A Storied Norwich Night on The Hill

When the puck drops inside Kreitzberg Arena on Nov. 1, the start of a new Norwich men’s hockey season will appropriately share the spotlight with a man who has been intertwined with the program’s success. On that night, amid the echo of excited fans and the hum of anticipation that only opening night can bring, Norwich University will pause to honor one of its most familiar and beloved voices.

George Commo, the man who for decades carried the rhythm of Cadet hockey across the airwaves, who narrated triumphs and close calls with the calm authority of someone who knew both the ice and the institution will be recognized with the 2025 Jim Fullerton Award from the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA).

It is a fitting tribute. A lifetime of broadcasting, a legacy intertwined with Norwich hockey, and a voice helped shape how fans of Cadet hockey experienced the game they love.

The Voice of Norwich Hockey

For more than a quarter century, Commo was the unmistakable sound of Norwich winters. His baritone carried across Vermont’s airwaves from the booth at Kreitzberg Arena to kitchens, dorms, and cars across the state. He made the play-by-play feel personal, not just calling goals, but capturing moments. A perfectly executed rush, a key penalty kill, the roar of the Cadet crowd after a game-winner — Commo gave those moments shape and meaning. His broadcasts were more than words; he made you feel like you were there in Kreitzberg, even if you were miles away. 

Commo’s career began after earning his broadcasting degree from the University of Vermont in 1972, and he quickly became a fixture in Vermont media. His voice became synonymous not only with Norwich hockey, but with New England sports, spanning radio and television through decades of loyal service to his craft. 

He joined WDEV radio in Waterbury in 1998, taking over play-by-play duties for Norwich University hockey. Over the next 25 seasons, he chronicled the program’s rise to national prominence, calling four NCAA Division III National Championships and countless ECAC and NCAA tournament games.

Along the way, he also lent his voice to Norwich football and women’s hockey, Vermont Expos and Lake Monsters baseball, and WDEV’s popular stock car racing coverage. His dedication earned him 11 Vermont Sportscaster of the Year awards, and induction into multiple halls of fame, including the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame, Vermont Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Vermont Principals Association Hall of Fame, and in 2016, the Norwich University Hall of Fame.

A Fitting Norwich Connection

The Jim Fullerton Award is named for a Norwich alumnus whose influence stretch far beyond The Hill and recognized those who have given deeply and selflessly to the sport of hockey.

Fullerton, Norwich Class of 1930, was both a football and hockey standout and captain of the Cadets’ hockey team before embarking on a transformative career at Brown University. His 1964-65 Brown team reached the NCAA University Division Ice Hockey Championship, earning him the Spencer Penrose Award as national coach of the year.

But Fullerton’s contributions went well beyond victories. He was an innovator in defensive systems, an advocate for women in coaching, a respected official, and a leader within the AHCA. His personal philosophy reflected the Norwich way of competing with humility, personal grit, and continual mentorship.

Fullerton also served in the U.S. Army, blending service and sport in a way that mirrored Norwich’s citizen-soldier ethos. Inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame, and Norwich’s Athletic Hall of Fame, Fullerton embodied the principle that leadership is build not just on performance, but on character. 

To receive an award bearing his name is to be recognized not only for what one does, but for how one does it. It honors authenticity, integrity, and love for the game. By honoring George Commo with the 2025 Jim Fullerton Award, the AHCA affirms that his voice, and the way he used it, upheld those same ideals.

A Night of Legacy and Futures

The season opener at Kreitzberg Arena will be more than a game, it will be a gathering of Norwich generations equally celebrating the cemented legacy of Commo and look forward to the future of Norwich men’s hockey.

The Cadets, led by first-year head coach Dominick Dawes ’04, will take the ice against fourth-ranked Curry College, renewing a proud tradition under new leadership. Before the puck drops, the crowd will rise for a different kind of moment: to celebrate the presentation of the Jim Fullerton Award to Geoge Commo.

The ovation will be more than applause. It will be recognition. Gratitude. Memory.

As Kreitzberg’s lights shine on the banners, and in that brief pause before the season begins, Norwich’s past, present, and future will converge. In the stands or watching from home will be generations of Cadets who listened to Commo’s calls and know what that voice has meant to the Norwich story.

For Dawes, the moment carries special significance. A player who won a national title returns to lead his alma mater and celebrates the man who called each of the program’s title winning games. Dawes embodies the continuity of Norwich hockey’s proud tradition in returning to The Hill to lead a new era with old school grit and honoring Commo on the same night bridges the lineage between eras.

It is Norwich at its best, honoring history while simultaneously embracing the future.

Tradition and Continuity

In a program defined by legacy, Commo’s story fits seamlessly into the larger narrative. 
For over two centuries, Norwich has shaped leaders who serve with integrity and purpose. That same ethos extends to the ice, where teamwork, discipline, and humility define the program as much as trophies or banners.

When the AHCA recognized Commo for loving the purity of the sport, it also recognized something deeply Norwich — an unwavering commitment to the values behind the victories.

The connection between Fullerton, the award’s namesake, and Commo, its recipient, completes a full-circle moment. One began his journey on The Hill, carving a path through coaching and service. The other dedicated a lifetime to chronicling those who carried that same torch. Both shared a belief that hockey is more than competition, it is community.

Opening Night and the Season Ahead

The 2025-26 season will certainly be one of anticipation and renewal. Under the leadership of Coach Dawes, the Cadets aim to blend Norwich’s trademark grit with fresh energy and ambition. The opening matchup against Curry College will test their mettle early, but it will also serve as a reminder that Norwich never shies from a challenge.

With Commo’s recognition woven into the fabric of that night, it will be a celebration of the well-known voice of the Cadets, an institution, and a team culture that endures. For George Commo, the sound of that ovation may be sweeter than any broadcast he’s ever made.

In His Own Words

Reflecting on a broadcasting career defined by dedication and timing, George Commo has often credited Norwich University and the people around him for shaping his path.

Regarding his induction into the Norwich University Hall of Fame in 2016: 

“It means an awful lot to be inducted and I’m very proud of the fact that Norwich saw fit to honor me as an inductee. I was lucky to come along at exactly the right time. A lot of people put in a lot of time to get the games on the air in the first place.”

Regarding the National Championships:

“The first National Championship in 2000 in Superior, Michigan, was special because it was the first one and nobody in the west, particularly Superior, thought Norwich had a chance. The 2003 win was also very special because it was at home in Kreitzberg and then the 2010 victory in Lake Placid, New York, was just an incredible game. Playing it in the same arena as the Miracle on Ice and then being able to beat St. Norbert after we had not much luck against them was incredible.”

Regarding getting his start at Norwich:

“Norwich had just built a new arena, the team was getting better, and there was a lot of interest growing in the program. We did a more limited schedule of games then, but the next thing you know, Norwich is in the Frozen Four and hosting it in Northfield, and I was in the right place at the right time again.”

Regarding his favorite call:

“One of my favorite calls is when Casey Beaulac scored the game winning goal in the semifinals in 2000. Everything fell into place, we were playing out west, against Wisconsin-Superior, in their barn, and the west has been crying for years that they don’t get to host, and that they don’t get enough respect, and Casey was an unexpected source to come up with such a big goal when you think about all the other big scorers in the Cadets’ lineup.”