Former Golden Knights' Standouts Enter Hall of Fame

POTSDAM -- Four prominent people in the makeup of the Clarkson University men's hockey program's storied history are part of the eight-person 2008 Athletic Hall of Fame class, announced by Clarkson.

Kevin Zappia, Bob Empie, one of Clarkson's all-time leading scorers, coach Bill Harrison and "the father of Clarkson hockey," Murray Walker, make up the hockey-heavy sixth induction class, which will be honored in ceremonies July 11.

Other members of the class are baseball player Ed "Rube" Kinney, soccer player Larry Martin, basketball and tennis player Stephanie Sealer, and golfer Fred Silver, who also played hockey for the Golden Knights.

Zappia, who played from 1975-79, scored more goals than any other Golden Knight with 103 in 122 games. He is second only to former NHL standout Dave Taylor in points scored for Clarkson with 213. Zappia also excelled in baseball.

Empie played center for Clarkson's high-scoring teams in the late 1960s. In 71 games from 1965-68, Empie averaged 2.1 points per game, finishing with 70 goals and 79 assists.

Harrison was the third coach for the Golden Knights and led the team from 1948-58. Clarkson went 124-47-6 to post the best career winning percentage (.724) of any hockey coach in history. He led Clarkson to its only unbeaten season, 23-0 in 1955-56, and the program's first NCAA tournament appearances in 1957 and 1958.

Walker was a businessman and contributing founder of hockey at Clarkson. The team's arena was dedicated in his honor on Nov. 1, 1975, and was home of the Golden Knights until 1991. Walker and Gordon Croskery helped organize the team from 1921-35.

Silver played three years as a center and left wing for the Golden Knights, finishing with 42 goals and 42 assists from 1965-68. But he was one of the school's best golfers ever. He captained the team for three years and was named the school's outstanding senior athlete in 1968. He went on to win the Western New York Amateur Golf championship in 1972, 1982 and 1983.

Kinney was one of the best pitchers for longtime coach Hank Hodge. The left-hander excelled for Clarkson in the early 1940s before joining the service. He returned in 1947 as the team's ace and helped Clarkson to a 10-3-1 mark.

Martin is the Golden Knights' all-time leading scorer in soccer with 101 points, including 45 goals, through 64 games from 1988-91. He helped Clarkson to one NCAA tournament, was named league co-rookie of the year, and also started at guard for the basketball team.

Sealer won Empire Athletic Association honors in singles and doubles during her time at Clarkson in the mid-1990s. She is ranked in the top 10 in several categories all-time on the women's basketball team. She was state female athlete of the year as a senior in 1995.