Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Graduate, Former Hockey Assistant Coach, Dies of Cancer
September 25, 2001 | Ice Hockey
Sept. 25, 2001
Bowling Green - Shawn Walsh, a 1978 Bowling Green State University graduate and former assistant hockey coach, lost his battle with cancer Monday afternoon, Sept. 24, at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. Walsh had been fighting cancer for the past 15 months. He was 46.
Walsh had been head coach at the University of Maine for the past 17 years, guiding the Bears to two National Championships in 1993 and 1999. As head coach of the Bears, Walsh compiled a 399-215-44 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament 11 times.
Walsh, a native of White Plains N.Y., was a 1978 graduate of BGSU, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in education.
In his senior year at Bowling Green, Walsh coached the junior varsity hockey team and also worked with head coach Ron Mason at the varsity level. Walsh remained at Bowling Green for two additional seasons with Mason, before the two men moved to Michigan State.
Prior to Walsh and Mason arriving at MSU in 1979, the Spartans had failed to qualify for the WCHA playoffs in three straight seasons. While at MSU, Walsh helped lead the Spartans to three consecutive CCHA titles and to the NCAA semifinals in 1983-84, his final year.
In addition to his collegiate coaching, Walsh served as president of the American Hockey Coaches Association and served on the board for 10 years. He directed the Maine Hockey School and was a former owner of the Huron Hockey School.
Walsh had been active in the community. He served as the Eastern Maine Spokesman for the United Way while also assisting other charities. He annually helped the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, Children's Miracle Network and spoke on the behalf of several charities throughout the community, region, and state.
Walsh is the father of sons Tyler, 10, and Travis, 8. He resided in Veazie with his wife, the former Lynne Vickery and her daughter, Alejandra, 11, and their son, Sean, 2, who was born in June 1999.
BGSU opens its 2001-02 hockey season against Maine in the Icebreakers Tournament in Orono, Maine, on Oct. 12.
(The University of Maine and USCHO websites contributed to this story).
