…outstanding performances and leadership ability inspired the Axemen to Maritime Intercollegiate championships in English rugby and hockey.
Robert “Gint” MacKenzie was a star in several competitive sports, but is best remembered as a rugby and hockey Axeman of the late forties-an era in which Acadia won several tri-province titles.
As a member of the ’46 English rugby squad, “Gint” had many memorable moments. For example, in an 11-0 victory over the Halifax Navy he shared scoring heroics with Dave Patillo and Neil MacVicar. With a 19-3 victory over the Halifax Wanderers, MacKenzie and associates won the City League title. In competition against the legendary Caledonia team that won the McCurdy Cup with monotonous regularity, he and team members dropped a close 9-5 decision as Fess Anderson, Jim O’ Dell and Sid Adshade again starred for the famed Cape Breton squad.
Following a City League championship victory in ’48, “Gint” was captain of the ’49-’50 team that won all of the silverware. He shared the accolades with teammates Ralph Turner, “Foo” MacPherson, John MacAskill and others as the Axemen defeated St. F.X. by scores of 7-5 and 9-2. With a 3-2 victory over Mt. Allison on November 12, 1949 in Truro, the Axemen won the tri-province intercollegiate crown. Lome White scored the lone try as the Axemen defeated Glace Bay’s No. II Legionnaires to win the coveted McCurdy Cup.
On the ice lanes, “Gint” was even more effective, being a key performer on Maritime championships of ’47-48 and ’48-’49. During the ’47-’48 campaign, he shared scoring heroics with “Moe” Smith and “Rocky” MacFarlane in victories over Kentville, Wolfville and Windsor of the Valley League. In a playoff contest against the Wolfville Falcons, “Gint,” who was high on Major Kelly’s all-time hockey list, celebrated his election as King of the Campus during Co-Ed week by scoring four goals. The Axemen, on an overtime goal by Neil MacVicar defeated St. F.X. to win the Provincial Intercollegiate crown. In 14-8 and 10-5 victories over St. Dunstan’s for the Maritime title, the Glace Bay flash scored freely -including a hat trick in the final game. Offensively, for the season, he ranked third behind Bryson Crowell and “Moe” Smith…
During the ’48-’49 season, the Glace Bay unit of MacKenzie, MacVicar and Jimmy Morrison was very effective as the Axemen defeated Kentville and Windsor to win the Valley League crown. In further senior “B” action, “Gint” and company dropped a narrow 13-12 total-goal series to a strong Amherst Ramblers club. In intercollegiate playoff action, Doug Roach and “Gint” scored winning goals in Nova Scotia and Maritime triumphs over St. F.X. and U.N.B. respectively.
His senior year will best be remembered for the evening of February 27, 1950 when his sharp passes to teammate and long time friend, Conrad “Connie” MacNeil enabled the latter to make hockey history by scoring three goals in six seconds against the Kentville Wildcats’ Al Tomari.
In ’50-’51, during his Education year at Acadia, he, “Rocky” MacFarlane and “Scorchy” MacVicar formed an outstanding line for the
