Bob Gaudreau was a member of the U.S. Hockey team at the 1968 Olympics held at the Palais des Sports, Grenoble, France. The Soviet Union won their third Olympic gold medal. Czechoslovakia won the silver medal, followed by Canada, which won the bronze medal. The United States finished in sixth place behind Sweden and Finland.  

A two-time college All-American, Gaudreau was born in Providence on March 8, 1944. He grew up next door to the RI Auditorium, where he had access to rink rat ice time and witnessed the play of the great pros who played there. And he made good use of both. He came to Brown University from nearby Hope High School, where he dominated play and was selected to three consecutive All-State teams. During his three varsity seasons for the Bears, the 6-3, 190-pound Gaudreau stamped himself as arguably the greatest of all Brown hockey players. His son, Robbie, later emulated his father’s achievements with his All-American career at Providence College.

Bob was an All-Ivy selection in his three varsity years on College Hill, in addition to being a two-time All-East, All-New England, and All-American selection. After the Olympics, Bob played for the Minnesota Nationals of the US Hockey League. A 1971 inductee into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame, Bob was the highest-scoring defenseman in the Eastern collegiate ranks for three years. He ended his career as Brown’s most productive defenseman with 35 goals and 55 assists for 90 points.

Bob’s poise with the puck was beyond compare. His greatest asset, according to his legendary coach, Jim Fullerton, was how he controlled the tempo of the games he played. In 1964-65, Gaudreau led Fullerton’s Bruins to the Ivy League title and a place in the NCAA Final Four held at the new Meehan Auditorium. The smooth-skating blueliner was voted the outstanding defenseman in New England the following season. He would receive the prestigious Walter Brown Trophy, capping off his senior year with the award given annually to the outstanding American-born hockey player in the New England region.

Of his career and unparalleled skill and poise on the backline, fellow RI Hockey Hall of Famer Jack Ferreira, who played with and against Bob and is one of the great talent evaluators in hockey, is effusive in his praise. “Without a doubt, in today’s era, long from the days of the Original Six when Bob played and opportunities were limited, he would have been a Norris Trophy candidate as the NHL’s Best Defenseman) every year.” Bob Gaudreau was inducted into the RI Heritage Hall of Fame in 1968 and the Brown University Hall of Fame in 1978.

For additional reading:

1. Robert Gaudreau Sr. at Sports Reference, Sep. 15, 2019.
2. “ECAC Awards”. College Hockey Historical Archives, May 19, 2013.
3. “Men’s Ice Hockey Award Winners,” April 15, 2014.
4. Biographical information and career statistics from The Internet Hockey Database, Aug. 10, 2003.