James Fullerton

James Herd Fullerton (April 9, 1909 – March 3, 1991) was an American ice hockey coach and referee. In 1992 he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Early years Fullerton learned to play hockey at Beverly High School (class of '26) prior to attending Norwich University (class of '30) in Northfield, Vermont, where he lettered in both football and hockey with a 2.71 goals against average over four years. During his senior year, he doubled as captain and head coach of the hockey team.

After graduating, he passed on a tendered offer by Boston Bruins in order to accept a teaching/coaching position at Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York. Jim won an enviable 86% of his games with four undefeated seasons during his tenure from 1931 through 1955. He is credited with founding the first prep school invitational hockey tournament in the late 1930s. From the Olympic Village Fullerton officiated collegiate and professional games for 20 years while serving as AAU Ice Officials, VP New England Chapter.

Brown University coach In 1955 Brown University hired Fullerton as their first full-time hockey coach where he remained for 15 seasons, retiring in 1970.

Achievements after retirement

Following retirement in 1970, Fullerton remained active with summer youth hockey camps, coaching US entry in the FIS World University Games (Lake Placid, NY). He also worked as a college scout for the New York Islanders (1972-'77) and the Chicago Black Hawks ('77-'78). In 1978, Hastings House Publishing Co. printed and marketed 8,000 copies of Fullerton's book Ice hockey: Playing and Coaching.

A driving force behind the American Hockey Coaches Association from his arrival at Brown, presiding over the organization in 1967-'69, Fullerton received the AHCA Founders Award in 1989 and the "Jim Fullerton Award" is presented annually to recognize an individual who loves the purity of the game. Both Brown ('74) and Norwich ('84) Athletic Halls of Fame have inducted Fullerton. In 1989 he received the Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award, and Northwood School's Wall of Fame is in his recognition. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame honored Fullerton along with his good friends and peers, Len Ceglarski and Amo Bessone, as enshrinees in 1992.