Dick Bertrand

Dick Bertrand
Sport(s) Ice hockey
Biographical details
Born 1941 (1941)
Connaught, ONT, Canada
Alma mater Cornell
Playing career
1967–1970 Cornell
Position(s) Wing
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1970–1982 Cornell
1982–1986 Ferris State
Head coaching record
Overall 286-177-18 (.613)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1970 NCAA National Champion (player)
1971–72 ECAC Regular Season Champion
1972–73 ECAC Regular Season Champion
1973 ECAC Tournament Champion
1980 ECAC Tournament Champion

Dick Bertrand (born 1941) is a retired college ice hockey player and coach. Bertrand both played and coached at Cornell from 1966 through 1982 before leaving to take over at Ferris State. He remained with the Bulldog until leaving the team part way through the 1985–86 season, ending his ice hockey career.

Career

Bertrand began his college career as a player for Cornell in 1966, however was unable to suit up for the Rig Red squad that would win the National Championship that season due to the NCAA's regulations forbidding freshmen from participating.[1] Bertrand officially hit the ice the following campaign and was part of a powerhouse Cornell squad that would only lose 4 games over the next three seasons. Despite the massive success the Big Red were unable to capture a national championship in either of the succeeding two tournaments, finishing 3rd and 2nd respectively. Following the departure of future NHL superstar Ken Dryden the 1969–70 Team accomplished something no other college ice hockey team has ever matched; the Big Red squad won the 1970 title as an undefeated team with a 29-0 record.

After the team's second national title in 4 years[2] head coach Ned Harkness left to take charge of the Detroit Red Wings. For his replacement Cornell turned to Dick Bertrand and, since he had yet to graduate when he was named to the position, Bertrand became the first undergraduate to be a head coach in NCAA history (though he was 29 at the time).[3] In his first three seasons as coach Cornell won at least 22 games every year and made the NCAA tournament twice, finishing second in 1972 and fourth the following season. For the remainder of the decade the Big Red would remain one of the nation's top teams, compiling a winning percentage of no less than .638 in any season, but the team failed to make any further tournament appearances until a surprise berth in 1980. Bertrand remained with the team until 1982 when he resigned after his only losing season in Ithaca[4] to take the top job at Ferris State.

Bertrand arrived in Big Rapids with the Bulldogs on the cusp of making waves in the CCHA. After two consecutive 20-win seasons, the previous year saw the team drop to 15 victories. The first two year under Bertrand saw more of the same with a 16- and 18-win campaigns but the third year was a disaster as the Bulldogs finished with a 11-26-1 mark and dead-last in the conference. While the fourth season brought a moderate amount of success Bertrand resigned after an 11-10-1 start, turning the team over to Peter Esdale and ending his collegiate career.

College Head Coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Cornell Big Red (ECAC Hockey) (1970–71–1981–82)
1970–71 Cornell 22-5-0 17-3-0 3rd ECAC Third Place Game (Loss)
1971–72 Cornell 23-6-0 17-3-0 1st NCAA Runner-Up
1972–73 Cornell 23-5-1 14-3-1 11st NCAA Third Place Game (Loss)
1973–74 Cornell 19-7-1 13-6-1 4th ECAC Third Place Game (Win)
1974–75 Cornell 17-9-2 15-6-1 4th ECAC Third Place Game (Loss)
1975–76 Cornell 18-10-1 13-9-1 5th ECAC Third Place Game (Win)
1976–77 Cornell 20-8-1 16-6-1 3rd ECAC Third Place Game (Win)
1977–78 Cornell 20-6-1 16-5-1 2nd ECAC Quarterfinals
1978–79 Cornell 21-8-0 16-6-0 3rd ECAC Third Place Game (Win)
1979–80 Cornell 16-15-0 11-11-0 t-7th NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1980–81 Cornell 19-11-1 12-9-1 t-6th NCAA Quarterfinals
1981–82 Cornell 12-13-1 10-11-1 t-10th
Cornell: 230-103-9 170-78-8
Ferris State Bulldogs (CCHA) (1982–83–1985–86)
1982–83 Ferris State 16-18-4 12-16-4 t-7th CCHA Quarterfinals
1983–84 Ferris State 18-20-3 13-15-2 t-6th CCHA Quarterfinals
1984–85 Ferris State 11-26-1 8-23-1 9th
1985–86 Ferris State 11-10-1† 9-10-1†
Ferris State: 56-74-9 42-64-8
Total: 286-177-18

      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

† Resigned midseason

References

  1. "Freshman ineligibility? Conference commissioners at least considering it". CBS Sports. 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  2. "Cornell Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  3. "Dick Bertrand - 2007 General". Cornell Big Red. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  4. "Dick Bertrand Year-by-Year Coaching Record". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2016-05-28.

External links

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