Frank Pond was an American ice hockey center and coach. He led the University of Minnesota to consecutive intercollegiate championships both as a player and head coach in the 1920s and 30s.[1]

Frank Pond
Biographical details
Born(1903-12-15)December 15, 1903
Two Harbors, Minnesota, USA
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
Playing career
1922–1924Minnesota
Position(s)Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1930–1935Minnesota
Head coaching record
Overall49–24–4 (.662)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1923 West Intercollegiate Champion (player)
1924 West Intercollegiate Champion (player)
1932 West Intercollegiate Champion
1933 West Intercollegiate Champion
1934 West Intercollegiate Champion

Career

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A native Minnesotan, Pond began attending the state's flagship university in 1920. While the school had a club team at the time, the program was promoted to major varsity status during his sophomore year.[2] Pond tried out for the team that year but was unable to make the cut. He made a second attempt the following year and earned a spot with the club. Pond helped the team finish atop the ranking of all western teams with a 10–1–1 record to earn the first Intercollegiate title for the program. He was elected team captain for his senior season and guided the Gophers to a second tile, going 13–1–0 and being regarded by some as the top team in the nation (though 14–1 Yale would beg to differ).[3]

Pond returned to the team in 1930 as the team's head coach. Taking over after the resignation of Emil Iverson, Pond had a difficult first season, losing 7 of his first 9 games but got the team to improve as the year went along. The hard work paid off in his second season behind the bench when Minnesota won an intercollegiate title and finished 2nd in the national ranking behind only Harvard. He guided Minnesota to two more western titles over the next two years but a poor start in 1935 prevented the Gophers from being able to capture four straight crowns. After five seasons as coach, Pond resigned and left behind a sparkling legacy with the ice hockey program.[4]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1922–23 Minnesota Independent
1923–24 Minnesota Independent 14 10 3 13 2

Note: assists were not an official statistic at the time.

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Minnesota Golden Gophers Independent (1930–1935)
1930–31 Minnesota 7–11–1
1931–32 Minnesota 12–3–1 West Intercollegiate Champion
1932–33 Minnesota 10–1–0 West Intercollegiate Champion
1933–34 Minnesota 11–3–0 West Intercollegiate Champion
1934–35 Minnesota 9–6–2
Minnesota: 49–24–4
Total: 49–24–4

      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

[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Frank Pond Year-by-Year Coaching Record". USCHO. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Hockey Par With Major Sports". Minnesota Daily. December 1, 1921. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "Gopher Teams Victorious in Four Sports". Minnesota Daily. March 4, 1924. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "FRANK POND ERA: 1930-31 THROUGH 1934-1935". Minnesota Hockey Herritage. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey media guide 2021-22" (PDF). Minnesota Golden Gophers. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
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