James Fullerton
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Herd Fullerton (April 9, 1909 Beverly, Massachusetts
–March 3, 1991) was an ice hockey
coach and referee. In 1992 he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
.
(class of '30) in Northfield, Vermont
where he lettered in both football and hockey with a 2.71 goals against average
over four years and senior year captain. The following year (1930/'31) he coached the Norwich Cadets prior to passing on a tendered offer by Boston Bruins in order to accept a teaching/coaching position at Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York
. Jim won an envious 86% of his games with four undefeated seasons during his tenure from 1931 through 1955. He is credited with founding the first prep school invitational hockey tournament in the late 1930s. From the Olympic Village Fullerton officiated collegiate and professional games for 20 years while serving as AAU Ice Officials, VP New England Chapter.
hired Fullerton as their first full time hockey coach where he remained for 15 seasons, retiring in 1970. With just 2 ice rinks in Rhode Island
and Brown having none, the challenge was great to be competitive and the 1960/'61 season closed with an 0-21 record. Meehan Auditorium
opened in late 1961 and with the 1964/'65 team, Brown's and its coach's fortunes changed with a 21-9 record and slot in the Frozen Four tournament hosted by Brown. His overall Brown record was 184-168-9. Three players achieved All-America
status while the coach was a four-time recipient of New England Coach of The Year and the Spencer Penrose Division One Coach of The Year
in 1965.
(1972-'77) and the Chicago Black Hawks ('77-'78). In 1978, Hastings House Publishing Co. printed and marketed 8,000 copies of Fullerton's book Ice hockey: Playing and Coaching.
A driving force behind the American Hockey Coaches Association
from his arrival at Brown, presiding over the organization in 1967-'69, Fullerton received the AHCA Founders Award in 1989 and the "Jim Fullerton Award" is presented annually to recognize an individual who loves the purity of the game. Both Brown ('74) and Norwich ('84) Athletic Halls of Fame have inducted Fullerton. In 1989 he received the Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award
, and Northwood School's Wall of Fame is in his recognition. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame honored Fullerton along with his good friends and peers, Len Ceglarski
and Amo Bessone
, as enshrinees in 1992.
Jim Fullerton died March 3, 1991 where beside his wife, Frances, he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
based on his 30+ years of active and reserve U.S. Army officer status.
Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
–March 3, 1991) was an ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
coach and referee. In 1992 he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
.
Early years
Fullerton learned to play hockey at Beverly High School (class of '26) prior to attending Norwich UniversityNorwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
(class of '30) in Northfield, Vermont
Northfield, Vermont
Northfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. It lies in a valley within the Green Mountains, and has been the home of Norwich University since 1866. The town contains the village of Northfield, where over half of its population lives. The population was 6,207 at the 2010...
where he lettered in both football and hockey with a 2.71 goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
over four years and senior year captain. The following year (1930/'31) he coached the Norwich Cadets prior to passing on a tendered offer by Boston Bruins in order to accept a teaching/coaching position at Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
. Jim won an envious 86% of his games with four undefeated seasons during his tenure from 1931 through 1955. He is credited with founding the first prep school invitational hockey tournament in the late 1930s. From the Olympic Village Fullerton officiated collegiate and professional games for 20 years while serving as AAU Ice Officials, VP New England Chapter.
Brown University Coach
In 1955 Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
hired Fullerton as their first full time hockey coach where he remained for 15 seasons, retiring in 1970. With just 2 ice rinks in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and Brown having none, the challenge was great to be competitive and the 1960/'61 season closed with an 0-21 record. Meehan Auditorium
Meehan Auditorium
The George V. Meehan Auditorium is a 3,059-seat hockey arena, in Providence, Rhode Island. The arena opened in 1961 and was dedicated on January 6, 1962. On September 28, 1964, at the same time that he was campaigning to stay in office, U.S. President Lyndon B...
opened in late 1961 and with the 1964/'65 team, Brown's and its coach's fortunes changed with a 21-9 record and slot in the Frozen Four tournament hosted by Brown. His overall Brown record was 184-168-9. Three players achieved All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
status while the coach was a four-time recipient of New England Coach of The Year and the Spencer Penrose Division One Coach of The Year
Spencer Penrose Award
The Spencer Penrose Award is awarded yearly to the top coach in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey by the American Hockey Coaches Association.The finalists for each year's award comprise the conference Coach of the Year winners from each Division I men's ice hockey conference, plus the coaches of the...
in 1965.
Perfecting the Game
Fullerton was considered an innovator with many crediting him with developing defensive plays such as the "Box", "Triangle" and one-two-one "Diamond" tactics. He had a game strategy for each opponent that kept his teams competitive even when short on depth and talent. Fullerton hired the first female assistant coach (Laura Strumm) to teach power skating and in 1964 had a Brown co-ed (Nancy Schieffelin) suit up and practice with the men. Nancy was an organizer for the Panda Bears, the first recognized American college women's hockey team (1965).Achievements After Retirement
Following retirement in 1970, Fullerton remained active with summer youth hockey camps, coaching US entry in the FIS World University Games (Lake Placid, NY). He also worked as a college scout for the New York IslandersNew York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(1972-'77) and the Chicago Black Hawks ('77-'78). In 1978, Hastings House Publishing Co. printed and marketed 8,000 copies of Fullerton's book Ice hockey: Playing and Coaching.
A driving force behind the American Hockey Coaches Association
American Hockey Coaches Association
The American Hockey Coaches Association was formed in 1947 in Boston. The founding members coached college ice hockey but membership has grown to include coaches at every level of the sport from youth hockey to professional ice hockey, although the organization maintains a focus on the collegiate...
from his arrival at Brown, presiding over the organization in 1967-'69, Fullerton received the AHCA Founders Award in 1989 and the "Jim Fullerton Award" is presented annually to recognize an individual who loves the purity of the game. Both Brown ('74) and Norwich ('84) Athletic Halls of Fame have inducted Fullerton. In 1989 he received the Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award
Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award
The Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award is an annual award presented by the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Committee to honor "one of the all-time great contributors to the game of college hockey."...
, and Northwood School's Wall of Fame is in his recognition. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame honored Fullerton along with his good friends and peers, Len Ceglarski
Len Ceglarski
Leonard Stanley Ceglarski is a native of East Walpole, Massachusetts. He was an All-American left wing on Boston College's 1949 NCAA championship team, and was captain of the 1950–51 squad. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic hockey team that won the silver medal at the 1952 Winter Olympic...
and Amo Bessone
Amo Bessone
Amo Bessone was a collegiate ice hockey player and head coach.Bessone was born in Sagamore, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he learned to play hockey....
, as enshrinees in 1992.
Jim Fullerton died March 3, 1991 where beside his wife, Frances, he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
based on his 30+ years of active and reserve U.S. Army officer status.