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University of Alberta

University Of Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas

University Of Alberta
Golden Bears & Pandas

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Be The Roar

Sports Wall of Fame

Denis Cranston

Dennis Cranston

  • Class
  • Induction
    2013
  • Sport(s)
    Golden Bears Hockey
• Retired as the Golden Bears' hockey all-time leading scorer with 103 goals, 190 assists, and 293 points in 219 games.
• Golden Bears captain and MVP; Canada West All-Star National Championship MVP
• Member of the national team at the Spengler Cup (gold medal), the Soviet Selects tour, and the 1987 World Student Games (bronze medal).

Dennis and Sid Cranston, brothers from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, played hockey for the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the 1980s under legendary coach Clare Drake.

Dennis played centre for the Golden Bears for five seasons - 1983 to 1988 - and was the team captain in 1987 and 1988. At the conclusion of his prolific career he was the all-time leading scorer in Golden Bears history with 103 goals, 190 assists and 293 total points, and he had played more games for the Bears (219) than any previous player.

In 1984-85 Dennis was a Canada West Second Team All-Star and was the recipient of the WD Smith Trophy as the Most Improved Player on the Golden Bears Hockey team. That same season he was a member of Team Canada who were gold medallists at the Spengler Cup, and he also played for Team Canada in the Soviet Selects Tour in January 1985. During the 1985-86 season, Dennis was an assistant captain with the Bears, as well as the recipient of the Andy Purcell Trophy as Golden Bears MVP.

He was also a Canada West First Team All-Star, the national championship tournament MVP, and a member of the Golden Bears national championship team. The following season Dennis was named team captain, as well as a conference First Team All-Star, and co-recipient of the President’s Trophy as the Golden Bear who best combines sportsmanship, leadership and integrity. He was also a member of the Canadian team that captured a bronze medal at the 1987 World Student Games in Czechoslovakia. He served as team captain during his final season with the Golden Bears.

Dennis earned a Bachelor of Arts (1986) and Bachelor of Commerce (1988) from the U of A before moving on to play professionally in Germany during 1988-89. Following his retirement from hockey Cranston established his career as a sales professional. He has been an active marathon runner and Ironman competitor, and is involved in Golden Bears Hockey alumni activities.

Gifted goal scorers and team leaders, the careers of Sid Cranston and Dennis Cranston have left an indelible mark on the Golden Bears hockey program.
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