Ron Mason, who led Michigan State to a national title in hockey and won 924 games in a 36-season career behind the bench, has died. He was 76.
Spartans assistant coach Tom Newton, surrounded by Mason’s family Monday morning, confirmed that his mentor and friend died Sunday night.
“It was sudden,” Newton said in a telephone interview. “He was great man that had a great impact on a lot of lives.”
Mason coached a slew of talented players who went on to the NHL, including Hobey Baker winners Kip Miller and Ryan Miller.
“No one saw it coming,” said Bryan Smolinski, a Genoa native and one of Mason’s star players.