David William Bauer (November 2, 1924November 9, 1988) was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach, educator and Catholic priest. He was a member of the Basilians, and established a program to develop players for the Canada men's national ice hockey team.
He was offered a playing contract by the Boston Bruins at age 15, but declined on the advice of his father to complete a proper education. The experience of not pursuing his dream of playing professional hockey was traumatic for Bauer, who then committed himself to look for more meaning in life and play a role in world peace. After he served as captain of the Toronto St. Michael's Majors for two seasons and won the 1944 Memorial Cup, he became ordained as a Catholic priest in the Congregation of St. Basil and taught at St. Michael's College School. He coached multiple levels of hockey at St. Michael's, sat on the junior ice hockey council for the Ontario Hockey Association, lobbied for a shortened playing schedule for students athletes, and coached the St. Michael's Majors to victory in the 1961 Memorial Cup. Bauer was reassigned to St. Mark's College at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1961, then coached the UBC Thunderbirds for two seasons and led them to the finals at the 1963 CIAU University Cup.
The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association approved a proposal by Bauer to have a team of Canadian university students combined with senior ice hockey players to represent Canada in ice hockey at the Olympics and at the Ice Hockey World Championships; which was a radical change from the existing practice of the reigning Allan Cup champion team being selected. He established the Canada men's national ice hockey team program in September 1963, seeking players with athletic and academic morals committed to their studies and training. He prepared the players for the larger international ice hockey rink surface and differences from the North American ice hockey rules, and intended to change Canada's reputation of being heavily penalized for rough play. Canada finished in fourth place based on goal differential at the 1964 Winter Olympics, amidst accusations that International Ice Hockey Federation president Bunny Ahearne made a last-minute change to the tie-breaking rules to take away a medal from Canada. Bauer transitioned into managing the national team when the program relocated to Winnipeg in 1965, and assembled teams that won the bronze medal at the 1966 and 1967 World Championships, and the 1968 Winter Olympics. He later managed the national team which finished in sixth place at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
When Canada withdrew from international play during the 1970s, Bauer instructed at hockey schools in Japan for two six-week periods each year, where his teachings on personal growth and discipline fit into the culture of Japan. He also coached the Austria men's national ice hockey team during the 1973 Ice Hockey World Championships. Throughout his career, he felt that hockey was a means to teach the game of life and way for boys to become men. He advocated for players receiving an education and was opposed to the growing professionalism in the amateur game. Bauer received many honours, which included induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the IIHF Hall of Fame and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. He was made an officer of the Order of Canada, and is the namesake of the Father Bauer Arena and the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena, both of which are used by Canada for international hockey.
Early life and family
David William Bauer was born on November 2, 1924, in Waterloo, Ontario. His great-grandparents had emigrated from Bavaria to Waterloo via Buffalo, New York.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 10 His father Sir Edgar J. Bauer was an automotive supplies manufacturer and a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Sylvester.McKinley, Michael (2014), p. 142 Edgar Bauer also served as president of Globe Furniture and the Waterloo Fire Insurance Company, and sat on the Waterloo City Council and the public utilities commission. His mother Alice Bertha Hayes was active in the Catholic Women's League of Canada and a member of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Guild.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 12
Bauer was the youngest of 11 children and had five brothers and five sisters. He attended St. Louis Separate School as a youth followed by three years at St. Jerome's College School. As a youth, Bauer played pond hockey in Victoria Park with friends who included Howie Meeker and George Hainsworth Jr.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 9 The Bauers later had an ice rink constructed at their house, including side boards, painted lines and floodlights.
All of Bauer's brothers played ice hockey and won a league championship. Bobby Bauer won two Stanley Cups playing for the Boston Bruins.Young, Scott (1989), pp. 246–247 Bobby and Frank won the 1934 Memorial Cup playing for the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. Eugene won a league championship with the Kitchener Greenshirts in 1935. Jerry and Ray won a league championship with the Waterloo Siskins in 1940.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 11
Student life and playing career Bauer aspired to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) and attended training camp for the Boston Bruins held in Hershey, Pennsylvania in October 1941. The highest level of hockey he had played at the time was as a centreman for his school team.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 35 He was offered a contract to play for the Boston Olympics, a farm team for the Bruins. His father insisted his son was too young for professional hockey, and that he should first complete a proper education. Bauer later stated that it was a traumatic experience for him not to pursue his dream of playing professional hockey, which had resulted in him looking for something more in life.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 37
Bauer returned to Waterloo for another year at St. Jerome's, then followed in the footsteps of his brothers Frank and Bobby when he enrolled at St. Michael's College School to play hockey.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 36 Bauer served as team captain of the Toronto St. Michael's Majors for two seasons from 1942 to 1944. He excelled as a student, played as a left winger, and was considered a gentlemanly player and a role model by his teammates.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 38 During the summer between grades 11 and 12, Bauer returned home and was a pitcher in a senior baseball league in Waterloo.
