COLCHESTER, Vt. - Chris Davidson '99 M'06, captain of the national champion 1999 Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey team and a long-time coach at his alma mater, passed away on Monday at the age of 50 following multiple health challenges. A memorial celebration of his life will occur on Thursday at Stockbridge Funeral Home in Exeter, N.H., from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday at Saint Michael Catholic Church in Exeter, N.H., at 2 p.m.
 
A four-year Purple Knight forward from Clinton, N.Y., Davidson netted 23 points in a breakout 1998-99 campaign as a senior, when he was team captain. Saint Michael's took the national championship series from Southern New Hampshire University, 1-0-1, to capture the College's first national championship in any sport. The victors' spoils included a visit with Gov. Howard Dean at the Vermont State House and being celebrated on-field before a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, where Davidson delivered a ceremonial first pitch.
 
After a stint playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League, Davidson turned his attention to coaching. He worked one year as the top assistant coach at Manhattanville College before returning to his alma mater in 2000-01, spending the next seven seasons as an assistant coach on Lou DiMasi's staff. The Purple Knights captured the first three Northeast 10 Conference Championships between 2001-02 and 2003-04, claiming all three titles by a single goal - including two in overtime - against Saint Anselm College to cement an enduring rivalry.
 
Davidson succeeded DiMasi in 2007-08, when he was named NE10 Coach of the Year and won the first of two consecutive postseason crowns. The Purple Knights went 16-7-2 in NE10 action over his five years at the helm, including going 5-0 in 2010-11 for their lone perfect conference season. Saint Michael's was also a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East during Davidson's tenure, competing against such national powers as Norwich University, but still claimed 23 total wins over his first two winters. Davidson was also the Saint Michael's men's golf head coach for four years, spanning his time as an ice hockey assistant and head coach.
 
Following a stint at Vermont Academy, where he was boys' ice hockey head coach and director of athletics, Davidson became a pillar of the New Hampshire hockey community. Most recently, he was general manager of the Seacoast Spartans and academy director for the Seacoast Performance Academy.
 
Davidson leaves his wife, Aurelia (Simmons) '00, herself a former Saint Michael's field hockey captain, and four children. A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family.