Hall of Fame

        The 2017 inductee into the Slippery Rock University Mens’ Ice Hockey Hall of Fame is proof that a player’s value isn’t always measured in a column on a score sheet. Although he was never the leading goal scorer or the leading assist getter, Dean Kline earned his way into the SRU HOF because of his ability to bring the team together.

Sure, the old 95’er got his points but as he says, “I always knew in a way that my role was bigger than just performing at game time.”

“Then and now for me, hockey is all about the bond of teammates,” Kline added. “Even as a youth coach so many years after my time at SRU, I enjoy getting my players to work super hard and still have more fun together than they could have imagined.”

Kline was a player, team captain, assistant coach and club president during his time at the Rock (1991-1995). The team competed in the Western Pennsylvania College Hockey Association. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Kline now resides in Philadelphia with his wife and 3 children. Kline plays in the “not-so-elite league” on Wednesday nights with fellow alumni and SRU teammate Bernie Gillespie #44. He is also a coach at Wissahickon Skating Club.

      Congratulations to Mark Runco (2001-2005) for being the first Rock Hockey alum inducted into the SRU Hockey Hall of Fame!‬ As a player, he led the team to the national tournament in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 and to the 2003 CHE regular season championship, the Kalenia Cup. He also did make the CHE-College Hockey East 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 All Star Teams.  

       Mark was also part of the group of officers who moved the team up to its current level of ACHA Division One. "When I was at SRU and playing I went all out every game, every shift. I think my teammates saw that and knew that. I was in a leader role for just all the entire time I was with the team.  I enjoyed that role everyday though, I wanted to take care of my guys at every step on and off the ice." (Runco)