MSU to dedicate ice surface at Munn Arena in Ron Mason's honor
Michigan State announced Wednesday that the ice surface at Munn Arena will be renamed Ron Mason Rink when it is dedicated to the late Ron Mason ahead of the Spartans' hockey season opener against Lake Superior State on Oct. 7.
Mason, who coached the Spartans from 1979-2002, ranks No. 2 on college hockey's all-time wins list with 924 career victories. He won 635 of those games during his career at MSU, which included a national championship in 1986, 22 NCAA tournament appearances, seven Frozen Fours, 10 CCHA regular-season championships and 13 CCHA postseason titles.
“Ron Mason is one of the iconic coaches in the history of Michigan State athletics,” MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller said in a press release. “Naming the rink in his honor provides a reminder of what he meant to Spartan hockey, MSU athletics and our entire community as Munn Ice Arena was a gathering place for Spartan fans and one of the toughest tickets around. Capacity crowds have returned to Munn, connecting the present and future with our storied past. We look forward to this dedication with Ron’s family and friends to celebrate his legacy in a permanent way.”
Mason also coached at Lake Superior State from 1966-1973 and Bowling Green from 1973-1979.
Mason was MSU's athletic director from 2002-07 after his retirement from coaching and is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Michigan State, Lake Superior State, and St. Lawrence University sports halls of fame.
“The legacy of Ron Mason is felt throughout our arena every day,” MSU coach Adam Nightingale said in a press release. “He set high standards and had some of the most legendary teams and athletes in the sport under his guidance. This rink is where his teams entertained hundreds of thousands of fans during a decades-long sellout streak and he developed players into NHL prospects every day. It is a fitting tribute to a coaching legend for all he meant not only to us here at Michigan State, but also the game of college hockey.”
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU to dedicate ice surface at Munn Arena in Ron Mason's honor
