Rhode Island’s Hidden Hockey Legacy

While hockey now appeals to a nationwide audience, few know of the outsized part Rhode Island played in the early growth of the sport. Attraction increased because of the diverse pool interested in a fast-paced game, played outdoors at a time with few recreational opportunities. It also didn’t hurt that locally, those promoting it were just as diverse.

A pioneer of the sport, Rhode Island-born Malcolm G. Chace, said to be “the father of hockey in the United States,” brought the Canadian pastime to New England as a Brown University student in the 1890s. This led to seven metro high schools organizing into the RI Interscholastic League soon after, and from there the sport’s local presence expanded.

Traits needed to play the game a century ago are the same today: time, commitment, and determination – something parents, coaches, and competitors all agree upon. Vin Cimini, longtime coach at La Salle Academy and six-time state champ who manages the RI Hockey Hall of Fame, explains, “Once there were 30 high school teams playing hockey.” Today, with changing demographics and expenses, programs are merging to play as co-op teams.

For many high school players, their options after graduation are either heading to prep school or fighting for spots in junior leagues. Smithfield parent William Hawkins shares that his son Bill graduated this year, but with no recruiters calling, he chose the Eastern Hockey League option and now plays for the Seahawks Hockey Club in Dennis, MA. Hawkins explains that college coaches are looking for men and not 18-year-old kids, “guys who can grind in the corners.”

Almost 100 years ago, the Rhode Island Auditorium opened, and the Providence Reds, Senior Amateur, and Industrial Hockey League games played to nearly filled arenas, as municipalities built smaller but equally popular venues. Brown built Meehan Auditorium in the 1960s, The Providence Civic Center replaced the auditorium in 1972, and the following year Providence College opened Schneider Arena, expanding the fan base and the ability for players to get more ice time and increase their skills.

For decades, Rhode Island has churned out professionals and Olympians. Curt Bennett of Cranston was the first, drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 1968. Since then, Brian Lawton of Cumberland was also drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL), as well as Cranston’s David Emma, who played in the Olympics.

Former Brown women’s coach and hockey analyst Digit Murphy points out that, “Sometime in the ‘80s, the model changed.” There was a “scarcity of resources…not enough rinks or time.” Kids who had grown up using the local field to play various sports in every season were now focused on a single sport that requires a specific maintained facility. 

But hockey parents don’t seem to regret the commitment, recounting team trips to Canada and the Midwest, putting hundreds of thousands of miles on multiple cars over the years. Sarah Crowell’s son started playing high school this year and says, “If we’re not going to work, we’re heading to a rink.”

Says another parent, Erin Woodside, “The pride of seeing them succeed from learn-to-skate programs to becoming a collegiate-level player is worth every 5am practice, so-cold-you-can-see-your-breath ice rink, and tournament weekend. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing.” And Patrick Little of WPRI-TV, also a hockey dad, sums it up with, “You can’t put a dollar value on the car rides and moments; it’s been the most rewarding time, and worth every penny.”

Learn more about the state’s underrated hockey history with a visit to the RI Hockey Hall of Fame’s “Wall of Fame” kiosk at the Amica Mutual Pavillion in Providence, and read up online about local legends like David Emma, Chris Terreri, Sara DeCosta-Hayes, the Friar NCAA champs of 2015, and more online at RIHHOF.com.