Ralph Warburton
Born (1924-01-07)January 7, 1924
Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died December 25, 2021(2021-12-25) (aged 97)
Wakefield, Rhode Island, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Worcester Warriors
Milwaukee Clarks
Boston Olympics
National team  United States
Playing career 1943–1955

Ralph Arthur Warburton (January 7, 1924 − December 25, 2021) was an American ice hockey right wing, and was a member of the United States national team at the 1948 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

College career

Warburton played right wing for Dartmouth College, he became part of a powerhouse line for Dartmouth with eventual Olympic teammates, Bruce Mather at center and Bruce Cunliffe on left wing.[1] This line not only led Dartmouth in scoring for two seasons,[2] but helped Dartmouth achieve a remarkable 46-game unbeaten streak (45-0-1) from 1941–42 to 1944–45.[3] Warburton set a career high for points in a single game on January 20, 1945, as he registered 7 points against Cornell University, with five goals and two assists.[4] For the 1946–47 season Warburton was named co-captain of the team.[5] During this season he added two more four-goal performances against Army and Boston College. The two high scoring games came in close succession, with the first occurring on February 8, 1946, and the second coming just three days later on February 11, 1946.[6] Dartmouth ended the 1946–47 season as the number one ranked team in the nation. The number one ranking was more significant at the time, since it was prior to the advent of NCAA hockey championships.[1]

1948 Olympics

In 1948, Warburton headed to St. Moritz, Switzerland to take part in the Olympic Games with his fellow line mates. Unfortunately due to a conflict over what truly constituted an amateur athlete, two United States teams were sent. It was a situation that nearly caused the cancellation of the entire ice hockey tournament at the 1948 Olympics.[7] Eventually a compromise was made and Warburton's squad was allowed to compete, but were ineligible for medal contention.[8]

Later career

He continued to play hockey after the Olympics first with the Milwaukee Clarks and later was reunited with Bruce Mather on the Boston Olympics.[1] Warburton's best post-college year came during the 1950–51 season while playing for the Olympics in the Eastern Hockey League. In that year Warburton finished in the top ten in all three major offensive statistical categories. He ranked second in goals (33), tenth in assists (30), and sixth in points (63).[9]

Personal life and death

Warburton was born in Cranston, Rhode Island, on January 7, 1924.[10][11] He died on December 25, 2021, at the age of 97.[10] At age 94, he was honored by the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 with the Malcolm Greene Chace Award for "Lifetime contributions of a Rhode Islander to the game of ice hockey". He was inducted as an honored member of the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1943–1947 Dartmouth College NCAA Statistics unavailable
1948 U.S. National Team Oly 8165216 N/A
1948–49 Milwaukee Clarks IHL 3228134138 —————
1949–50 Milwaukee Clarks EHL 5120284824 1447118
1950–51 Boston Olympics EHL 5433306324 64046
1954–55 Worcester Warriors EHL Statistics unavailable
EHL totals 137817115286 20871514

References

  • Findling, John E.; Pelle, Kimberly D. (2004). Encyclopedia of the Modern Olympic Movement. Westport CT.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-32278-3. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
  1. 1 2 3 "Ralph Warburton Biography and Olympic Results". Sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Bruce Mather". United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011.
  3. ↑ DeGange, Jack (November 12, 2005). "1941-42 Season: Turmoil & Titles". Dartmouth College. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008.
  4. ↑ "6 Point Games". Dartmouth College. November 6, 2002. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Dartmouth Team Records by Year". Dartmouth College. October 13, 2008.
  6. ↑ "4 Goal Games". Dartmouth College. November 22, 2003.
  7. ↑ "USA sends two teams to the 1948 Olympics". IIHF.
  8. ↑ Findling & Pelle (2004), p. 317
  9. ↑ "1950-51 EHL League Leaders". HockeyDB.com.
  10. 1 2 "Ralph A. Warburton". Avery-Storti Funeral Home & Crematory. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ralph Arthur Warburton". U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
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