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{{Short description|American ice hockey player}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image =
| image = Jack Kirrane.jpg
⚫
| position = [[Defenceman|Defense]]
| image_size =
| shoots = Left
⚫
| position = [[Defenseman|Defense]]
| height_ft = 5
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 170
| weight_lb = 170
| played_for = [[Boston Olympics]]<br />[[Worcester Warriors (Ice hockey)|Worcester Warriors]]
| played_for = [[Boston Olympics]]<br />[[Worcester Warriors (ice hockey)|Worcester Warriors]]
| ntl_team = USA
| ntl_team = USA
| birth_date = {{birth date |1928|8|20}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|8|20}}
| birth_place = [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date = {{dda|2016|9|25|1928|8|20}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|9|25|1928|8|20}}
| death_place =Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_place = Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
| career_start = 1947
| career_start = 1947
| career_end = 1960
| career_end = 1963
| medaltemplates =
⚫
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics|Ice hockey]]}}
⚫
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
⚫
{{MedalGold| [[1960 Winter Olympics|1960 Squaw Valley]] |[[Ice hockey at the 1960 Winter Olympics|Ice hockey]]}}
}}
}}
⚫
'''John Joseph Kirrane Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ᵻ|ˈ|r|eɪ|n}}; August 20, 1928 – September 25, 2016) was an American [[ice hockey]] player. Kirrane was a member of the United States [[1948 Winter Olympics]] and [[1960 Winter Olympics]] teams, winning the gold medal in 1960. He was inducted into the [[United States Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1987. Kirrane went on to serve 38 years with the [[Brookline, Massachusetts]] Fire Department and also spent 15 years as the rink manager of the [[Bright Hockey Center]] at [[Harvard University]].


⚫
==Playing career==
⚫
'''John Joseph''' "'''Jack'''" '''Kirrane, Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ɨ|ˈ|r|eɪ|n}}; August 20, 1928 – September 25, 2016) was an American former [[ice hockey]] player. Kirrane was a member of the United States [[1948 Winter Olympics]] and [[1960 Winter Olympics]] teams, winning the gold medal in 1960. He was inducted into the [[United States Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1987. Kirrane went on to serve 38 years with the [[Brookline, Massachusetts]] Fire Department and also spent 15 years as the rink manager of the [[Bright Hockey Center]] at [[Harvard University]].
⚫
Kirrane began playing hockey as a child on a neighbor's pond with his brothers. In high school, he participated in [[baseball]], [[track and field]], [[American football|football]] and [[ice hockey]].<ref name=rink>{{cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/features/x556839225/Honoring-his-checks-Olympic-hockey-gold-medalist-Jack-Kirrane-to-be-honored-with-naming-of-rink|title=Honoring his checks: Olympic hockey gold medalist Jack Kirrane to be honored with naming of rink|publisher=Wicked Local Brookline|date=2010-12-02|last=Campagna|first=Joe|accessdate=2011-03-01|archive-date=2012-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111101903/http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/features/x556839225/Honoring-his-checks-Olympic-hockey-gold-medalist-Jack-Kirrane-to-be-honored-with-naming-of-rink|url-status=dead}}</ref> In [[Ice hockey at the 1948 Winter Olympics|1948]], at 19 years of age Kirrane became the youngest member of the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|United States Olympic ice hockey team]].<ref name=rink/> When the team headed to [[St. Moritz, Switzerland]] to take part in the Olympic Games, there was a conflict over Olympic eligibility (the tournament was strictly amateur at the time) and [[Ice hockey at the 1948 Winter Olympics#Rival United States teams|two United States teams]] were sent. It was a situation that nearly caused the cancellation of the entire ice hockey tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-82.html |title= USA sends two teams to the 1948 Olympics |publisher= [[International Ice Hockey Federation]]|accessdate=2011-03-01}}</ref> Eventually a compromise was made. Kirrane's team was allowed to play, but were disqualified from medal contention.<ref>Findling & Pelle (2004), p. 317</ref> In the end the disqualification was unnecessary as the United States finished the tournament in fourth place.<ref>Müller (2005), p. 58</ref> Following the Olympics Kirrane continued to play amateur hockey for the [[Boston Olympics]] in the [[Eastern Hockey League|Eastern Amateur Hockey League]] (EAHL), a [[farm team]] of the [[National Hockey League]]'s [[Boston Bruins]].<ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=25754|title=Jack Kirrane career statistics|publisher=Hockey DB|accessdate=2011-03-01}}</ref><ref name=globe>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/yourtown/natick/articles/2010/11/28/skating_rink_named_for_olympian_kirrane/|title=Kirrane's hometown finds fitting honor|publisher=[[Boston Globe]]|date=2010-11-28|accessdate=2011-03-01|last=Pave|first=Marvin}}</ref> He lost out on a chance at an NHL career when he was drafted into the [[United States Army]] to serve in the [[Korean War]].<ref name=rink/><ref name=globe/><ref name=crimson/> When he returned home from the Army, he became a firefighter in his home town of [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]], [[Massachusetts]]. He played one more season in the EAHL this time with the [[Worcester Warriors (ice hockey)|Worcester Warriors]].<ref name=stats/><ref name=globe/> In 1957, two years after his last season in the EAHL, Kirrane again played for the US national team and led his senior team to the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States National Senior Championship.<ref name=hhof>{{cite web|url=http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=244328&DetailedNews=yes|title=Jack Kirrane United States Hockey Hall of Fame profile|publisher=USA Hockey|accessdate=2011-03-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717180829/http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=244328&DetailedNews=yes|archivedate=2011-07-17}}</ref>


