15 Facts About Amo Bessone

Amos "Betts" Bessone was a collegiate ice hockey player and head coach.

Amo Bessone played high school hockey in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and for two preparatory schools in Maine, Hebron Academy and Kents Hill School.

Amo Bessone played hockey for Association Saint-Dominique, a Lewiston amateur team.

Amo Bessone made his professional debut with the Reds on March 16,1943, in the first game of the opening round of the AHL playoffs against the Cleveland Barons.

Amo Bessone played for his hometown Springfield minor league baseball team of the Eastern League.

Amo Bessone was head ice hockey coach for Westfield High School for three seasons following his playing career.

Amo Bessone got his first collegiate head coaching job on September 13,1948, when he was hired by Michigan College of Mines and Technology.

The Spartans struggled with six losing seasons before Amo Bessone turned things around in his seventh season as coach.

Len Ceglarski and Amo Bessone shared the Spencer Penrose Award as the national coach of the year in 1966.

Amo Bessone helped establish the Greater Lansing Area Hockey Association, the first organized youth hockey program in Mid-Michigan.

Amo Bessone assisted the league by donating used equipment and encouraging his players to volunteer as coaches.

In 1992, Amo Bessone was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

Amo Bessone's final visit to the Michigan State campus was October 2006 for a reunion of the 1966 and 1986 NCAA national championship teams.

Amo Bessone enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and was discharged in 1946 as an ensign.

Amo Bessone served on PT boats during World War II in both the European and Pacific theaters, including as the executive officer and the commanding officer.