Morrison, Union women's hockey volunteer assistant coach, dies

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ken Schott

George Morrison, who joined the Union College women’s hockey program as a volunteer assistant coach last season, died Wednesday afternoon after battling a brain tumor. He was 59 years old.

Morrison, who also served as volunteer assistant coach with the RPI men’s hockey team earlier this decade, was diagnosed with the tumor before the start of this season.

“Losing George is one of the most devastating loses our team has had to face since I began this job,” Dutchwomen coach Claudia Asano said. “It is a loss that no one could have predicted, which makes it more painful. His role on this team was far more than anyone can put into words.

“He was everything to our team – a leader, a mentor, a teacher, a father figure and a coach. Every player and our staff loved George. I know our team will miss him tremendously, but his impact on our program will be felt for years to come. We play for him.”

Morrison played college hockey at Denver University, scoring 70 goals in 64 career games. He was named to the NCAA West First All-Star team in 1969 and 1970, and won an NCAA title in 1969.

He played professionally for the NHL’s St. Louis Blues and the World Hockey Association’s Minnesota Fighting Saints, where he had 40 goals and 38 assists in 73 games in 1973-74.

A funeral will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Memorial Chapel on the Union College campus. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dutchwomen’s ice hockey team in his name.