⚫
Leading up to the [[1960 Winter Olympics]] Kirrane had an opportunity to play for Team USA once more. In order to play for the team he had to take an unpaid leave from the fire department.<ref name=rink/> He also needed to sell his pickup truck in order to afford a plane ticket, as at the time players who tried out for the national teams paid their own way.<ref name=rink/><ref name=globe/> The 1960 team was hastily put together and a few days before the tournament was set to begin head coach [[John P. Riley Jr.|Jack Riley]] planned to add brothers [[Bill Cleary (ice hockey)|Bill]] and [[Bob Cleary]]. Their late addition caused players to threaten a boycott. However, Kirrane opposed the idea, and stated that he was going to play even if it meant going on the ice alone, after which the talk of a boycott ended.<ref name=rink/> Twelve years after being the youngest player on his first Olympic team Kirrane, the oldest player in 1960, was named team [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]].<ref name=rink/><ref name=globe/>
⚫
== Playing career ==
⚫
Kirrane began playing hockey as a child on a neighbor's pond with his brothers. In high school he participated in [[baseball]], [[track and field]], [[American football|football]] and [[ice hockey]].<ref name=rink>{{cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/features/x556839225/Honoring-his-checks-Olympic-hockey-gold-medalist-Jack-Kirrane-to-be-honored-with-naming-of-rink|title=Honoring his checks: Olympic hockey gold medalist Jack Kirrane to be honored with naming of rink|publisher=Wicked Local Brookline|date=2010-12-02|last=Campagna|first=Joe|accessdate=2011-03-01}}</ref> In [[Ice hockey at the 1948 Winter Olympics|1948]] Kirrane became the youngest member of the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|United States Olympic ice hockey team]].<ref name=rink/> When the team headed to [[St. Moritz, Switzerland]] to take part in the Olympic Games, there was a conflict over what truly constituted an amateur athlete and [[Ice hockey at the 1948 Winter Olympics#Rival United States teams|two United States teams]] were sent. It was a situation that nearly caused the cancellation of the entire ice hockey tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-82.html |title= USA sends two teams to the 1948 Olympics |publisher= [[International Ice Hockey Federation]]|accessdate=2011-03-01}}</ref> Eventually a compromise was made. Kirrane's team was allowed to play, but were disqualified from medal contention.<ref>Findling & Pelle (2004), p. 317</ref> In the end the disqualification was unnecessary as the United States finished the tournament in fourth place.<ref>Müller (2005), p. 58</ref> Following the Olympics Kirrane continued to play amateur hockey for the [[Boston Olympics]] in the [[Eastern Hockey League|Eastern Amateur Hockey League]] (EAHL), a [[farm team]] of the [[National Hockey League]]'s [[Boston Bruins]].<ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=25754|title=Jack Kirrane career statistics|publisher=Hockey DB|accessdate=2011-03-01}}</ref><ref name=globe>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/yourtown/natick/articles/2010/11/28/skating_rink_named_for_olympian_kirrane/|title=Kirrane’s hometown finds fitting honor|publisher=''[[Boston Globe]]''|date=2010-11-28|accessdate=2011-03-01|last=Pave|first=Marvin}}</ref> He lost out on a chance at an NHL career when he was drafted into the [[United States Army]] to serve in the [[Korean War]].<ref name=rink/><ref name=globe/><ref name=crimson/> When he returned home from the Army, he became a firefighter in his home town of [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]], [[Massachusetts]]. He played one more season in the EAHL this time with the [[Worcester Warriors (Ice hockey)|Worcester Warriors]].<ref name=stats/><ref name=globe/> In 1957, two years after his last season in the EAHL, Kirrane again played for the US national team and led his senior team to the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States National Senior Championship.<ref name=hhof>{{cite web|url=http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=244328&DetailedNews=yes|title=Jack Kirrane United States Hockey Hall of Fame profile|publisher=USA Hockey|accessdate=2011-03-01}}</ref>


