Riggs ’65 Inducted Into NYS Hockey Hall of Fame

Men’s Hockey Standout, War Hero Joins Elite Company

New York State Hockey Hall of Fame

HAMILTON – War hero, Hall of Honor inductee, and former men's hockey standout Steve Riggs '65 is being inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame, Sunday, July 16.

Riggs lettered three years in hockey between 1963-65 while serving as captain of the 1964-65 squad. During the 1963 and 1964 seasons, he led Colgate to the program's first two appearances ever in the ECAC Hockey playoffs.

A native of Potsdam, N.Y., Riggs graduated as Colgate's all-time leading scorer with 123 points on 51 goals and 72 assists. He played roughly 65 fewer games than today's varsity hockey athletes, yet he remains on the top-25 list of all-time Colgate hockey goal scorers, one of only three from that era to secure such an accomplishment.

He still holds one program record and it is one that will never be forgotten: the most goals scored in less than a minute. It happened at Clarkson during his senior year when he netted three goals in 59 seconds – the fastest hat trick in Colgate hockey history.

Riggs, a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, was killed in combat in Vietnam in 1968 before being inducted posthumously into the Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor. Today, the ice surface at Class of 1965 Arena, home of Colgate men's and women's hockey, is named in his honor.

The induction dinner ceremony will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Troy, N.Y. The reception begins at 4 p.m., followed by dinner, on July 16. Call 518-877-5170 for ticket information.

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