DENVER – A beloved storyteller, teammate, goaltender and friend, Gerry Powers was a key figure in the University of Denver hockey community since he first stepped up the hilltop campus in the late 1960s.
 
The DU hockey program mourns of the loss of one the greatest and proudest Pioneers, as Powers passed away on Feb. 18, two days shy of his 77th birthday. He spent the previous 12 years battling cancer and served as an inspiration for others during his fight.
 
Powers was Denver's starting goaltender for three seasons from 1966-1969, winning national championships in his final two years. A member of the NCAA All-Tournament Team both seasons, he was named finals MVP in 1968 when the Pioneers shutout rival North Dakota and outdueled future hall of famer Ken Dryden in the 1969 title game—his last contest in competitive hockey.
 
Born on Feb. 20, 1946 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Gerald Nelson Powers attended Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton, Alberta, before earning a four-year scholarship at DU under the guidance of legendary hockey coach Murray Armstrong. At DU, Gerry met his future wife, Cindy Fowler, who passed away from her own battle with cancer in 1983.
 
Powers earned Second-Team All-WCHA honors in both 1968 and 1969, and he still ranks third all-time in program history in wins (76), tied for second in shutouts (13) and 11th in games played (96). The keeper is presently 11th in school history in goal-against average (2.35) and 13th in save percentage (.904).
 
In the 1967-68 campaign, he posted a program-record seven shutouts, a record that he held exclusively before Adam Berkhoel matched him in 2003-04 championship campaign. Gerry also recorded 28 victories that year, presently tied for the second-most in a season at DU.
 
Powers posted 26 wins and five shutouts the following year, as the Pioneers repeated as national champions with their fifth overall title.
 
Since stepping away from the ice, Gerry remained an active alum and continued to support the Pioneers. In 2016, he was recognized with the team's Dan Ritchie Spirit Award for his contributions to the program.
 
The Denver hockey team honored Gerry with a moment of silence prior to the team's home regular-season finale on March 3 versus Colorado College and the players have donned 'GP 1' decals—his initials and number—on their helmets ever since. The team is planning on wearing the decals through what it hopes is another title run and the program's 10th championship.
 
Gerry Powers is survived by his daughter, Melissa Powers McPhail of Charlotte, North Carolina, and son, Courtney Fowler Powers of Austin, Texas, and four grandchildren: Josie McPhail (13), Margaret Powers (10), Luke Powers (6) and Gretchen Powers (5).
 
The family would like to give special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of M.D. Anderson who, through their attention and skill, were able to provide world-class care that gave Gerry the tools necessary to fight bravely for 12 years.
 
Gerry was a key figure in so many people's lives at the University of Denver, and some of his teammates and friends reflect on his life.
 
 
Craig Patrick
"Gerry Powers was a great goaltender, but more importantly he was a better person. He was a terrific teammate and roommate. He was kind and caring of anyone around him. He always had a smile on his face and story to share. He was a battler on and off the ice as witnessed by his 12-year battle with cancer. Throughout his life he was an inspiration to everyone that was blessed to be in his presence."
 
Courtney Powers, Gerry's son
"His best proverb was 'if you win, say little. If you lose, say less."

Cliff Koroll
"Gerry often told me that I was responsible for connecting him with his wife Cindy. I hit Gerry in the head with a shot at practice. There was a concern that he may of had a concussion and would need someone to watch him for the next 24 hours. That person happened to be Cindy, the beginning of a relationship that ended in marriage."
 
Don and Marie Cameron
"While Don & Gerry shared their hockey careers at DU, we had the good fortune of building a special relationship with Gerry when he moved back to Denver in the 2000s. Many fun times were shared with 'our son' over the nouveau Beaujolais of the year. Gerry handled his diagnosis with courage and strength. What we shared and once enjoyed, we can never lose."
 
Randy Ward
"Gerry left for 1968 championship game about 2.5 hours ahead of the rest of the team. To Gerry this game was just another and he needed a little extra time to fix his hair to get his mask on. The rest of us messed around and took a little longer, and we actually arrived between the second and third period. To our surprise, it was tied 0-0. Gerry looked exhausted for some reason.  We got our gear on and headed out fresh for the third period. Trem got two quick goals, Gilly one and I think Al got one. The Championship was over. Gerry gave us hell as his hair was sweaty. He played himself until the rest of showed up that is how good he was."
 
Tom Sampson, Student Manager 1967-70
"Gerry Powers always wanted his hair to be perfect, not a hair out of place!"
 
Carrol Miller, wife of Tom Miller
"My husband Tom was part of the team. I was at DU with the team since we were married when Tom and Gerry were juniors. Gerry brought much joy to us and the team. I only remember Gerry with a smile on his face. I remember Cindy and thought how lucky Gerry was.
 
"I remember being at the hotel when he received his diagnosis from the hospital. He was a graceful fighter. A couple of years later Tom too was diagnosed with cancer and died in 2017. Such a great life we all had because of DU. Murray (Armstrong) hand-picked an incredible group of young 'boys' who with Murray's help became incredible young men! They left us wonderful memories."
 
Tom Gilmore
"Gerry always marched to his own drummer.  When the rest of us on the DU hockey team boarded our various flights across America, Gerry stood out.  He looked like a young Robert Redford, dressed impeccably, carrying a briefcase, hanging out with a raucous bunch of ruffians.  That may be a slight exaggeration, but it's in keeping with Gerry's storytelling.  He was always the star of our frequent Denver reunions, regaling us with entertaining stories of our shenanigans, some we couldn't remember.  He had such a great memory for names, places, dates and scores.  As a teammate, he was supreme.  We often mocked him on how we saved the game for him with our back-checking and blocked shots, but he took the ribbing with laughter and returned the banter with great wit.
 
"Randy Ward paid him a wonderful compliment when he reminded me of how Gerry kept us in our first NCAA Championship for the first two periods until the offence ramped up for a 4-0 third period win over North Dakota in 1968.  Gerry was the MVP of that tournament. The next year, he outplayed Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden of Cornell to win his second NCAA Championship.  After that game in the Broadmoor World Arena, Gerry took off his pads in the dressing room and called it a career.  Then he pursued his next career, business.  He did it his way.
 
"For me Gerry was a special friend, who kept in touch regularly over these last 53 years—always positive, always cheerful.  As a teammate, he was encouraging too, giving us forwards improvement tips from his perspective.  Of course, he'd suggest a certain move and then when you tried to implement it, he'd stone you and laugh heartily.  And remind you of it often. 
 
"Gerry left us with lots of memories, lots to admire, and a most valuable lesson.  Never quit.  He didn't.  We all loved him."

 
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