⚫
Team USA entered the tournament as underdogs.<ref name=globe/> They had a "terrific" start to the Olympics but in the championship round had to face [[Canada national men's ice hockey team|Canada]] and the [[Soviet Union national ice hockey team|Soviet Union]] back to back.<ref name=SI/> The Canadians had dominated the Americans registering a 15–2–2 record in [[World Ice Hockey Championships|World Championship]] and [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|Olympic]] play between 1920 and 1959.<ref name=SI>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/the_original_miracle_on_ice/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020222223048/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/the_original_miracle_on_ice/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2002|title=The Original Miracle On Ice|publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]]|accessdate=2011-03-01|date=1999-11-29|last=Swift|first=E.M.}}</ref> However, the United States upset Canada 2–1.<ref name=globe/> Team USA next played the Soviet Union. Similar to the Canadians the Soviets held a 5–0 record against the US leading up to the tournament, outscoring the Americans 21–5 in those games.<ref name=SI/> Team USA pulled off its second straight upset defeating the Soviets 3–2.<ref name=globe/> In their final game the Americans faced [[Czechoslovakian national ice hockey team|Czechoslovakia]]. A win would give the US the gold, but a loss meant that they would receive silver with the Canadians taking the gold medal. After two periods of play, Team USA trailed 4–3. They rallied with six third period goals to win the game 9–4, earning the United States its first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey.<ref name=globe/><ref name=SI/> After the medal presentation Kirrane received a congratulatory [[telegram]] from fellow Brookline native [[John F. Kennedy]], then a US Senator. When he returned home Kirrane was taken from the airport on top of a firetruck, and a banquet was held in his honor at the Brookline High gym.<ref name=globe/>
⚫
Leading up to the [[1960 Winter Olympics]] Kirrane had an opportunity to play for Team USA once more. In order to play for the team he had to take an unpaid leave from the fire department.<ref name=rink/> He also needed to sell his pickup truck in order to afford a plane ticket, as at the time players who tried out for the national teams paid their own way.<ref name=rink/><ref name=globe/> The 1960 team was hastily put together and a few days before the tournament was set to begin head coach [[John P. Riley, Jr.|Jack Riley]] planned to add brothers [[Bill Cleary (ice hockey)|Bill]] and [[Bob Cleary]]. Their late addition caused players to threaten a boycott. However, Kirrane opposed the idea, and stated that he was going to play even if it meant going on the ice alone, after which the talk of a boycott ended.<ref name=rink/> Twelve years after being the youngest player on his first Olympic team Kirrane, the oldest player in 1960, was named team [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]].<ref name=rink/><ref name=globe/>
{{MedalTop}}
⚫
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics|Ice hockey]]}}
⚫
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
⚫
{{MedalGold| [[1960 Winter Olympics|1960 Squaw Valley]] |[[Ice hockey at the 1960 Winter Olympics|Ice hockey]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}
⚫
Team USA entered the tournament as underdogs.<ref name=globe/> They had a "terrific" start to the Olympics but in the championship round had to face [[Canada national men's ice hockey team|Canada]] and the [[Soviet Union national ice hockey team|Soviet Union]] back to back.<ref name=SI/> The Canadians had dominated the Americans registering a 15–2–2 record in [[World Ice Hockey Championships|World Championship]] and [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|Olympic]] play between 1920 and 1959.<ref name=SI>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/the_original_miracle_on_ice/|title=The Original Miracle On Ice|publisher=''[[Sports Illustrated]]''|accessdate=2011-03-01|date=1999-11-29|last=Swift|first=E.M.}}</ref> However, the United States upset Canada 2–1.<ref name=globe/> Team USA next played the Soviet Union. Similar to the Canadians the Soviets held a 5–0 record against the US leading up to the tournament, outscoring the Americans 21–5 in those games.<ref name=SI/> Team USA pulled off its second straight upset defeating the Soviets 3–2.<ref name=globe/> In their final game the Americans faced [[Czechoslovakian national ice hockey team|Czechoslovakia]]. A win would give the US the gold, but a loss meant that they would receive silver with the Canadians taking the gold medal. After two periods of play, Team USA trailed 4–3. They rallied with six third period goals to win the game 9–4, earning the United States its first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey.<ref name=globe/><ref name=SI/> After the medal presentation Kirrane received a congratulatory [[telegram]] from fellow Brookline native [[John F. Kennedy]], then a US Senator. When he returned home Kirrane was taken from the airport on top of a firetruck, and a banquet was held in his honor at the Brookline High gym.<ref name=globe/>


