Move over Keith "Huffer" Christiansen, Brett Hull,
Bill Watson and Glenn "Chico" Resch . You'll soon have some company.
On Nov. 11, the University of Minnesota Duluth will officially retire Curt Giles' No. 4 jersey during a pre-game ceremony (6:45 pm) at AMSOIL Arena, making the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame charter member the fifth Bulldog male in any sport to be so recognized. He'll join Christiansen (whose No. 9 was retired on Jan. 30, 1988), Hull (No. 29 on Feb. 3, 2006), Watson (No. 14 on Oct. 24, 2014) and Resch (No. 1 on Oct. 30, 2015) in that exclusive club.
"It's very humbling and a great honor," said Giles. "I have the highest regard not just for the University of Minnesota Duluth, but also for the city of Duluth. I met so many wonderful people, including my wife, during my time at UMD -- the school, the hockey program and the city had a lot to do with shaping my adult life."
A two-time NCAA I All-American and All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association first team honoree (1977-78 and 1978-79), Giles joined the hockey Bulldogs as a highly-talented 16-year old rookie defenseman in the fall of 1975. He twice served as UMD's team captain, including in 1978-79 when the Bulldogs placed third in the final WCHA standings -- their highest finish ever at that point -- and nailed down the program's first No. 1 national ranking. In 143 lifetime games, Giles racked up 171 points (36 goals and 135 assists), a then-school record for a defenseman. His 1.20 points per game average remains the best career mark ever turned in by a Bulldog blueliner while he continues to also hold or share overall UMD single-game records for points (six, which he accomplished twice) and assists (six). Voted UMD's Outstanding Senior Athlete for 1978-79, Giles joined the Minnesota North Stars in 1979, launching a National Hockey League career that spanned 14 seasons and also included stints with the New York Rangers (1986-88) and St. Louis Blues (1991-93). He was an integral part of two Stanley Cup finalists (1981 and 1991) with the North Stars and was three-time recipient of the Bill Masterton Memorial Cup as that franchise's Most Valuable Player (1980-81, 1984-85 and 1988-89). Giles, who skated in 895 regular season career NHL games (and had 242 points to show for it) and another 103 playoff outings, captained the North Stars during the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons. His hockey resume also includes helping Canada capture a silver medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1987 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships.
Giles, a native of The Pas, Manitoba, was one of 12 individuals inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame's inaugural class back in 1991. He also was chosen by his fellow UMD hockey alumni to the 21-member All-DECC team in December 2010 (when that downtown facility ended a 45-year run as the home of the Bulldogs) and as one of Top 50 WCHA Players on the 50th anniversary season of that league (2001-02). In addition, he was the lone UMD representative on The Hockey News All-Time WCHA Team in 1997, landing first team status.
For the past 18 winters, Giles has served as the head boy's hockey coach at Edina High School where his Hornets have won three Minnesota State Class AA Tournament titles (2010, 2013 and 2014) while rolling up a 357 wins.
"We congratulate Curt on this most prestigious and well-deserved honor," said UMD athletic director
Josh Berlo. "Curt was an exceptional college player and continued to sustain a high level of achievement through his lengthy NHL career and in his high school coaching."
Rookie defenseman Dylan Samberg currently wears No. 4 for the Bulldogs, but once his UMD career is completed, that number will be put out of circulation.
The Bulldogs host Western Michigan University the night Giles is being honored. For tickets to that National Collegiate Hockey Conference clash with the Broncos, call the UMD Ticket Office at 218-726-8595.
