University of Michigan Hall of Honor
Heyliger, Vic
Vic Heyliger
- Induction:
- 1980
Ann Arbor News hockey writer Neil Koepke once noted "If the University of Illinois had not scrapped its hockey program in 1943, the history of Michigan hockey might read a lot differently." Fritz Crisler replaced Eddie Lowrey with Heyliger and fought off the sentiments to drop hockey due to the limited opponents during the war years. Heyliger returned to Michigan in 1944 where 10 years earlier he skated for U-M. After a 3-6-0 record the first year, he developed Michigan into a national power. Heyliger coached the Wolverines to one third-place NCAA finish, three NCAA runner-up spots and six national championships. His overall record was 228-61-13. Heyliger also was one of the individuals who drummed up support for an NCAA championship. Asthma forced Heyliger to leave Michigan and go to Colorado. He coached the U.S. National Team, and in 1962 he started the Air Force Academy hockey program. As an athlete, not only did Heyliger play hockey, as a sophomore baseball player, he led the Big Ten in RBIs and was second in batting in the conference while playing the outfield. In hockey, Heyliger was an all-league center in the Western Hockey League. After graduation, he joined the Chicago Black Hawks and found himself on a Stanley Cup team as a rookie.
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