| Abner Oakes | |
| Birth Date: | 1934 2, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Canada |
| Death Place: | Hamden, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Dartmouth College |
| Player Years1: | 1952–1956 |
| Player Team1: | Dartmouth |
| Player Positions: | Forward/Defenseman |
| Coach Years1: | 1960–1963 |
| Coach Team1: | Dartmouth (assistant) |
| Coach Years2: | 1963–1964 |
| Coach Team2: | Dartmouth |
| Coach Years3: | 1964–1967 |
| Coach Team3: | Dartmouth (assistant) |
| Coach Years4: | 1967–1970 |
| Coach Team4: | Dartmouth |
| Overall Record: | 34–55–2 |
Abner Oakes III (13 February 1934 - 29 May 2021) was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach who spent his entire athletic career with Dartmouth.[1] [2]
After graduating from Phillips Academy, Abner Oakes attended Dartmouth College in the autumn of 1952, playing for the ice hockey team under Eddie Jeremiah. Oakes began his career as a forward but was shifted to defence during his second season and remained there until he graduated in 1956.[3] Afterwards Oakes signed up for active duty in the United States Navy, serving four years before becoming a naval reservist.[4]
While in the reserves Oakes returned to Dartmouth and served as an assistant under Jeremiah at the end of Jeremiah's career. When Jeremiah stepped away from the team for the 1963-64 season, so that he could coach the 1964 men's Olympic team, Oakes served as an interim head coach and three years later became the full-time bench boss when Jeremiah retired.[5] Oakes stayed with the Big Green until 1970 before stepping down and moving to Hamden, Connecticut. He served in the reserves until 1988, retiring as a Commander. In 2010 Oakes was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.[4]