Vintage Minnesota Hockey - History

RICHARD J. DESMOND
1988 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinee

Richard Desmond attended Medford High School and graduated from Vermont Academy at Saxton River in 1945, went on to Dartmouth College when Dartmouth College was a hockey power in the East.  He was instrumental in Dartmouth success in sharing the North American Hockey title with the University of Toronto in 1946-1947, a finalist in the NCAA Hockey Tournament in 1948-1949, all Ivy League in 1947, 1948 and 1949 and Captain of the 1948-1949 Dartmouth team and selected most valuable player in the NCAA finals.  In 60 games at Dartmouth, he had a 2.98 goal against average.

Desmond was active on the International scene as a member of the 1950 National team which won the silver medal in the World Hockey Tournament in London as its only goalie.  He was named most valuable player in the tournament.  Desmond was placed on temporary duty from the Air Force with the 1952 United States Olympic team, as its goalie, which won the silver medal in Oslo, losing only to Czechoslovakia and tying Canada.

LARRY ROSS
1988 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinee

Larry Ross graduated from Morgan Park High School, Duluth MN in 1940, entered the Navy and played on the Navy Team in 1942-1943 and went on to the University of Minnesota where he was selected All-American in 1950-1951 and 1951-1952.
 
Ross, as coach of the International Falls Broncos, met with great success compiling a record of 566 wins, 169 losses and 21 ties, had taken the Broncos to 13 Minnesota State Tournaments, winning six Minnesota State Championships and during the 1964, 65, and 66 seasons, the Broncos went undefeated in 58 straight games.

Ross’s players swelled the ranks at all levels of college hockey, with eight playing Olympic Hockey, twelve playing in the NHL, one player was a NHL Linesman, and many went on to coach, referee, or just continued to play. 

While coaching at Internationals Falls, he started Ice Hockey at Rainy River Community College and coached both teams at the same time.  He was a scout for the Hartford Whalers from 1980-84 and wrote a book titled “Hockey For Everyone”.

Larry was honored by his peers when in 1983, was named Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Assoc., in 1985 was awarded the National High School Special Sports award by the National High School Athletic Coaches Assoc. and in 1988 was the recipient of the John Mariucci College Award for his contribution to College Hockey by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

After his retirement in 1985, Larry remained active in hockey, serving on the coaching staffs of various hockey schools in Minnesota.

Larry Ross’s 32 years as coach can be best summed up by the words of a fellow classmate, Bob Johnson, Exec. Dir. of AHAUS at the time, when he stated, “He made a 100% commitment to his job and the sport of hockey.”