Kirrane made one more foyer into competitive hockey playing with the US national team in 1963.<ref name=hhof/> Team USA struggled at the [[1963 World Ice Hockey Championships|World Championships]] losing all but two games, defeating West Germany 8–4 and tying East Germany 3–3. The United States three points tied them with three other nations, but due to their goal differential, Team USA officially finished last.<ref>Müller (2005), p. 70</ref> In 1987 Kirrane was inducted into the [[United States Hockey Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&ID=191918|title=U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinees|publisher=USA Hockey|accessdate=2011-03-01}}</ref>
Kirrane made one more foray into competitive hockey, playing with the US national team in 1963.<ref name=hhof/> Team USA struggled at the [[1963 World Ice Hockey Championships|World Championships]] losing all but two games, defeating West Germany 8–4 and tying East Germany 3–3. The United States three points tied them with three other nations, but due to their goal differential, Team USA officially finished last.<ref>Müller (2005), p. 70</ref> In 1987 Kirrane was inducted into the [[United States Hockey Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&ID=191918 |title=U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinees |publisher=USA Hockey |accessdate=2011-03-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223021406/http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&ID=191918 |archivedate=2010-02-23 }}</ref>


== Off the ice ==
==Off the ice==
Kirrane worked 38 years as a firefighter for the Brookline fire department, finishing his career as a Lieutenant on Ladder Co. 2.<ref name=globe/> He married a woman named Pat, and the couple had three children together.<ref name=rink/> He remained close to hockey working as the rink manager for [[Harvard University]]'s [[Bright Hockey Center]] for 15 years.<ref name=crimson>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1996/11/2/jack-kirrane-making-his-final-rounds/|title=Jack Kirrane: Making His Final Rounds|publisher=The Harvard Crimson|date= 1996-11-02|accessdate=2011-03-01|last=Springer|first=Shira A.}}</ref> In December 2010, a skating rink in Brookline was named in his honor at [[Larz Anderson Park]]. Coincidentally, the rink was constructed on land donated by his former neighbors who owned the pond where he learned to play.<ref name=rink/> He died on September 25, 2016 at the age of 88.<ref>http://brookline.wickedlocal.com/news/20160926/brookline-hockey-legend-olympic-gold-medalist-jack-kirrane-passes-away</ref>
Kirrane worked 38 years as a firefighter for the Brookline fire department, finishing his career as a Lieutenant on Ladder Co. 2.<ref name=globe/> He married a woman named Pat, and the couple had three children together.<ref name=rink/> He remained close to hockey working as the rink manager for [[Harvard University]]'s [[Bright Hockey Center]] for 15 years.<ref name=crimson>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1996/11/2/jack-kirrane-making-his-final-rounds/|title=Jack Kirrane: Making His Final Rounds|publisher=The Harvard Crimson|date= 1996-11-02|accessdate=2011-03-01|last=Springer|first=Shira A.}}</ref> In December 2010, a skating rink in Brookline was named in his honor at [[Larz Anderson Park]]. Coincidentally, the rink was constructed on land donated by his former neighbors who owned the pond where he learned to play.<ref name=rink/> He died on September 26, 2016, at the age of 88.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fisher |first=Jenna |url=http://brookline.wickedlocal.com/news/20160926/brookline-hockey-legend-olympic-gold-medalist-jack-kirrane-passes-away |title=Brookline hockey legend, Olympic gold medalist Jack Kirrane passes away |publisher=brookline.wickedlocal.com |date=September 27, 2016 |accessdate=October 5, 2016 |archive-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002062709/http://brookline.wickedlocal.com/news/20160926/brookline-hockey-legend-olympic-gold-medalist-jack-kirrane-passes-away |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Sam |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/05/sports/hockey/jack-kirrane-captain-of-us-gold-medal-hockey-team-in-1960-dies-at-86.html |title=Jack Kirrane, Captain of U.S. Gold Medal Hockey Team in 1960, Dies at 86 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 4, 2016 |accessdate=October 5, 2016}}</ref>


== References ==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist}}


=== Bibliography ===
===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of the Modern Olympic Movement|last1=Findling|first1=John E.|last2=Pelle|first2=Kimberly D.|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport CT.|year=2004|isbn=0-313-32278-3|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=QmXi_-Jujj0C&pg=PA283&dq=winter+games+at+the+1912+summer+olympics&ei=RT65Sfh0jq6QBN_PyMML#PPA283,M1}}
*{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of the Modern Olympic Movement|last1=Findling|first1=John E.|last2=Pelle|first2=Kimberly D.|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport CT.|year=2004|isbn=0-313-32278-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QmXi_-Jujj0C&q=winter+games+at+the+1912+summer+olympics&pg=PA283}}
* {{Citation|last=Müller|first=Stephan|year=2005|title=International Ice Hockey Encyclopaedia: 1904–2005|publisher=On Demand Books |isbn=3-8334-4189-5|location=Norderstedt, Germany}}
* {{Citation|last=Müller|first=Stephan|year=2005|title=International Ice Hockey Encyclopaedia: 1904–2005|publisher=On Demand Books |isbn=3-8334-4189-5|location=Norderstedt, Germany}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Eliteprospects}}
*{{icehockeystats}}
*{{hockeydb|25754}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirrane, Jack}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirrane, Jack}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:American ice hockey defensemen]]
[[Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen]]
[[Category:Boston Olympics players]]
[[Category:Boston Olympics players]]
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[[Category:Ice hockey players from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 1948 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 1960 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 1960 Winter Olympics]]
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[[Category:People from Brookline, Massachusetts]]
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[[Category:United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]
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[[Category:Ice hockey people from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1960 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1960 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in ice hockey]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in ice hockey]]
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[[Category:Sportspeople from Brookline, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
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[[Category:United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:Burials at St. Joseph Cemetery (West Roxbury, Massachusetts)]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 05:41, 23 November 2024

Jack Kirrane
Born (1928-08-20)August 20, 1928
Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died September 25, 2016(2016-09-25) (aged 88)
Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Boston Olympics
Worcester Warriors
National team  United States
Playing career 1947–1963
Medal record
Men's Ice hockey
Representing  United States
Gold medal – first place 1960 Squaw Valley Ice hockey

John Joseph Kirrane Jr. (/kɪˈreɪn/; August 20, 1928 – September 25, 2016) was an American ice hockey player. Kirrane was a member of the United States 1948 Winter Olympics and 1960 Winter Olympics teams, winning the gold medal in 1960. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. Kirrane went on to serve 38 years with the Brookline, Massachusetts Fire Department and also spent 15 years as the rink manager of the Bright Hockey Center at Harvard University.

Playing career

[edit]

Kirrane began playing hockey as a child on a neighbor's pond with his brothers. In high school, he participated in baseball, track and field, football and ice hockey.[1] In 1948, at 19 years of age Kirrane became the youngest member of the United States Olympic ice hockey team.[1] When the team headed to St. Moritz, Switzerland to take part in the Olympic Games, there was a conflict over Olympic eligibility (the tournament was strictly amateur at the time) and two United States teams were sent. It was a situation that nearly caused the cancellation of the entire ice hockey tournament.[2] Eventually a compromise was made. Kirrane's team was allowed to play, but were disqualified from medal contention.[3] In the end the disqualification was unnecessary as the United States finished the tournament in fourth place.[4] Following the Olympics Kirrane continued to play amateur hockey for the Boston Olympics in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (EAHL), a farm team of the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins.[5][6] He lost out on a chance at an NHL career when he was drafted into the United States Army to serve in the Korean War.[1][6][7] When he returned home from the Army, he became a firefighter in his home town of Brookline, Massachusetts. He played one more season in the EAHL this time with the Worcester Warriors.[5][6] In 1957, two years after his last season in the EAHL, Kirrane again played for the US national team and led his senior team to the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States National Senior Championship.[8]

