From Here to NHL Eternity
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
When skating on Planet Ice, things can be out of this world.
Such was the case with the scoring prowess of two former Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) men's hockey alumni at this aptly named hockey arena in Peterborough, England.
Scoring of astronomical proportions.
Playing for the Peterborough Phantoms in the English Premier Ice Hockey League, former SAIT Trojans Duncan Cook (1999-2001) totaled 59 goals and 61 assists in only 40 games for the pro team in 2002-2003.
A few years later, former Mount Royals Cougars (2002-2003) Taras Foremsky peppered the opposition's nets for 42 goals and 81 assists in only 44 games!
The Phantoms were just one of 10 teams that Foremsky would play for during a six-year pro career.
For majority of hockey players though, the goal is to make it to the Show.
The National Hockey League (NHL).
According to our research, at least three former ACAC players have done such.
Shortly after being selected by the Montreal Canadiens in Round 7, 95th overall in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, Peter "Silky" Sullivan laced up the skates for the Mount Royal Cougars.
During his one ACAC season (1971-72), the Toronto-born forward would record 14 goals and 19 assists in 26 games.
He played the next three seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, with a breakout year in 1974-75 with 44 goals and 60 assists in 75 games.
That would lead to a solid career with the Winnipeg Jets from 1975-1981.
During his stay, the Jets were members of the World Hockey Association (WHA) until moving to the NHL in 1979.
With 313 WHA games, he is fourth on the Jets WHA franchise stats for most games played list and fourth in scoring with 125 goals and 170 assists.
He was described as "an entertaining center with moves galore."
The Jets would win three WHA titles - Avco World Trophy - during Sullivan's career.
Sullivan came from an athletic family as his older brother Frank had cups of coffee with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks while their father Frank Sr. was part of the 1928 St. Moritz Winter Olympic gold medal Canadian hockey team and also a member of two Grey Cup championship teams with the Toronto Argonauts in 1921 and 1924.
Another Cougar (1985-86) with NHL ties was Mike Hedit...although he did it the opposite way.
Drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in Round 2, 27th overall in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary defenseman would suit up for six games with the Kings in 1983-84 before going on to a length pro career.
With the Cougar he had an impressive 19 goals and 51 assists in 24 games.
His 51 assists still remain an ACAC record according to ACAC Archives.
Germany would be his home from 1986-to-1998, playing for various teams with the highlight being a member of Germany's Olympic representative at the 1992 Albertville Winter Games. He also served as a spare at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.
As a member (1984-86) of the then Camrose Luther College Kings, now known as the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings, Ken Lovsin would go on to play two years of U Sports for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
A 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft pick of the Hardwood Whalers, the defenseman would play 124 games with Canada's National Team from 1988-90.
Signed as a free agent by the Washington Capitals on July 3, 1990, he would appear in one NHL game, before returning to Canada's National Team from 1992-94 with a silver medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics.