Russell McConnell

Russell Henry McConnell (January 7, 1918 – September 7, 1942) was a Canadian athlete and soldier who excelled in ice hockey and Canadian football. Born in Montreal, Quebec, he studied commerce at McGill University from 1935 to 1939, where he became a celebrated member of the Phi Kappa Pi fraternity. McConnell was a standout athlete, leading four championship teams as a member of the McGill Redmen, including one season as captain. He won two scoring titles in the International Intercollegiate Hockey League and was named Most Valuable Player in the Quebec Senior Hockey League during the 1938-1939 season. McConnell's achievements on the ice were remarkable: he scored 116 goals, 95 assists, and 211 points in 94 games, setting records that stood for fifty years. In February 1939, he set a record for most points (10) in a game, achieving this feat twice within five days against Harvard University and the University of Montreal. After graduating, McConnell declined a professional hockey offer from the New York Rangers to enlist in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He continued playing with the Montreal Royals, reaching the Allan Cup finals in 1941. Tragically, he died during patrols in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on September 7, 1942, when his ship, HMCS Raccoon, attempted to chase a German submarine and contact was lost. His remains were later identified by a school ring and buried at sea with full naval honors. McConnell's legacy includes being an inaugural inductee into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame ...