By Randy Schultz, NYHOL; Photos by Janet Schultz, NYHOL
Bob Rosen, the long-time head coach of the Williamsville North High School boys hockey team, has been elected to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2026.
Named boys head hockey coach at Williamsville North in 1990, Rosen has built the Spartans into a powerhouse program in 36 seasons. During that period of time Rosen has won 579 career wins, which is more than any other high school hockey coach in New York State history.
His Will North teams have won five New York State Championships including 2002, 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2017. The 2011 team achieved perfection with an undefeated season.
Rosen guided Williamsville North to the NYS finals seven times in the team’s first eight years of eligibility beginning in 2001. His team became the first public school to win a Federation Championship.
Rosen has also been a successful coach for Amherst hockey. His Junior B and Junior C hockey teams won four combined National Championships, including the first undefeated season at the Junior B level in USA Hockey in the 1987-88 campaign.
The Will North 1979 graduate also coached Team East at the USA Hockey Select 17 National Tournament.
He has also been named New York State Coach of the Year three times including 2006, 2011 and 2017. In 2019 Rosen received the prestigious American Hockey Coaches Association, John Mariucci Award.
As a player Rosen played for the Junior A Buffalo Sabres, SUNY Canton (which won a national championship during his time there) and Canisius College. He would later become an assistant coach at Canisius.
Prior to his selection to the GBSHOF Rosen has been inducted into the Amherst Hockey Hall of Fame, the Williamsville North Hall of Fame, and the Section VI Hall of Fame.
