Dan McGillis has been elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of hockey.

McGillis elected to Hall of Fame
April 29, 2009
Boston, Mass.

Dan McGillis, a native of Hawkesbury, Ontario, has been elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of hockey. McGillis, Class of 1997, will be inducted along with six others in formal ceremonies at Northeastern’s Curry Student Center in Boston, Mass., on May 21.

McGillis was the most bruising defenseman of his era and finished with All-America honors.

Throughout his career, McGillis would average over 30 minutes per game on regular shift, power play and penalty killing units. His freshman year, he had five goals, 12 assists for 17 points, and was voted Northeastern’s Rookie of the Year and to the Hockey East All-Rookie team. The team went 10-24-1.

His sophomore season, McGillis’s production jumped to four goals and 25 assists for 29 points. The Huskies went 19-13-7, made the semifinals of the Hockey East Tournament and made their first NCAA appearance in six years.

The 1994-95 season, his junior year, McGillis had developed into one of the best all-around defensemen in the nation. Possessing the hardest slapshot in Hockey East, he scored nine goals and had 22 assists for 31 points. The team enjoyed another winning campaign at 16-14-5, and McGillis was voted All-New England and All-Hockey East.

In his senior season, McGillis turned down an offer from the Detroit Red Wings, who had drafted him, to stay and captain the Huskies. The season was a difficult one for NU; they slumped to 10-21-5, but qualified for the Hockey East playoffs for the fourth straight year. McGillis led the Huskies to the 1996 Beanpot final and, despite his two first-period slapshot goals, they bowed to BU. That final year he was garnished with all the accolades: All-New England, All-Hockey East, and All-America. He was also voted team MVP and New England’s Most Outstanding Defenseman.

His career proved he was an “iron man,” playing in 141 of a possible 143 games. His 30 goals and 83 assists for 113 points ranks him the fourth-highest scoring defenseman and the 31st overall in the NU archives.

This winter he was voted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame and to the 12 man Northeastern All-Star team celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hockey East.

He went on to play 10 years in the NHL (1996-2006). He played for five teams, including the Boston Bruins. He scored 238 points in 733 games.

McGillis currently resides in Ottawa, Ontario and plays in the German Elite League.

Joining McGillis in NU’s Hall of Fame Class of 2009 will be Dan Walsh (rowing), Dave Klemic (football and track), L.J. McKanas (football), Laura Kelso-Shiman (swimming), Donna-Lynn Rosa (women’s hockey), and Jennifer White-Richardson (field hockey).

Tickets to the induction ceremony can be purchased by calling George Makris at (617) 373-4821.