As many people did during the second world war George Menard enlisted in the
armed services after graduating high school, but as he enlisted in October 1945 his services were unneeded for the war effort. The following fall he began attending
Brown University, playing both ice hockey and
baseball for the Bears to such an outstanding degree that he was signed by the
New York Yankees. George eschewed a professional playing career in favor of coaching, becoming the
head coach at
St. Lawrence in
1955 for both ice hockey and baseball. Menard continued the Saint's winning ways from the beginning, getting his team to a second straight
NCAA tournament in his first season. In each of his first nine seasons behind the bench Menard would get St. Lawrence to finish with winning records as well as making five tournament appearances (four coming in consecutive seasons). When St. Lawrence became a founding member of
ECAC Hockey in
1961–62 Menard led the Saints to the inaugural conference tournament title and followed it up with the school's first 20-win season, a feat they wouldn't repeat for 20 years. ==Death==