BIRTHPLACE: Providence, Rhode Island

BORN: December 18, 1921

DIED: January 18, 1989

TEAMS/ASSOCIATIONS: Dartmouth College, San Diego Seahawks 

If it were not for Eddie Jeremiah, another United States Hockey Hall of Fame enshrinee and long-time Dartmouth coach, Dick Rondeau might have wound up starting for the Boston Bruins rather than becoming one of Dartmouth's all time greats.  Rondeau had come out of Mt. St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket , Rhode Island as a heralded high school player.  In 1939, his senior year, he centered the second line and was named All-State center on a team composed entirely of Mr. St. Charles players.  Mt. St. Charles was proclaimed unofficial nation champions based on their record of 21 wins and two losses as Rondeau won the league scoring title with 27 goals and 11 assists. 

The following year Rondeau was ineligible for further high school competition and joined the Boston Junior Olympics, then a Bruins' farm team.  The Olympics played the major Eastern colleges and were runners-up in the national junior tournament.  It was then that Eddie Jeremiah entered the picture convincing Rondeau to enroll at Dartmouth, rather than continuing with the Olympics.  After a solid freshmen season, the winger centered the famous line of Jack Riley, also a United States Hockey Hall of Fame member, and Bill Harrison as Dartmouth was proclaimed national champions for 1942.  The team won 21 games and lost two while Rondeau led the nation in scoring with 45 goals and 32 assists.  But there was more to come as Dartmouth was on a roll which would see them win 41 consecutive games over a four year period. 

Rondeau captained the 1943 team as well, and also served as coach when Jeremiah entered the Navy in mid-season.  (He was captain again in 1944.)  Over his four-year college career Rondeau shattered nearly all of the school's scoring records, tallying 103 goals and 73 assists for an average 4.4 points per game. 

After graduation Rondeau entered the Marine Corps and played for San Diego in the Pacific Coast League while stationed in California.  A recreational swimming accident ended his active playing career in 1945, but not his involvement with the sport.  The post war year saw him involved as a coach at both Holy Cross and Providence College and as a linesman in the American League.  He later moved to Texas, where he continued to remain active in youth hockey and as a minor official in the Central League.