Vern Turner

Vernon Turner (1895–1960) was an American ice hockey coach and player who was the first person to lead the program at the University of Denver.

Vern Turner
Biographical details
Born(1895-06-09)June 9, 1895
Stayner, Ontario, Canada
DiedMay 28, 1960(1960-05-28) (aged 64)
Playing career
1924–1925Cleveland Hockey Club
1925–1933Duluth Hornets
1933–1934Oklahoma City Warriors
Position(s)Goaltender
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1949–1951Denver
Head coaching record
Overall15-24-1 (.388)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1927 AHA Championship

Career

Hailing from Stayner, Ontario, Vern Turner got his start as a goaltender with a team in Cleveland, Ohio before moving on to the Duluth Hornets. After only one year of existence the Central Hockey League (1925-1926) shifted from being a senior amateur league[1] to a professional league. Turner was the starting goalie for Duluth in the newly created American Hockey Association, leading the team to a regular season and playoff championship in the first year.[2] The league was hardly stable, however, and despite good showing on the ice even the Hornets weren't saved from the troubles, transferring to Wichita halfway through the 1932–33 season.[3] That year proved to be Turner's last with the team and he hung up his skates for good after one final season with the Oklahoma City Warriors.

Though his playing career was over Turner remained close to the game, becoming the rink manager for the Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs before he was asked to head the new program at Denver in 1949.[4] While the Pioneers only won 4 games their first season of play, Turner was able to lead them to an 11-11-1 mark in their sophomore campaign before turning the team over to former Michigan standout Neil Celley.[5]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Denver Pioneers (Division I Independent) (1949-50–1950-51)
1949-50 Denver 4-13-0
1950-51 Denver 11-11-1
Denver: 15-24-1
Total:15-24-1

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[6]

References

  1. "Central Hockey League [1925–1926] history and statistics". Hockey DB. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  2. "1926-27 American Hockey Association Standings". Hockey DB. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  3. "Duluth Hornets/Wichita Blue Jays Statistics and History". Hockey DB. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  4. "The History of DU Hockey". Lets Go DU. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  5. "Denver Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  6. "2015-16 DU Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). Denver Pioneers. Retrieved 2016-06-03.


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