BIRTHPLACE: Providence, RI

BORN: April 13, 1948

TEAMS/ASSOCIATIONS: Harvard University

Known as one of the greatest prep hockey players in New England history, Joe Cavanagh was raised in a family of eight children in Warwick, Rhode Island.  A talented forward who was reknowned for his hard work on the ice, Cavanagh was a three-time all-state selection for the Thunderbolts, as he led the state in scoring during the 1964, ‘65 and ‘66 seasons.  He was also named Rhode Island’s most valuable high school player in ‘65 and ‘66.           

As a collegian, Cavanagh skated for Harvard for three seasons (freshmen were not allowed to participate in varsity athletics under the NCAA rules of the time). His sophomore season of 1969 saw him make a big impression during his first foray into college hockey.  Incredibly, he was selected as a first team all-American, first team All-East, first team All-Ivy, first team All-New England, was named as the recipient of the Walter Brown Award (given to best American-born player), and was named most valuable player of the annual Beanpot tournament — which the Crimson won by beating Boston University.  After his junior and senior seasons with the Crimson, Cavanagh was again named to the first team All-American, All-East, All-Ivy and All-New England squads, and he won the Walter Brown Award again during his final season at Harvard.  He was the team’s leading scorer all three seasons (tied with Robert McNamara as a junior), and was also given the John Tudor Memorial Cup Award as team most valuable player after his junior and senior seasons.  When it was all said and done, he ranked fifth on the Crimson all-time scoring list with 60 goals and 127 assists.  His 50 assists during his senior season still stands as a Crimson record.

“He was a great player with outstanding talent, and I’ve never seen a player work as hard on the rink as Joey did — which not all outstanding players do,” said Hall of Famer Bill Cleary, who coached Cavanagh at Harvard. “Work ethic was as much a part of the package as talent.”

Cavanagh, who was named to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference’s All Decade first team for his efforts on the ice, went on to coach youth hockey in his hometown in 1982, later serving on the Warwick Junior Hockey Association’s board of directors.  Cavanagh, an attorney in the Warwick area, and his wife Carol raised eight children