Thursday, August 25, 2011

Young Alumni, ‘M’ Club weekend is Sept. 9-11



Hundreds of alumni will come back to campus Sept. 9-11 for Young Alumni Weekend and ‘M’ Club Weekend.

Graduates from the past decade have been invited back to campus for Young Alumni Weekend, and several special activities are planned. A welcome reception will held 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, in the President’s Room.

The weekend also coincides with Cardinal ’M‘ Club Weekend, which gives SMU alumni opportunities to cheer on Cardinal athletics.

Other activities will include Hall of Fame inductions, athletic awards, golf, alumni games, a social, and a picnic.

The 2011 Saint Mary’s University Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday, Sept. 10, promises to be a family affair.

Nate DeMars ’98 and Frank Savino ’98 were more than linemates for the Saint Mary’s University men’s hockey team for four years — they were like inseparable brothers. Add to that the third member of this year’s Class of 2011 inductee, John Redpath ’80, and the familial ties become even greater — after all, Redpath was not only a standout for the Saint Mary’s hockey teams of the late ’70s, but he’s also DeMars’ uncle.

In their four years together, Savino and DeMars were one of the most prolific, goal-scoring duos in the country. The two combined for a jaw-dropping 377 points and rank second (DeMars) and third (Savino) to the great Andre Beaulieu in career points.

A four-year letterwinner, Savino was named to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team in each of his four years as a Cardinal. Savino’s junior year was one for the record books, as he compiled 40 goals and 62 points — both ranked No. 5 all-time in the program’s history — while earning MIAC Player of the Year and First-Team All-American honors. In his four years at SMU, Savino ranks No. 3 all-time in career goals (111) and career points (111).

And as impressive as Savino’s numbers were, his four-year linemates were equally as impressive.

Also a four-year letterwinner, DeMars earned All-MIAC First-Team honors three times, while also being named Second Team All-American during his junior season, when he posted 40 assists — the fourth-best single-season assist total in program history — and finished a point behind Savino with 61. DeMars closed out his collegiate career as SMU’s all-time assist leader (108), while ranking second in career points (189) and fifth in career goals (81).

Not to be outdone by his nephew, Redpath made a name for himself, earning First-Team All-MIAC honors in both his junior and senior seasons, while also being named an NAIA First-Team All-American during his senior season. Redpath, a four-year letterwinner, finished among the top 20 in SMU history in single-season goals (23) and points (51).

Former students often express their interest in reconnecting with faculty and staff. Please make plans to attend! More details will be announced next week.