J. Thom Lawler
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 3, 1934 Rome, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 1978 (aged 44) Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Alma mater | St. Lawrence University |
| Playing career | |
| 1957–1960 | St. Lawrence |
| Position | Left Wing |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1960–1961 | Madrid–Waddington CS |
| 1961–1965 | Canton Central HS |
| 1965–1978 | Merrimack |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 218-138-10 (.609) |
| Tournaments | 2–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1967 ECAC 2 Tournament Champion 1968 ECAC 2 Regular Season Champion 1968 ECAC 2 Tournament Champion 1969 ECAC 2 Regular Season Champion 1975 ECAC 2 Regular Season Champion 1976 ECAC 2 Regular Season Champion 1977 ECAC 2 Regular Season Champion 1977 ECAC 2 Tournament Champion 1978 NCAA National Championship | |
| Awards | |
| |
John Thomas Lawler (January 3, 1934 – June 11, 1978) was an American ice hockey player and coach who won the inaugural NCAA Division II national championship in 1978 with Merrimack.
Lawler a graduate of St Lawrence University, where he played hockey and baseball. He later got involved in coaching following his graduation eventually ending up at Merrimack College in 1965, during his 13 year tenure at the Merrimack he would work his way up from and assistant athletic director to the head director and served as the hockey program’s head coach. Additionally he was the inaugural men’s soccer and golf coach.
Lawler died of a heart attack in 1978 just months after the Warriors won the national championship. In 2003 Merrimack re named their hockey rink in Lawler’s honor.