University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Stephen L. Eckerson 1973 - Hockey
A backup goalie the first two years of his collegiate career, Steve Eckerson, inducted into the UVM Hall of Fame in 1988, watched and learned. He had a good teacher, not only in head coach Jim Cross, but also in two-time All-America goalie Dave Reece.
As a junior and a senior he took over the starting role and was one of the best goalies in the nation. Eckerson, as a junior in 1971-72, fashioned a 3.14 overall goals average (including a 2.27 Division II G.A.A.), leading the Catamounts (13-3-1) to the ECAC Division II Regular Season Championship. Next year, behind the outstanding goaltending of Eckerson, UVM more than made up for its disappointing playoff loss in 1972. UVM was 25-6 overall and undefeated during the regular season and won the ECAC Division II Championship, pounding Bowdoin, 8-1, in the title game at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Catamounts finished 19-0 against Division II foes.
Eckerson was immense in 1972-73 and his accomplishments weren't overlooked when post-season honors were handed out. He was named to the All-ECAC First Team and probably should have been named to the All-America squad as well. Earlier that season, he was named ECAC Player of the Week following an MVP performance at the 1972 North Country Thanksgiving Tournament Canton Potsdam, N.Y. Also, he was selected December's Athlete of the Month by the Vermont Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association and was runner-up Athlete of the Year that next spring.
In 1972-73, Eckerson recorded a stunning 1.73 G.A.A. in Division II (a Vermont record) and finished as UVM's leader in shutouts in one season (five) and set the overall G.A.A. mark for one season (2.56). In Eckerson's two years as the regular netminder, Vermont was 42-13-2 overall and a remarkable 32-3-1 in Division II.
On the negotiation list of the Philadelphia Flyers, he was invited to play professionally for the Richmond (Va.) Robins for two weeks after the conclusion of the Vermont season in 1973. That was very unusual in the early '70s. Although he never played in the NHL, he attended training camps of the Flyers in 1973 and the Buffalo Sabres in 1974. Eckerson coached one season at UVM, handling the "B" squad in 1977-78. He also coached at Greely (Maine) High School from 1985-87.
