DENVER – The University of Denver hockey program mourns the loss of former Pioneer forward Willis O'Leary.
O'Leary was one of the first players to lace up the skates at DU, joining the Pioneers in their second season of existence in 1950-51. He skated three seasons for coaches Vern Tuner and Neil Celley from 1950-1953 and was the first member of the school's 100-point club. O'Leary, who was the first person to wear No. 7 at Denver, recorded 38 goals and 66 assists for 104 points in only 62 career games, including leading the team with 33 assists in the 1952-53 campaign.
Born on Sept. 6, 1931 in Vulcan, Alberta, O'Leary spent most of his life in Calgary where he graduated from St. Mary's Boys High School in 1948. He played one season of junior hockey in Calgary and attended the NHL's New York Rangers' 1949 prospect camp before earning a scholarship at DU.
O'Leary graduated from Denver with a degree in Business Administration in 1953 and went on to play one year of professional hockey in Great Britain in 1954-55 for the Ayr Raiders, where he picked up 50 points (22 goals and 28 assists) and 36 penalty minutes in 40 games.
Following his playing days, O'Leary received his law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1962 and then earned his Master of Law Degree from Harvard Law School in Boston in 1963.
O'Leary practiced law in Calgary for 20 years before being appointed as a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in 1984. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal of Alberta in 1994 and served in the role until his retirement in 2006.
O'Leary passed away on Nov. 21, 2021 in Calgary at the age of 90. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty; children John, Tom and Shannon; seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
Read more about O'Leary life in the Calgary Herald.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets for the 2021-22 campaign are on sale now and can be purchased here.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Masks are required at all indoor athletic events. For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
DONATE: Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Hockey on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Hockey on Twitter
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Hockey on Instagram