Leading up to the 1960 Winter Olympics Kirrane had an opportunity to play for Team USA once more. In order to play for the team he had to take an unpaid leave from the fire department.[1] He also needed to sell his pickup truck in order to afford a plane ticket, as at the time players who tried out for the national teams paid their own way.[1][6] The 1960 team was hastily put together and a few days before the tournament was set to begin head coach Jack Riley planned to add brothers Bill and Bob Cleary. Their late addition caused players to threaten a boycott. However, Kirrane opposed the idea, and stated that he was going to play even if it meant going on the ice alone, after which the talk of a boycott ended.[1] Twelve years after being the youngest player on his first Olympic team Kirrane, the oldest player in 1960, was named team captain.[1][6]

Team USA entered the tournament as underdogs.[6] They had a "terrific" start to the Olympics but in the championship round had to face Canada and the Soviet Union back to back.[9] The Canadians had dominated the Americans registering a 15–2–2 record in World Championship and Olympic play between 1920 and 1959.[9] However, the United States upset Canada 2–1.[6] Team USA next played the Soviet Union. Similar to the Canadians the Soviets held a 5–0 record against the US leading up to the tournament, outscoring the Americans 21–5 in those games.[9] Team USA pulled off its second straight upset defeating the Soviets 3–2.[6] In their final game the Americans faced Czechoslovakia. A win would give the US the gold, but a loss meant that they would receive silver with the Canadians taking the gold medal. After two periods of play, Team USA trailed 4–3. They rallied with six third period goals to win the game 9–4, earning the United States its first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey.[6][9] After the medal presentation Kirrane received a congratulatory telegram from fellow Brookline native John F. Kennedy, then a US Senator. When he returned home Kirrane was taken from the airport on top of a firetruck, and a banquet was held in his honor at the Brookline High gym.[6]

Kirrane made one more foray into competitive hockey, playing with the US national team in 1963.[8] Team USA struggled at the World Championships losing all but two games, defeating West Germany 8–4 and tying East Germany 3–3. The United States three points tied them with three other nations, but due to their goal differential, Team USA officially finished last.[10] In 1987 Kirrane was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.[11]

Off the ice

[edit]

Kirrane worked 38 years as a firefighter for the Brookline fire department, finishing his career as a Lieutenant on Ladder Co. 2.[6] He married a woman named Pat, and the couple had three children together.[1] He remained close to hockey working as the rink manager for Harvard University's Bright Hockey Center for 15 years.[7] In December 2010, a skating rink in Brookline was named in his honor at Larz Anderson Park. Coincidentally, the rink was constructed on land donated by his former neighbors who owned the pond where he learned to play.[1] He died on September 26, 2016, at the age of 88.[12][13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Campagna, Joe (2010-12-02). "Honoring his checks: Olympic hockey gold medalist Jack Kirrane to be honored with naming of rink". Wicked Local Brookline. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  2. ^ "USA sends two teams to the 1948 Olympics". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  3. ^ Findling & Pelle (2004), p. 317
  4. ^ Müller (2005), p. 58
  5. ^ a b "Jack Kirrane career statistics". Hockey DB. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Pave, Marvin (2010-11-28). "Kirrane's hometown finds fitting honor". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  7. ^ a b Springer, Shira A. (1996-11-02). "Jack Kirrane: Making His Final Rounds". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  8. ^ a b "Jack Kirrane United States Hockey Hall of Fame profile". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  9. ^ a b c d Swift, E.M. (1999-11-29). "The Original Miracle On Ice". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 22, 2002. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  10. ^ Müller (2005), p. 70
  11. ^ "U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinees". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  12. ^ Fisher, Jenna (September 27, 2016). "Brookline hockey legend, Olympic gold medalist Jack Kirrane passes away". brookline.wickedlocal.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  13. ^ Roberts, Sam (October 4, 2016). "Jack Kirrane, Captain of U.S. Gold Medal Hockey Team in 1960, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2016.

Bibliography

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