MSU athletics director and former Spartans ice hockey coach Ron Mason will be honored as the Hobey Baker Award Foundation's 2004 "Legend of Hockey" at the Frozen Four on April 10 in Boston.
The award is given to the person who has committed a significant amount of time and energy in promoting college hockey. The foundation is known for annually presenting the Hobey Baker Memorial Award - college hockey's most prestigious individual honor - to the top player in the nation.
"We're proud of Coach Mason. He had a fabulous career as a hockey coach and he continues to bring recognition for himself and to the university," MSU President M. Peter McPherson said. "He's a competitive person who cares deeply about Michigan State."
Mason could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Mason started coaching in 1966 as Lake Superior State University's first head coach and captured the 1972 national championship.
After his tenure at Lake Superior State, where he also was the assistant athletics director, he headed to Bowling Green State University. Mason led the Falcons to three CCHA regular-season and three playoff championships in his six years there.
In the 1979-80 season, the Blyth, Ontario, native took over the reins at MSU from Amo Bessone and guided the hockey program to a 635-270-69 record.
In Mason's 23-year stint, he won the 1986 national championship, 17 CCHA regular-season and playoff titles and led the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament 23 times, an NCAA record. In college hockey history, he is the only coach with more than 750 wins. In 2001, the CCHA playoff trophy was renamed the Mason Cup, in honor of the seven-time CCHA Coach of the Year.
MSU's only two Hobey Baker Award winners have played for Mason. Cousins Kip Miller and Ryan Miller received the accolade in 1990 and 2001, respectively.
Mason was named MSU's athletics director in January 2002.
"Ron, within his profession, is indeed a legend," MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said. "How many of us in our lifetimes have known someone who's the best there was in what they do?
"It's not only what he did, but how he did it, and how it's reflected on the institution he represents."
