George Francis Menard (September 2, 1927 – April 18, 1990) was an American ice hockey coach. He was the head coach of

St. Lawrence Saint Lawrence or Laurence ( la, Laurentius, lit. " laurelled"; 31 December AD 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman ...

during their renaissance after World War II taking them to five Frozen Fours during his tenure.

Career

As many people did during the second world war George Menard enlisted in the armed services after graduating high school, but as he enlisted in October 1945 his services were unneeded for the war effort. The following fall he began attending

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

, playing both ice hockey and baseball for the Bears to such an outstanding degree that he was signed by the New York Yankees. George eschewed a professional playing career in favor of coaching, becoming the head coach at

1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...

for both ice hockey and baseball. Menard continued the Saint's winning ways from the beginning, getting his team to a second straight NCAA tournament in his first season. In each of his first nine seasons behind the bench Menard would get St. Lawrence to finish with winning records as well as making five tournament appearances (four coming in consecutive seasons). When St. Lawrence became a founding member of ECAC Hockey in 1961–62 Menard led the Saints to the inaugural conference tournament title and followed it up with the school's first 20-win season, a feat they wouldn't repeat for 20 years. Menard took off the 1967–68 season to earn an MBA from

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

and though he returned to

Canton Canton may refer to: Administrative division terminology * Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries, notably Switzerland * Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French Arts and ent ...

the next year he couldn't recover the success he had had his first dozen years as coach. Menard resigned after the 1970–71 season, turning the program over to

Bernie McKinnon Bernie McKinnon was a Canadian ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer and tennis coach for St. Lawrence for over 30 years. He was the head coach both men's and women's teams for most sports as well as for freshman teams when varsity status was limited to t ...

who had served as a stand-in during his year off and then resigned as the baseball head coach after the following season. After his retirement Menard was inducted into the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976 and the

Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981.

Death

George Menard died in Deerfield, New Hampshire on April 18, 1990, at the age of 62. He was survived by his wife, Frances, two sons and six daughters.

Head coaching record

Ice hockey

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Menard, George 1927 births 1990 deaths American ice hockey coaches Brown Bears baseball players Brown Bears men's ice hockey players St. Lawrence Saints baseball coaches St. Lawrence Saints men's ice hockey coaches People from Burrillville, Rhode Island Baseball players from Rhode Island Ice hockey coaches from Rhode Island American men's ice hockey defensemen