Dr. Lawrence 'Larry' Hendry, Co-Founder of Penn State Hockey, Passes Away at 81

Dr. Lawrence 'Larry' Hendry, a former coach and co-founder of the Penn State hockey program, passed away on August 30 at the age of 81, as stated in his obituary.

Hendry was instrumental in reinstating hockey at Penn State in 1971 after a 25-year hiatus, advocating for the sport's return to the university. He met multiple times with the Dean of Athletics and garnered significant community support before the program was approved, agreeing to oversee its development.

The hockey team, known as the Icers, debuted as a club sport on November 19, 1971, achieving an 8-6 victory against the Hampton Leafs. Under Hendry's leadership, the team recorded a 13-6 record in its inaugural season and later became a national powerhouse, amassing 944 wins and seven national championships before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 2012. Hendry was honored with induction into the Penn State Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. He is survived by his wife, Wendy, their three children, and five grandchildren.