…an all-star hockey netminder whose sterling performances made the Axemen serious Conference contenders. Robert A. “Bob” Ring, a 1970 graduate of Acadia, is often ranked as one of the Axemen’s all-time great hockey netminders.
A native of Wakefield, Mass., he made his initial appearance on campus during the fall of ’66, following three seasons of excellent play with the Niagara Falls Flyers of the strong junior Ontario Hockey Association. He was a member of the Memorial Cup Niagara Falls squad of 1964-65 and an O.H.A. Junior “A” all-star in ’65-’66 when the Springfield Indians, Hershey Bears and N.H.L.’s Boston Bruins used him briefly under junior tryout regulations. He decided, however, not to turn professional and opted instead to come to Acadia to study economics.
During his rookie season with the Axemen, Bob performed sensationally, being named the Conference’s all-star netminder and the Axemen’s Most Valuable Player. Backed up by Kings County native Brian Murray and assisted by such defensive and offensive talent as Leo Reise, Roger Creasor, John Reid, Peter Sheppard and Peter Neve, he sparked the Axemen to several memorable victories and many near-misses in the win column. For example, in 4-2 and 9-3 triumphs over St.Thomas and Dalhousie respectively, Bob displayed the form that had made him a standout against the O.H.A.’s gifted marksmen.
In his sophomore year with the Axemen, Bob repeated as the Conference’s top goaltender, being backed up by Valley natives Don Pamenter and Terry Laurence. Coached by Don Wells, the Acadia club enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in years, posting thirteen wins and a tie in its twenty-two games. Appearing in some twenty-one games that winter, Bob posted a creditable 4.00 goals-against average. Highlighting the season were 6-5, 10-1 and 11-4 victories over U.N.B., University of Moncton and Dalhousie respectively; contests in which team captain and the Axemen’s M.V.P. John Reid, Peter Martin, Roger Creasor, Bart MacDonald, Ralph Middleton and others shared centre stage with the acrobatic custodian. Finishing third in the league’s schedule that season, the Axemen dropped 7-2 and 6-3 playoff decisions to St. Mary’s and U.N.B. respectively.
The Don Wells-directed Axemen, with Bob Ring in top netminding form, just missed a trip to the Nationals during the ’68-’69 season, being ultimately edged out by a powerful St. Mary’s Huskies squad.
During his senior year, Bob unfortunately received a serious injury on ice that sent him to the sidelines for the season. The Axemen, already plagued by lost ice time of luminaries Ken Brown and Bart MacDonald, concluded the season with a creditable eleven wins and eleven losses -with Don Pamenter recording two late-season shutouts.
Following graduation, this former All-American High School netminder who appeared in a ’65 N.H.L. game for the Bruins against the New York Rangers, spent three seasons with Eastern Olympics and a couple of seasons during the late eighties as assistant coach with the University of Vermont.
It is certainly a pleasure to welcome back for induction to Acadia’s Sports Hall of Fame, Robert “Bob” Ring, a Conference all-star netminder whose calibre of play set a standard for future Axemen goaltenders to emulate.
