Bob Schiller (ice hockey)

Robert "Bob" Schiller is a Canadian retired ice hockey defenseman who won back-to-back National Championships for Michigan in the 1950s.[1]

Bob Schiller
Born (1933-07-15) July 15, 1933 (age 91)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defenseman
Shot Right
Played for Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Michigan
Toledo Mercurys
Playing career 1954–1959

Career

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Schiller was one of many Ontario-natives to be recruited by Vic Heyliger and helped to continue Michigan's 10-year run as an NCAA superpower. When he made the varsity team as a sophomore, Schiller helped the Wolverines establish themselves as one of the top defensive teams in the country and reach the NCAA tournament. Schiller was one of three Wolverines to earn AHCA Second Team All-American honors that year.[2] In the tournament Schiller earned only a single assist but his defensive work earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Second Team.[3]

In his junior season the Michigan defense was nearly impenetrable and Schiller was again named an All-American. In their march towards a sixth championship Michigan needed all the defensive work they could summon in the semifinal. Despite a furious effort, St. Lawrence was held to a single goal in their overtime win. The Wolverine offense showed up in the final, scoring 7 goals against Michigan Tech, including one from Schiller, and the team captured its second consecutive title. In his senior season Michigan again reached the championship game, however, the team could not restrain the dominating offense from Colorado College and lost 6–13, the highest-scoring championship game in history (as of 2020).[4]

After graduating with a degree in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering, Schiller played two seasons for the Toledo Mercurys while earning his MBA.

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
1949–50 Detroit Hettche IHL 6 0 1 1 0
1950–51 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA
1951–52 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA 51 4 18 22 0
1954–55 Michigan WIHL
1955–56 Michigan WIHL
1956–57 Michigan WIHL
1957–58 Toledo Mercurys IHL 17 1 4 5 8
1958–59 Toledo Mercurys IHL 35 3 9 12 8
NCAA totals

Awards and honors

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Award Year
All-WIHL Second Team 1954–55
1956–57
[5]
AHCA Second Team All-American 1954–55 [2]
NCAA All-Tournament Second Team 1955, 1957 [6]
AHCA First Team All-American 1955–56 [7]
NCAA All-Tournament First Team 1956 [6]

References

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  1. ^ "Hall of Fame: Bob Schiller (1981)". Michigan Dekers Club. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "1954-1955 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  3. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  4. ^ "NCAA Tournament". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. ^ "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  7. ^ "1955-1956 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
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