Michigan State University Athletics
Former MSU Hockey Assistant Dies Of Cancer
9/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Sept. 24, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Former Michigan State assistant hockey coach Shawn Walsh, who led the University of Maine to two national championships, died Monday (Sept. 24) after a 15-month battle with a rare form of cancer. He was 46.
Walsh was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in June 2000 and had his left lung and kidney removed shortly thereafter. He also underwent two immunotherapy treatments and a stem-cell transplant. He was taken to the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor two weeks ago after contracting pneumonia.
A native of White Plains, N.Y., Walsh, began his coaching career as the junior varsity head coach at his alma mater, Bowling Green, under then-Falcon head coach Ron Mason. The 1978 BGSU graduate followed Mason to Michigan State in 1979, where he helped lead the Spartans to CCHA playoff championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 1982, 1983 and 1984. The 1983-84 MSU team also advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four - the first Spartan team to conquer that feat since 1967.
Walsh assumed the reins of the Maine program in 1984 and posted a 399-214-44 career record in 17 seasons, good for 19th place all-time among NCAA hockey coaches. He piloted the Black Bears to seven trips to the Frozen Four, including national titles in 1993 and 1999, and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams won four Hockey East regular-season titles and three Hockey East tournament championships. He also coached two Hobey Baker Award winners - Scott Pellerin (1992) and Paul Kariya (1993).
Walsh, who lived in Veazie, Maine, was survived by his wife, Lynne, and sons Tyler, 10, Travis, 8, and Sean, 2.
