In the mid-1950s, Clarkson established itself among the elite teams in the nation with its championship-caliber squads. One of the key components of the Golden Knights’ success during that era was the play of Jack Porter. Ranking among the Green and Gold’s all-time leading scorers by averaging close to two points a game, the 5-10, 180-pound, Sudbury, Ontario native provided Golden Knights’ fans with plenty of excitement at Clarkson Arena.
Porter, who scored 149 points on 63 goals and 86 assists through 82 games from 1952-56, teamed up with classmates Tom Meeker and Ellard Gutzman to make up an exciting, high-scoring line for head coach Bill Harrison’s teams. With Porter centering the talented trio and powering the Knights’ potent offense, Clarkson compiled a 57-21-3 record during his standout collegiate career. In his junior and senior campaigns, the Knights won an amazing 41 of 45 games, capped off by the perfect season of 1955-56.
Porter displayed his considerable talents and hard-working style early in his collegiate career. Playing in 14 games as a freshman in 1951-52, Porter chipped in seven goals and 14 assists and continually improved throughout the 
season. Porter hit his stride the following year when he led the Green and Gold with 33 points on a team-high 18 goals and 15 assists.
He opened his junior campaign with a hat trick in the Knights’ 10-5 win over Michigan State and continued to produce all season long, finishing as Clarkson’s second leading scorer with 52 points on 21 goals and 32 assists through 21 games in 1954-55.
Under the guidance of Harrison, and the steady play of Porter, Clarkson posted a phenomenal undefeated record in 1955-56 and were crowned Tri-State League Champs. Prior to the start of that season, Harrison remarked, "Jack is one of the best center ice men I have had at Clarkson. His tireless work on the ice, offensive playmaking and steady defensive brilliance, will be one of our ace cards in this tough season coming up." "Blackjack" and his teammates certainly lived up to their lofty expectations that winter.
Regarded by many as one of the best seasons ever recorded by a collegiate hockey team, Clarkson skated to a 23-0-0 mark in Porter’s senior campaign.
Porter notched 45 points on 16 goals and 29 assists that winter and was named a second-team Tri-State League All-Star. Porter played a key role in what Harrison termed the Knights’ biggest victory of the season, a 7-6 come-from-behind overtime win over Boston College on December 30. Trailing 4-1 midway through the second period, Clarkson rallied back to tie the score 6-6 with Porter’s unassisted goal with less than four minutes to play in regulation. Porter then fed Eddie Rowe (Clarkson HOF ’92) for the game-winning goal at 5:12 of the extra session as the Knights came away with the victory over the Eagles at the Boston Tournament.
In the season’s final game on March 6, Porter made no doubt that the Knights would go undefeated. "Jack Porter was all over the ice, scoring, setting up plays, back checking, and along with Meeker and Gutzman, held control throughout," said Harrison in a post-game interview. He tallied a hat trick and added two assists as the Knights skated by North Country rival St. Lawrence 7-4 in Potsdam to complete the season with an unblemished record.
The 1955-56 squad was the first Clarkson team to be invited to the NCAA Championships. The Knights, however, refused to go. Clarkson had eight seniors, including Porter, who were four-year varsity players and under NCAA rules were ineligible. The team voted not to go without them and turned down the NCAA bid.
Porter also played three years of golf, was member of the Varsity "C" Club and served on Clarkson’s Athletic Council.
Jack Porter accepts his Athletic Hall of Fame plaque from Clarkson AD Sean T. Frazier
