Herb Hammond, whose 20-year collegiate coaching career included stops at Division III Oswego State and Plattsburgh State and Division I Brown, died Wednesday at his home in Fort Gratiot, Mich.
Hammond had been battling cancer.
He coached Oswego to a 176-122-5 record in 11 seasons from 1969 to 1980, then led Plattsburgh to a 52-17-4 mark from 1980 to 1982.
In six seasons after moving up to Division I at Brown, his teams never had a winning record and totaled a 36-114-3 record.
“The college hockey community has lost a great, caring individual who loved life. He will be missed,” Plattsburgh State athletic director Bruce Delventhal said. “On behalf of our athletic department, our thoughts and prayers go out to Herb’s wife, Patti, and the family.”
After his stint at Brown, Hammond left coaching to become a NHL scout. He was with the New York Rangers when they won the Stanley Cup in 1994 and retired in 2000.
Last season, the SUNYAC renamed its top individual men’s hockey award the Herb Hammond Most Valuable Player of the Year Award.
