Former Salt Lake Golden Eagle goaltender Paul Skidmore, who's been a Salt Lake Valley resident since his playing days in the early 1980s, will be one of two hockey players inducted by the Boston College athletic hall of fame by the school's Varsity Club on Sept. 12.
"It was a surprise to me," said Skidmore, relating that former Boston College and Golden Eagle teammate Joe Mullen called him last week to say the college was looking for Skidmore to induct him and that he'd better give the school a call. Ten athletes will be inducted this year, including hockey player Bill O'Dwyer and about five football players, Skidmore said.Mullen, who retired this spring after a 15-year NHL career that saw him become the only American-born player to score 500 NHL goals, had been in Salt Lake just a week earlier to help Skidmore and wife Leslie open their new hockey-equipment store, Skate With Skiddy Hockey Supply, 2418 E. 7000 South. Mullen's phone call so soon afterward also surprised Skid-more. Mullen will not be enshrined yet in the B.C. hall of fame because he hasn't been retired for the required number of years.
The hall of fame induction and dinner will be followed the next day by the inductees being introduced to the crowd at halftime of the B.C.-West Virginia football game, Skidmore said.
Before he came to the Eagles, Skidmore started at B.C. as a freshman and helped the team win the Beanpot Tournament, for which Skidmore was named tourney MVP. He set numerous school records and, as a senior, he was the top-ranked collegiate goalie and was featured on the NCAA's hockey guide.
As a Golden Eagle, Skidmore is second all-time in games played (148) and third in career wins (78) with the team.