From the fall of 1968 to the spring of 1971, Richard “Rick” Eaton earned the reputation as one of the best all-round basketball performers ever to wear the Acadia colors. For three brilliant basketball seasons this New Jersey native -blessed with a magical scoring touch and excellent rebounding skills -led the Axemen in their quest of another National title.
During the ’68-69 hoop season, Eaton and Steve Pound, new faces on the Gib Chapman and Jim Logue-directed Axemen, combined with future Hall of Famer Brian Heaney to inspire the team to many high scoring victories. For example, in an early- season 114-51 win over Mt.Allison, Eaton, with sixteen points, shared offensive heroics with Heaney and Pound.
In the University of Waterloo’s tip-off tournament that season, Rick Eaton was again one of the offensive stalwarts as the Axemen defeated Loyola 85-82 in the championship contest and Eaton, Pound and Heaney were members of the All-Star team.
In a subsequent Loyola Basketball Tournament, this same dynamic trio were the offensive standouts in a 94- 77 victory’ over the host squad. In that season’s annual Bluenose Classic, the Axemen lost to New Haven in the final contest, 86-77, as Eaton garnered 19 points in a losing effort. In playoff action Eaton again was one of the scoring stars as the Axemen defeated Saint Mal)”s University, 96-64, in the Conference’s championship game.
At the Nationals held in Windsor, Ontario, Eaton and teammates were defeated 79-76 by the host squad despite the 39 point performance by Heaney.
During the 1969-70 season Rick Eaton joined MVP and leading scorer Steve Pound on the all-star team as Acadia defeated St.F.X. in the Axemen’s annual tip-off tournament.
In subsequent University of Waterloo tournament play, Eaton was again named to an all-star position as the Chapman- directed squad registered a 79-59 win over Guelph in the championship contest. In the annual Bluenose Classic competition, the Axemen defeated Waterloo and MIT by respective scores of 89-61 and 82-63 as Eaton shared the accolades with Gary Folker, Paul Talbot, Peter Phipps, Terry Condon, Nar Zanolin and Steve Pound.
Rick Eaton’ s final campaign as a basketball Axeman was indeed a memorable one as he posted outstanding individual marks as the Chapman and Logue-coached Acadia team posted a 12-0 record in Atlantic Intercollegiate Basketball Conference play. For the entire 30-game season, which included tournament and exhibition contests, the Axemen lost only twice, being defeated by Hofstra and Simon Fraser.
In his final season as an Axe~ co-captain Eaton led the team in scoring with 586 points and a 21.2 points per game average. He also led the squad in rebounding. At the Nationals held that year in Wolfville, the Axemen earned a birth in the finals by recording 59-42 and 84-55 victories over Loyola Warriors and the Windsor Lancers respectively.
In the championship game, the Axemen defeated the University of Manitoba Bisons, 72-48, as Eaton, with 27 points, shared the thrill of victory with teammates Gary Folker, Steve Pound, Peter Phipps, Jerome McGee, Paul Talbot, Jon Beausang, Tom Staines, Terry Condon, Freeman Schofield, Fred Moezulski and Tom Farrington, and team manager, Willis Porter.
For his outstanding contribution to the National Championship triumph in 1971 and overall season play, Eaton was named the tournament’s MVP and became a unanimous choice for selection to the All-Canadian Intercollegiate Basketball Team.
What an honor it is to welcome back for induction to Acadia ‘ s Sports Hall of Fame, Rick Eaton, an All-Canadian, who led the Axemen to their second National Intercollegiate basketball title.
