OFFICIAL SITE OF CANISIUS CRUSADERS ATHLETICS

The 1951-52 and the 1952-53 Canisius Basketball teams were among the most successful high school basketball teams ever in Western New York. Two league titles and two Manhattan Cup Championships led to a pair of successful appearances in the prestigious Glen Falls Tournament.

Coach Bob MacKinnon was immediately successful in his initial coaching position and this success led to a great career at Canisius College and later on the professional level in the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association. Several members of Bob's Crusader quintets went on to star on the collegiate level in various sports: Jack Fahey and the late Jim Cunningham at Fordham, Dale Hohl at Holy Cross, and Jim McCarthy, Jim MacKinnon and the late Jack Flynn at Canisius. 

Helping behind the scenes during these exciting years was Father John Gerhard, S.J., the school's Athletic Director, himself an outstanding basketball player.

1952 And 1953 Championship Basketball Teams Players, Coaches, Managers, Athletic Director

Norbert H. Bednarek '52
Donald T. Breen '54
Edmund S. Brown, Jr. '52
Paul E. Cannon '52
Peter P. Carbone '53
James W. Cunningham '54
John P. Fahey '52
John J. Flynn '52
Rev. John J. Gerhard, S.J.
John Griffin '53
Charles P. Henry, Jr. '52
Dale J. Hohl '53
James W. MacKinnon '55
Robert A. MacKinnon
James A. McCarthy '53
Paul F. McGuire '53
Thomas J. McGuire '54
David Morris '53
Rev. Vincent M. Novak, S.J.
Donald J. Piotrowski '52
Robert M. Scanlon '53
Gary N. Smith '53
James J. Webster '52
Peter J. Zimmermann '53