Rene Cy LeClerc - NH Legends of Hockey

Year Inducted: 2007

Birthdate: July 29, 1946 -

Town/City: Berlin, NH

Rene grew up in Berlin, known to all as Hockeytown USA, first learning about the game when he was 3 years old.

He graduated from Notre Dame High in 1964 and graduated in 1971 from NH College, now Southern New Hampshire University. He served as Captain his junior (1969-70) and senior (1970-71) seasons. Later, a job transfer landed him in Chicago where his stellar coaching career began. He first became Head Coach at Driscoll, a Parochial High School in Addison, Ill. Driscoll had just 250 boys enrolled, while their rivals, in some cases, had total enrollments of more than 2000. Rene took charge of a team that was 1-13 the previous season and established a contender, finishing in second place. For that accomplishment, the Metropolitan High School Hockey League named him Coach of the Year. Over the next three years, his teams compiled a 79-38-6 record and Rene earned one more Coach of the Year Award.

In 1975, he returned to Manchester, settled in, and became involved in the Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association, coaching Mites to Midgets, while winning several New.England championships.

Then, in 1987 he was named Assistant Coach at Manchester Central High School and the following year became Head Coach, serving for 12 seasons. Under his tutelage, his teams compiled a 129-101-11 record and made it to the State Tournament finals in 1987 and 1994.

In 1999, he returned to Southern NH University, this time as Head Coach. His teams have been in the conference finals several years. They have amassed a record of 111-80-16.

Rene also spent 20 years as an official beginning in 1971 in Chicago. He worked games for local colleges, the US Hockey League, and the WCHA. Upon returning to NH he officiated the NE Junior Hockey League, as well as ECAC Division I and Division II, calling the Division II National Championships of 1982 and 1983. Also during that span he worked the Beanpot tourney . He also officiated the NHIAA State finals several times and served a two-year term as Association President. In 1980 Rene worked the pre-Olympic Romania-versus-UNH game, and in 1984 UNH-versus-the US Olympic team game.