BIRTHPLACE: International Falls, Minn.

BORN: August 5, 1932

TEAMS/ASSOCIATIONS: University of Minnesota, U.S. Olympic Team, Green Bay Bobcats

Richard Dougherty learned how to skate in the nation’s ice box, International Falls, where he began his hockey career as a member of International Falls High School’s first ever varsity hockey team in 1949.  In 1950, Dougherty, a standout defenseman for the Broncos, led his team to their first state high school hockey tournament, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team as well.  

From there, Dougherty went on to play three seasons for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers under legendary coach John Mariucci.  There, as a forward, Dougherty would emerge as one of college hockey’s top players.  In 1954, Dougherty’s Gophers made it all the way to the NCAA?Finals, where they lost an overtime heartbreaker to R.P.I.  Dougherty, who played alongside John Mayasich, Ken Yackel and Gene Campbell, was named to the American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Team that same year.  At the time of his graduation, Dougherty would rank 10th on the Gophers’ all-time scoring list with 187 points, and fifth with 109 goals.  Dougherty helped Minnesota compile consecutive 23-win seasons in 1953 and 1954, and led the team with 42 goals during the 1954 campaign as well.

In International competition, Dougherty also had a lot of success.  He was a member of the silver medal-winning 1956 U.S. Olympic Team that competed in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.  He also played for the 1955 U.S. Men’s National Team that placed fourth in Dusseldorf and Dortmund, Germany at the IIHF World Championships.  In addition, Dougherty played for the legendary Warroad Lakers in 1955, which won the United States Senior National Championship in Great Falls, Montana. 

Considered one of the top five best players in the United States during the era of the 1950’s, Dougherty completed his career as a member of the Green Bay Bobcats of the semi-pro United States Hockey League, where he played seven seasons from 1959-66. 

Dougherty and his wife, Judy,  have three children, John, Mary Jane and Jenny, and reside in Green Bay, Wis.