Bauer and the Majors were finalists for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1943–44 season, but lost to the Oshawa Generals. Wartime replacement rules allowed the Generals to add up to four players from the Majors in the remainder of the playoffs. Bauer played for the Generals team which won the Eastern Canada championship and then won the 1944 Memorial Cup to become Canadian junior champions. Bauer scored four goals and five assists during the championship series for the Generals.Brown & Attersley (1978), pp. 23–24
Bauer received two varsity letters for athletics at St. Michael's College School.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 39 He also played golf, tennis, baseball and was the quarterback on the for St. Michael's football team.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 55 The school had an undefeated football season in his senior year.
Bauer played one final game for the Majors in the 1944–45 season, shortly before he enlisted in the Canadian Army on November 24, 1944, and assigned to Basic Training Unit 12 in Chatham, Ontario. All of his brothers completed military service during World War II; Bobby and Ray were in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Jerry was in the Royal Canadian Navy, and Frank, Eugene and Dave were in the Canadian Army. While serving with the army, Bauer played hockey for the Royal Canadian Postal Corps in the Ottawa National Defence Hockey League and then briefly with the Windsor Spitfires in the Windsor City Hockey League. He enrolled at the University of Toronto upon release from the Army.Oliver, Greg (2017), pp. 43–44 His playing career ended with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues during the 1945–46 season after he began studies for priesthood.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 46
Playing statistics Regular season and playoffs statistics.Oliver, Greg (2017), pp. 274–275
Regular Season Playoffs SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM1942–43Toronto St. Michael's MajorsOHA Jr.20101121106281021943–44Toronto St. Michael's MajorsOHA Jr.251225372012751212 1944Oshawa GeneralsMemorial Cup–––––74594 1944–45Toronto St. Michael's MajorsOHA Jr.11120–––––1944–45Windsor SpitfiresWCHL62572–––––1944–45Royal Canadian Postal Corps (Ottawa)ONDHL102574–––––1945–46University of Toronto Varsity BluesCIAU5156210110 Totals67285280382613193218
Entering the priesthood
Bauer went to Richmond Hill in 1946, and entered the novitiate for the Congregation of St. Basil to study for the priesthood, then took his religious vows on September 12, 1947. He returned to the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto to complete undergraduate studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1949. His influences as a student included philosopher Jacques Maritain and writer Christopher Dawson. Bauer earned his teaching certificate from the Ontario College of Education in 1951.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 48
In 1952, the Bauer family was a major contributor towards funding and establishing the Carmel of St. Joseph Monastery in St. Agatha near Waterloo.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 50 Bauer was ordained as a Catholic priest on June 29, 1953, at St. Basil's Church in Toronto by Cardinal James McGuigan. Bauer conducted his first mass as a priest at St. Jerome's Roman Catholic Church in Waterloo in 1953.
St. Michael's teacher and coach
Bauer taught at St. Michael's College School from 1953 to 1961, and sought for the education system to produce more wise leaders. The school was operated by the Basilian fathers. Their motto, "Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge" was derived from Psalm 119. Bauer taught ethics, religion, theology and history, while coaching the hockey and football programs. In January 1957, he was named assistant principal of St. Michael's.Oliver, Greg (2017), pp. 56–58
Bauer sat on the junior ice hockey council for the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA),Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 62 and coached and managed teams at all levels of hockey offered by St. Michael's.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 58 He protected his players against the advances of professional teams that tried to sign junior-aged players to contracts, and felt that the players needed more time to develop.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 64 He and the Basilian fathers lobbied for a shortened schedule for the Toronto St. Michael's Majors in the OHA's top tier of junior hockey after the 1958–59 season, since they believed it was too long and detrimental to academic studies for their students.Oliver, Greg (2017), p. 69
Bob Goldham resigned as head coach of the Majors in 1960, and Bauer took over as head coach for the 1960–61 OHA season in addition to his role as general manager. He stressed fundamentals of defensive play without the puck and taught players how to absorb contact without getting hurt. He occasionally had his players switch positions with one another to learn an appreciation of their teammate's contributions.Oliver, Greg (2017), pp. 60–62 The Majors finished in second place during the season, then defeated the Guelph Royals in the playoffs for the OHA championship. The Majors won the Eastern Canada final defeating the Moncton Beavers then travelled to Edmonton to play in the 1961 Memorial Cup. The Majors defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings in six games and won the school's fourth Memorial Cup.Lapp & Macaulay (1997), pp. 119–121