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University of Alberta

University Of Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas

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Golden Bears & Pandas

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Be The Roar

Sports Wall of Fame

Sid Cranston

Sid Cranston

  • Class
  • Induction
    2013
  • Sport(s)
    Golden Bears Hockey
• Canada West All-Star, CIAU All-Canadian, and CIAU Most Outstanding Player.
• Wilson Challenge Trophy winner in 1988 as U of A most outstanding male athlete.
• Graduated with the single-season record for points (114 points).
• Bears team captain; bronze medallist at the World Student Games (1987).

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.

Sid Cranston played four seasons as a centre for the Golden Bears, from 1985 to 1989, and he was a member of the national championship team in his rookie season along with his brother Dennis. He also played with Dennis on the Canadian bronze medal team at the 1987 World Student Games. In 1987-88, Sid was the recipient of several honours, including being awarded the Sullivan Trophy as the CIAU’s Most Outstanding Player, being named a CIAU All-Canadian, recipient of The Hockey News CIAU Player of the Year, recognized as a Canada West First Team All-Star, and the recipient of the Dave “Sweeney” Schriner Trophy as the leading scorer in Canada West.

That same season he was awarded the Andy Purcell Trophy as the Golden Bears MVP. Sid also received the Wilson Challenge Trophy in 1988, honouring him as the University of Alberta’s most outstanding male athlete. During the 1987-88 season, he established the Canada West single season conference records for most goals (34), assists (46) and points (80) - which set a national record for single season points - and he scored a total of 48 goals, 66 assists and 114 points overall to establish Golden Bears’ single season records.

Cranston was a Block A Award recipient in 1988. During his final season with the Bears - 1988-89 - Sid served as team captain, was a member of the Canada West championship team, and was named conference Second Team All-Star. His 47 career power play goals was a Golden Bears team record.

Following graduation with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1989, Sid played two years of professional hockey in Germany. He then returned to the Edmonton area and became a junior high school teacher, while also coaching basketball, badminton, and hockey. He also served for many years as a senior instructor at University of Alberta hockey camps and he is an active member of the Golden Bears Hockey alumni.

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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