NAIA Championships that season at Wisconsin-Eau Claire they lost 10-5 to the host team Wisconsin-Eau Claire and were upended 5-1 to Wisconsin-Superior 4-3 ending a memorable year. They moved to NCAA Division III in the ECAC in 1984-85.
​Former pro player Ed Lee (MSC) replaced Allan Soares in 1986-87 for one season making the ECAC playoffs with an 8-7-1 record. John Bessette (Burrillville) was a record-breaking scorer. In 1992 the school was officially named Roger Williams University. Don Armstrong (La Salle) would handle the team from 1987-88 until the 1996-97 season. The Hawks would make the ECAC playoffs in 1987-88, 1989-90 and 1990-91. In the 1995-96 season forward David Curtis (MSC) led all of Division III hockey in goals per game (29 goals in 21 games). Sadly, the RWU Athletic Department announced they would be ending the hockey program before the 1997-98 season began due to financial reasons. Kevin Matson took over the coaching duties in the final season finishing 2-14-0 in ECAC play.
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    • All-State >
      • All-State Teams
      • All-State Photos
    • Journal Honor Roll
    • Divisions
  • Schoolboy Stories I
    • Opening Night
    • Schoolboy Polo to Hockey
    • Battle of School Leagues
    • Flying Frenchmen
    • Flying Green Thunderbolt
    • Packed House
    • All Stars at the Garden
    • Big Night for Cougar
    • One, Two, Three Punch
    • Mighty Blue Wave
    • Maroon Between the Pipes
    • Premèire Femelle
    • Arlington Here We Come
  • Schoolboy Stories II
    • New England OT Thrillers
    • Doubleheader at the Park
    • Bay State Battle
    • California Dreamin'
    • Bienvenue a R.I. Montréal
    • Third Time's A Charm
    • The Kids Called Her Coach
    • Dueling Opinions
    • And The Winner Is ...
    • Eight Ways to Sunday
    • Not One But Two!
  • Sr Amateur Teams
    • Providence Hockey Club
    • Richard J. Dennis Post
    • Canadian Club of Rhode Island
    • East Side Hockey Club
    • Providence Club
    • Flying Frenchmen of Woonsocket
    • Rhode Island Marquettes
    • Club Marquette of Woonsocket
    • Sandager Club
    • Dunnes of Cranston
    • P & Q of Woonsocket
    • Providence Chicks
    • Eastern Olympics
    • Cranston Hockey Club
  • Se Amateur Leagues
    • Industrial Hockey League
    • Blackstone Valley Amateur Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League
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    • Inter-City Amateur Hockey League
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    • Goodbye Detroit Hello Prague
    • Fisticuffs in Stockholm
    • The Diamond to the Blueline
    • Little Rhody on the Reds
    • First Dominicans on Ice
    • Brown Finally Plays Harvard
    • Amateurs at the Auditorium
    • Can You Spare a Goalie?
    • In The Army Now
    • Mademoiselles Play Too
  • Did You Know? II
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    • USA versus RI
    • Down East Hockey
    • Olympic Tune-up
    • Title Quest
    • Anthony's Skating Rink
    • Scout's Honor
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    • Kid to the Rescue
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