March
28, 2005
Murray Williamson Named Hobey Baker's 2005 Legend of College Hockey
 |
| Murray
Williamson |
The Hobey
Baker Foundation has named Murray Williamson as its 2005 Legend
of Hockey award winner, the group announced on Monday. Williamson,
the former Minnesota All-American and two-time U.S. Olympic head
coach, will be honored at the 2005 Hobey Baker Award banquet,
which will be held Thursday, May 19, at the Minneapolis Club in
Minneapolis, Minn.
Williamson
was a standout player at Minnesota, named to the West All-America
Team in 1959 by the American Hockey Coaches Association. He went
on to play in the United States Hockey League, embarking on his
successful coaching career as a player/coach for the St. Paul
Steers.
Williamson
was the U.S. Olympic coach in 1968 and '72, leading the '72 team
to a silver medal in Sapporo, Japan. Williamson was credited with
bringing together a diverse group of players from both the East
and Midwest, including a large number of college stars, and guiding
the team to a surprise medal.
Williamson
was truly a pioneer for the U.S. on the international stage. He
coached the 1967 U.S. National Team, the first time the U.S. assembled
a national team to train together over the course of a season.
He went on to coach the 1970 and '71 U.S. National Team before
coaching the 1974 U.S. National Junior Team in the first-ever
World Junior Championship. He returned to lead the '75 U.S. Junior
Team.
The extensive
list of hockey legends Williamson coached during his career include
Herb Brooks, Henry Boucha, John Cunniff, Robbie Ftorek, Lou Nanne,
Scott Owens, Craig Patrick, Larry Pleau, Doug Woog and Jerry York.
The Hobey
Baker's Legend of College Hockey award, presented annually since
1981, honors one of the all-time great contributors to the game
of college hockey.
