Billie Dawe

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Billie Dawe
Born (1924-06-08)June 8, 1924
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
Died May 20, 2013(2013-05-20) (aged 88)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Position Left wing
Played for Edmonton Mercurys
National team  Canada
Playing career 1949–1952
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1952 Oslo Ice hockey
World Championship
Gold medal – first place
1950 London
 Ice hockey

Billie Dawe (June 8, 1924 – May 20, 2013) was a Canadian amateur ice hockey player. He was a member of the 1950 World Champion team, the Edmonton Mercurys (the Mercs), and captained that team to a gold medal at the 1952 Winter Olympics.

Early life

Dawe was born in Cochrane, Alberta, but lived most of his life in Edmonton. His mother, Hilda, was a British war bride of his father, Bill, who met her while he was serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The hockey-playing Dawe would meet his own wife, Lee, in Manitoba, Canada, while training to be a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force at RCAF Station Gimli during World War II.

Career

In 1949, Dawe joined the

1950 World Ice Hockey Championships in London, England
.

Two years later, Dawe was team captain when the Mercs won the gold medal at the 1952 Winter Olympics/1952 World Championship in Oslo, Norway.[3][4] Dawe tied for second in team scoring, with 6 goals and 6 assists during 8 games, as the Mercurys outscored their opponents 71-14 en route to the gold medal.[5][6][7]

Dawe retired from hockey following the 1952 Olympics, going to work at the Edmonton Waterloo Mercury car dealership, sponsor of the Edmonton Mercurys hockey team, for a number of decades. Dawe became parts manager at the dealership and a partner in the firm, along with four other Mercurys teammate, including eventual principal owner Al Purvis.[8][1] He continued to be involved in sports, serving as president of the Canadian Athletic Club, coaching Little League baseball, and participating in curling.[1]

Canada did not win the ice hockey Olympic gold medal again for 50 years following the win by the Mercurys. Dawe and a number of the surviving Mercury players were invited to Salt Lake City in 2002 to watch – then help Team Canada celebrate – their next gold medal win.[9]

Dawe, as part of the 1952 Olympic/World Champion Edmonton Mercurys, was inducted to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1968.[10] The 1952 Mercurys, including Dawe, was inducted to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2002 - the same year that Team Canada finally broke its 50-year gold medal drought.[11] Dawe, as part of the 1950 World Champion version of the Mercs, was inducted to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.[12]

Dawe died in Edmonton on May 20, 2013, at age 88.[8][1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Daum, Evan (2013-06-01). "Hockey Hero Helped Canada Win Gold". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  2. ^ Staff writer (1950-01-12). "Two in a row for the Mercurys". Lethbridge Herald. p. 12. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  3. ISBN 978-0-405-12635-2
    . Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  4. ^ "3-3 tie gives Mercurys Olympic Hockey Crown". Edmonton Journal. 1952-02-25. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  5. ^ "Billy Dawe Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "Canada Ice Hockey at the 1952 Oslo winter Games". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  7. ^ Dwyer, Bill (2002-02-15). "Canadian Goose Egg - It Has Been 50 Years Since Edmonton Mercurys Won Country's Last Gold". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  8. ^ a b Costello, Brian (2013-12-02). "Remembering the golden Edmonton Mercurys of 1952". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  9. ^ Rush, Curtis (2014-02-24). "Olympic repeat first in 62 years: Edmonton-based team was last to defend Canadian gold". Toronto Star. p. S-4. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  10. ^ "Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys 1952". Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  11. ^ "Members of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame - Sport: Ice Hockey". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  12. ^ "Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys 1950". Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.

External links

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