Richard P. Ryerson - NH Legends of Hockey

Year Inducted: 2006

Birthdate: June 15, 1927 -

Town/City: Glen Ridge, NJ

Dick played hockey at St. Paul’s School during the 1943-44 and 1944-45 seasons, and during his senior-year vacations traveled south to play for the Jamaica Hawks in the New York Metropolitan League. He also played football and baseball and track and was awarded the Gordon Medal for the Best All-Around Athlete and Sportsman.

After his 1945 graduation from St. Paul’s School, Dick served in the US Armed Forces for two years.

After his honorable discharge, he enrolled at Princeton University and played hockey during the 1947-48 season and part of the 1948-49 season. After leaving Princeton, he played three seasons for the Schenectady Generals of the New York State League. In 1952-53, he began teaching and coaching at the Berkshire School where he played hockey for the New Milford Tomahawks for two of his three years. The Tomahawks, during his tenure, were runners-up in the A.H.A. National Championships. In 1955-56, he returned to school, enrolling at Wesleyan University where he played hockey and graduated in 1958.

In 1958-59, he began a 12-year stay at the Tilton School in New Hampshire as a history teacher, serving also as head hockey coach and athletic director. His teams in the very competitive Lakes Region League played against New Hampton, Holderness, Proctor, Brewster, Berwick, Fryeburg Academy and Vermont Academy. In 12 seasons, Tilton won five Lakes Region Championships. In addition, they played Middlebury, UNH, Bowdoin and Dartmouth freshman teams.

In the early to mid-Sixties, while working at the Tilton School, Dick played forward for the Laconia Lakers in the Granite State Hockey League.

In 1970, he began a tenure at Concord High School as Assistant Hockey Coach while teaching at Rundlett Junior High School in the Capital City. In 1973, he became Head Hockey Coach, overseeing the program for the next six seasons. Ultimately, Dick led the Crimson Tide to two state championships. In 1977, Concord defeated Bishop Guertin,
3-2, and in 1979 defeated Bishop Brady, 6-1. In 1975 and 1978, his teams were runners-up.

He was named Coach of the Year in New Hampshire in 1977 and 1979.

He also coached in the Concord Youth Hockey system at all levels and coached at the Exeter Summer Hockey School for more than 10 years.