Hanover — Each time Bob Gaudet leaves home, he sees a piece of Eddie Jeremiah’s legacy.
Mounted on the foyer wall of the Dartmouth College men’s hockey coach’s Etna home is an old window once embedded in the southeast corner of Davis Varsity House’s foundation. Jeremiah’s office was located there when he guided the Big Green from 1937-67, with a pair of short breaks. Gaudet, who’s been on the job since 1997, likes to imagine that “Coach Jerry” once opened the frosted pane on warm days for a gust of fresh air.
“He’s an icon, and I don’t see myself in that category,” Gaudet said last week. “I never got to meet him in person, but I’ve met him through so many other people.”
Although he would never deign to note it this way, Friday’s 3-2 defeat of No. 16 Cornell pushed Gaudet past Jeremiah for career victories at their alma mater. Gaudet now has 309 and said he has no plans to step aside anytime soon.
“I have some good years left in me,” he said with a smile. “I’m trying to stay nimble, and it’s important that you take stock after each season and not be doing things you did 10 years ago just because they worked then.”
Gaudet, who was Dartmouth’s goaltender from 1977-81, said his grandfather knew Jeremiah through U.S. Navy connections and gave him a copy of the older coach’s seminal book on the sport, titled simply Ice Hockey. Gaudet recalls being at a 2012 Dartmouth celebration of Jeremiah, who died in 1968, and hearing a crystal-clear radio interview played over the banquet hall’s speakers.
“His voice came up, and you could just see his former players who were there remembering their coach,” Gaudet said, shaking his head and clearly touched at the memory. “Eddie was an icon, and I’m thrilled to be mentioned in the same breath, because I couldn’t tie his skates. Everybody who speaks of him thinks the world of him.”
The truth is that Gaudet is just as beloved around campus and by his players, whom he exhorts to play for each other.
“Representing something that’s bigger than yourself, I feel really strongly about that,” Gaudet said. “Putting on the Dartmouth uniform is such an honor for me, and I know it is for these guys, too. This is a pretty special program.”
Senior forward Carl Hesler said that sentiment reverberates with himself and his teammates. Captain Kevan Kilistoff awarded their mentor the game puck during a raucous postgame celebration in the locker room after Friday’s win.
“We all love playing for Coach G because of his passion,” Hesler said. “He truly bleeds green and cares about each and every one of us. Every talk and pregame speech he gives, he’s so genuine and selflessly wants us to succeed. I can’t say enough good things about him, and I’m so happy for him.”
Dartmouth held a 2-1 lead after two periods before falling into a 2-2 tie six minutes into the final stanza. Cam Strong, in his third game of the season after overcoming a leg injury, struck for the winner with nine minutes remaining.
The play began with Strong charging up the left wing and past the visitors’ bench while three Cornell players waffled about whether to get on or off the ice. Using a linesman as something of a pick at the blue line, Strong took advantage of a backskating defenseman’s tumble and swatted a backhand shot through the legs of goaltender Austin McGrath.
Dartmouth netminder Adrian Clark made a season-high 38 saves, 20 of them during the third period. The hosts held Cornell scoreless in three power-play chances.
“The guys were great and congratulatory after the game, but it has as much to do with all the players and staff over the years and these guys tonight,” said Gaudet, clearly relieved to have the milestone out of the way. “They’re out there blocking shots and doing everything they can against a very good team.
“At some point, it will sink in. Maybe when I’m fishing somewhere next summer.”
Notes: McGrath made his first career start with the injury absence of sophomore All-American Matthew Galajda. … Dartmouth’s penalty kill remains the worst in NCAA Division I, but it’s killed off the opposition’s last 12 chances. … Former Dartmouth defenseman River Rymsha is using his final season of collegiate eligibility at Miami (Ohio) University, where he’s posted three goals and three assists in 15 games. He had three goals and five assists in 63 Big Green contests. … Gaudet’s oldest son, Joe, is studying for his Ph.D. in history at the University of Michigan. His younger brother, Jim, is an assistant coach with the junior-level Boston Bandits of the United States Premier Hockey League. Their sister, Kelly, is working in marketing in New York City. All three siblings attended Dartmouth. … Cornell’s band made the trip as usual, blaring out the Doobie Brothers’ China Grove and Guns ‘N Roses’ Paradise City among other tunes. … The Big Red’s roster includes freshman defenseman Andong “Misha” Song, the first Chinese player drafted by the NHL. He was selected in 2015’s sixth round by the New York Islanders with the 172nd selection overall. ... Hesler’s father, Neil, played as a junior varsity hockey goaltender at Dartmouth during the mid-1980s.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com or 603-727-3227.