Monday, April 1, 2013

USA Hockey's Danton Cole to be Honored by Alma Mater, Michigan State

Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Danton Cole, who is in his third season as a head coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, will receive the 2013 Distinguished Spartan Award at the Michigan State University men's ice hockey team banquet on April 17. Cole was a four-year letter winner at MSU (1985-89) and went on to help the New Jersey Devils win its first Stanley Cup in 1995.

Cole was a four-year letterwinner at MSU. Photo by Dave Reginek.

Cole is currently the head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team and led the squad to a first-place finish at the 2012 Four Nations Tournament in Monthey, Switzerland. He also served behind the bench as Team USA earned third place at the 2013 World Under-17 Challenge in Drummondville and Victoriaville, Quebec.

In 2011-12, Cole guided the U.S. to the gold medal at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's Under-18 World Championship in the Czech Republic. The team went undefeated in the tournament (6-0-0-0) and gave up just four goals in the event.

As a player, Cole appeared in 318 games in the NHL from 1989-96. Prior to embarking on his pro career, he skated for the Michigan State Spartans from 1985-89. While a Spartan, Cole was a part of the squad that captured the 1986 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship. In 1989, he received the Big Ten Medal of Honor as MSU's top student-athlete in both scholarship and achievement. Cole was named to three CCHA All-Academic Teams and twice served as an assistant captain for the Spartans. He was named Most Valuable Player his senior season and graduated with a degree in finance.


  (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

No comments: