Former Golden Knight star Steve Wall (Class of 1972) was inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Troy, N.Y. He becomes the fifth former Clarkson player to be inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame in the past three years.
Steve Wall, an All-American in hockey and an all-star in lacrosse in the early 1970s, is regarded as one of the best two-sport athletes in college history.
Wall was the first Clarkson University varsity All-American hockey defenseman to be named twice, in 1971 and 1972. Playing for coach Len Ceglarski for three seasons from 1969 to 1972, Wall was a key member of Clarkson University's three most successful teams. During Wall's tenure, the Knights compiled a record of 72 wins, 22 losses and one tie and made an appearance in the national championship game during his sophomore season.
A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Wall began playing hockey at the age of 6. A standout in Peterborough minor hockey, he was coached by former Clarkson All-American Eddie Rowe.
During his 94-game career with the Knights, the 6-foot-tall, 180-pound defenseman averaged a point per game from the blue line, appearing in 94 games and recording 21 goals and 73 assists for 94 points, earning him selection to the ECAC All-Tournament Team as a sophomore and earning All-American honors as a junior and senior.
In his first season at Clarkson University, as a sophomore, he scored 18 points. He scored the final goal in the Knights' 6–4 loss to Cornell University in the 1970 NCAA National Championship at Lake Placid. The next season, his point total nearly doubled. As a junior, Wall had 9 goals and 26 assists for 35 points in 32 games. As a senior, Wall was the Green & Gold's leading playmaker with 35 assists in 30 games and was third in overall scoring with 41 points.
Wall was the first Clarkson player to be drafted into the NHL, being selected 61st overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round of the 1971 draft. After college, Wall continued his hockey career, signing a professional contract with the Ottawa Nationals of the World Hockey Association in 1972. He also played two years in the American Hockey League. Wall played for four professional hockey teams: the Ottawa Nationals and Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association, and the Jacksonville Barons and Syracuse Eagles of the American Hockey League.
Wall was the 1991 recipient of the Arnold H. Barben Award, which is presented to a Clarkson University hockey alumnus who has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, contributions to the betterment of the community and dedication to his alma mater.
An avid supporter of the Potsdam community, Mr. Waugh earned his master's degree from Clarkson University in 1978. He is actively involved in numerous civic activities and serves as a coach and administrator on the Potsdam Village Board and youth organizations. Mr. Waugh is a past recipient of the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award. He has served as a director of the Potsdam Youth Hockey Association since 1978. In 1988, he started the Potsdam Youth Lacrosse program for grades 5-8.
This will be Wall's third Hall of Fame induction, having been inducted into the Clarkson Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004 and then the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
