Wayne Gowing is a Canadian former ice hockey player and coach. He won a national championship with Boston University before embarking on a long tenure as the head coach for Wilfrid Laurier, before resigning in 1997. Gowing was added to the Wilfrid Laurier hall of fame in 2021.

Wayne Gowing
Biographical details
Born1947 (1947)
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Alma materBoston University
Playing career
1968–1971Boston University
Position(s)Wing
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1973–1997Wilfrid Laurier
Head coaching record
Overall309–169–50 (.633)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1977 OUAA West Division Champion
1978 OUAA West Division Champion
1983 OUAA Tournament Champion
1986 OUAA Champion
1989 OUAA Tournament Champion
1990 OUAA Central Division Champion
1990 OUAA Tournament Champion
Awards
1983 OUAA Coach of the Year
1994 OUAA Coach of the Year
1994 CIS Coach of the Year

Career

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After playing junior hockey in his home town of Kitchener, Gowing began attending Boston University in the fall of 1967. Because NCAA rules prevented freshmen from playing at the time, Gowing spent his first year with the Terriers on their freshman team. He debuted on the varsity squad a year later steadily increased his scoring output each year. As a senior, Gowing nearly doubled his career point total and helped BU win the first national championship in program history.[1] His final point as a player was the primary assist on Bob Gryp's goal to give the Terriers a 2–0 lead.

After graduating, Gowing returned to Canada and began coaching. He was named as the head coach for Wilfrid Laurier in 1973, taking over in the program's third season. After an unremarkable first three seasons with the Golden hawks, Gowing began to make an impact on the program in year four. The Hawks won their first division title as well as their first playoff game in 1977. The following year, the team reached the conference championship game for the first time, ultimately losing to Toronto.[2]

The team regressed after the championship appearance, missing the postseason in three consecutive seasons, but made a stunning comeback in 1983. While setting a new program record for wins, the Golden Hawks charged all the way to the finals and this time defeated Toronto to win their first conference title. Over the succeeding five seasons, Gowing kept Wilfrid Laurier as one of the top teams in the conference. The Hawks hit the 20-win mark for the first time in 1986, losing in the championship round that season.

By the late 80's, the team's records were beginning to decline but Laurier remained in the playoff picture. Despite finishing 4th in their division, the 1989 Hawks went on a long playoff run that saw the team win not only its conference championship but march all the way to the national championship. After losing the final, the team returned the following year with a renewed purpose. Wilfrid Laurier won both its division and conference tournament and made it back to the national championship game. Unfortunately, the result was the same and the Hawks had to settle for being runners-up.

Laurier continued to perform well in the early 90's but was unable to get another title. Gowing had the team in prime position in 1994, reaching 20 wins for the second time, however, the Golden Hawks were upset in the Divisional Final by Western in triple overtime. Despite the finish, Gowing was named as the national coach of the year.[2]

1995 saw the team take a sharp downturn and finish with terrible records for two seasons. After 24 years behind the bench, Gowing decided to call it a career and resigned as coach in 1997. After his departure, the team honored Gowing's contributions by renaming the team's MVP award the 'Wayne Gowing Award'. Gowing was inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame in 2021.[3]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1966–67 Kitchener Rangers OHA 48 14 14 28 9
1967–68 Boston University ECAC Hockey DNP - Freshman
1968–69 Boston University ECAC Hockey 29 5 11 16 8
1969–70 Boston University ECAC Hockey 26 10 18 28 6
1970–71 Boston University ECAC Hockey 31 16 24 40 6
NCAA Totals 86 31 53 84 20

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (OUAA) (1973–1997)
1973–74 Wilfrid Laurier 8–9–1 4th (west) Provincial Quarterfinal
1974–75 Wilfrid Laurier 11–5–1 3rd (west) Provincial Quarterfinal
1975–76 Wilfrid Laurier 4–10–2 4th (west)
1976–77 Wilfrid Laurier 13–6–1 1st (west) Provincial Semifinal
1977–78 Wilfrid Laurier 17–2–1 1st (west) Provincial Runner-Up
1978–79 Wilfrid Laurier 9–5–2 2nd (west) Provincial Quarterfinal
1979–80 Wilfrid Laurier 5–14–3 9th
1980–81 Wilfrid Laurier 12–8–2 7th
1981–82 Wilfrid Laurier 12–7–3 5th
1982–83 Wilfrid Laurier 19–4–1 3rd National Tournament
1983–84 Wilfrid Laurier 15–3–6 2nd Provincial Semifinal
1984–85 Wilfrid Laurier 18–2–4 2nd Provincial Quarterfinal
1985–86 Wilfrid Laurier 20–3–1 1st National Tournament
1986–87 Wilfrid Laurier 14–6–4 5th Provincial Semifinal
1987–88 Wilfrid Laurier 13–9–4 4th (central) Provincial Quarterfinal
1988–89 Wilfrid Laurier 13–10–3 4th (central) National Runner-Up
1989–90 Wilfrid Laurier 19–3–0 1st (central) National Runner-Up
1990–91 Wilfrid Laurier 13–8–1 3rd (west) Divisional Semifinal
1991–92 Wilfrid Laurier 13–7–2 4th (west) National Tournament
1992–93 Wilfrid Laurier 16–5–1 2nd (west) Divisional Semifinal
1993–94 Wilfrid Laurier 20–3–1 2nd (far west) Divisional Final
1994–95 Wilfrid Laurier 14–8–2 2nd (far west) Divisional Semifinal
1995–96 Wilfrid Laurier 5–20–1 4th (far west)
1996–97 Wilfrid Laurier 6–17–3 4th (far west)
Wilfrid Laurier: 309–169–50
Total: 309–169–50

      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

[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Year-By-Year Results" (PDF). Boston University Terriers. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "2006-2007 Laurier Men's Hockey Media Guide". Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "Golden Hawk Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees". Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
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