Cardinal Hall of Fame Adds Five Members

Since 1984, Intercollegiate Athletics and the Office of Alumni Relations have recognized athletes who have made a significant contribution to their sport. The number of Cardinal athletes enshrined now stands at 99. This year’s honorees include:

Pierre Brunet ’82, Men’s Hockey

Through the course of his three-year career, Brunet notched 78 goals, which stands as the ninth-highest career total in the Cardinals’ history. A two-time All-SUNYAC selection, Brunet helped lead Plattsburgh State to a 74-26-6 mark and a pair of NCAA Division II Final Four appearances.

Following the 1980-1981 national tournament, Brunet was placed on the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Other accolades included NYCHA Second Team All-Star, ECAC Division II West Second Team All-Star in 1979-80 and ECAC Division II All-Tournament Team MVP in 1980-1981.

Brunet now lives in Pierrefonds, Quebec, about 30 miles from Montreal. He has owned a local restaurant for 28 years. He and his wife, Sylvie Heroux, have two adult children. He likes to travel and play golf with his son and friends.

Elizabeth Gibson ’05, Women’s Hockey

Gibson helped transform the Plattsburgh State women’s hockey program from an NCAA newcomer to a national power. She was named 2001-2002 Rookie of the Year, 2003-2004 Player of the Year, 2004-2005 Co-Player of the Year, and was the Cardinal's first three-time All-ECAC West First Team performer. She owns an astounding 11 program records including 120 career goals, 106 career assists, and 226 career points.

Gibson is currently recreation and intramural manager for the Royal Military College of Canada. She lives in Kingston, Ontario, with her husband, Tony, and son, Vincent. She previously worked for the Canadian Forces as national sports coordinator.

Brian McGrane ’05, Men’s Soccer

From 1999 to 2002, McGrane produced a nearly unrivaled career. A four-time choice for both the All-SUNYAC First Team and the NSCAA All-Region First Team, he amassed 72 points (27 goals, 22 assists) and helped lead the Cardinals to a 62-19-5 mark during his playing days.

Under his on-field leadership, the Cardinals laid claim to a pair of SUNYAC Tournament crowns and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He became the 10th player in team history to earn All-American Honors when the NSCAA placed him on the Third Team following the 2001 campaign.

McGrane is now head women's soccer coach at SUNY Oswego. He lives in Liverpool, N.Y. In 2013, he was voted the SUNYAC Coach of the Year. His teams won back-to-back conference championships and have played in the NCAA tournament.

Erin O’Brien ’05 G’11, Women’s Hockey

Each player following O’Brien to the Plattsburgh State women’s hockey blueline has had the difficult task of trying to match a career that stands as one of the greatest ever.

A four-time All-ECAC West First Team selection, she amassed 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points. It was the highest career total by a defenseman at the time of her graduation in 2005. Only two players since have surpassed the mark set by the two-time AHCA All-American.

O’Brien is currently a firefighter for the City of Toronto and lives in Whitby, Ontario. An assistant coach on Cardinal championship teams in 2007 and 2008, she later served as an assistant coach at Syracuse University. She also earned a master's degree in education at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Rick Young '82, Men’s Hockey

An offensive-minded blueliner, Young joined forces with future Hall of Famers Pierre Brunet, Gaetan D’Anjou and Doug Kimura to form one of the more memorable quartets ever put on ice by Plattsburgh State. Through the course of his three-year career, he totaled 133 points — the second-highest figure ever by a Cardinal defenseman.

One of six individuals selected to the Cardinals’ 1975-1984 All-Decade Team, Young was a three-time All-SUNYAC performer. He carved out a spot as an ECAC West Second Team All-Star in the 1980-1981 campaign and helped lead the Cardinals to a pair of NCAA Division II Final Fours.

Young now lives in Wilmington, N.Y., near the West Branch of the AuSable River and has three adult children. He serves as president of Young Lyon Floor & Home, a retail center for flooring and hardware products, which he and others have grown since 1988.