Through the splendid history of Boston University hockey, a number of players have earned recognition for their individual abilities. Others are remembered for making those around them better. A select few achieve both.
Richard "Dick" Kelley, however, belongs in that last category. He played three seasons with the Terriers, and started every varsity game (64) he suited up for. Because of incomplete records, Kelley's career totals of 55 goals and 90 assists are just an estimate. Win and loss records, however, tell just as impressive a tale for Kelley. The Terriers were 50-13-1 during his time with the club.
Kelley's relentless forechecking, great playmaking and overall unselfish style was perhaps most appreciated by the pair of All-Americans he played alongside. Jack Garrity and Dick Rodenhiser, two Hall of Famers, benefited greatly from the desire and determination provided by Kelley and to this day attribute much of their success to him.
Nonetheless, Kelley posted some impressive numbers for himself. Unofficially, he recorded 17 goals and 42 assists in 1949-50 and helped the Terriers place second at the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance in the national event.
A year later he collected 18 goals and 25 assists, again leading the Terriers into the NCAAs. As a senior in 1951-52, he served as team captain and led the club in scoring with 43 points (20g, 23a).
Kelley stayed close to the sport he loved for years after graduation. He was an NCAA ice hockey official for 30 years and the head hockey coach at Rindge Tech for 20 seasons. He has been inducted into the Massachusetts Ice Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame.
