DENVER – The University of Denver hockey program remembers the life of former goaltender George Kirkwood, who backstopped the Pioneers to two national championships in 1960 and 1961.
Kirkwood passed away on April 9 at the age of 84. A Celebration of Life for him will be held on June 11 at 1 p.m. at Derrick Golf and Winter Club in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (3500 - 119 Street NW).
The Edmonton native won national titles in both of his seasons at Denver and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team in each campaign. Kirkwood was recognized as the 1959-60 WCHA Rookie of the Year and was later named an All-American for 1960-61. He was inducted into the DU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
His 57 career wins still rank as the seventh-most all-time in school history, while his 2.20 goals-against average is tied for sixth and his .904 save percentage is tied for 13th in the program annals.
Kirkwood owns two of the top three winning percentages in a season in program history—.953 in 1960-61, first; and .838 in 1959-60, third—and his 30 victories in 1960-61 is still a school record for a single campaign. He also had a 1.84 goals-against average during that 1960-61 season, which ranks tied for the second-best mark in DU history.
Prior to joining the Pioneers, the goalie played two seasons of junior hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Kirkwood earned his bachelor's degree in engineering at DU and later worked in the energy industry in Alberta for 36 years, with the last 15 at a senior executive level.
He is survived by his wife Kathleen (married in 1962), children Kori, Karen and Greg and six grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Alzheimer's Society or to the Alzheimer's Association in the United States.
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