LSSC Alumni leads Michigan State to NCAA Championship

Rick Comley, class of 1972, led Michigan State University to the schools third NCAA Division 1 national championship with a win over Boston College on Saturday night, in his 5th season at MSU. As a player at LSSC Rick Comley recorded 151 career points (44 goals, 107 assists) leading the Lakers in assists three years. Comley was a NAIA All-American his freshman season 1968, and was named LSSC team captain his senior season eventually being selected the team’s Most Valuable Player. Comley was also named LSSU's Clifford Everett Outstanding Athlete Award recipient for the 1970-71 season, also being named 1970-71 International Collegiate Hockey Association All Star. Comley rejoined LSSC as an assistant to Ron Mason in the 1972-73 season and was named head coach when Ron Mason left Lake State to take Bowling Green State University’s head coaching position. In his first season as the Lakers head coach Comley lead the Lakers to their second NAIA National Championship in 3 years. Following the 1975-76 season Rick Comley left LSSC start Northern Michigan University’s hockey program, finishing his career at LSSC with a 59-46-3 record. Rick Comley went on to coach at Northern Michigan for 25 years compiling a 538-429-68 record. Comley led Northern Michigan to the NCAA tournament in 1980, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1993, and 1999 winning the 1991 NCAA National Championship in a triple overtime game against Boston University. In March of 2002 Rick Comley was once again named Ron Mason’s successor as head coach this time at Michigan State University. In 5 seasons at MSU Comley’s Spartans have made three trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2004, 2006, and 2007 winning the the 2006 CCHA play-off championship along the way compiling a 117-73-19 record. In winning the 2007 NCAA championship Saturday night Comley joined Boston College’s Jerry York (BC & BGSU) and Ned Harkness (Rensselaer and Cornell) as the third coach to lead two different teams to NCAA national championships. Photo courtesy of USCHO.com (Melissa Wade)