A native of Buffalo, New York and a graduate of Colgate University, Gregg Batt is regarded as the finest American college hockey player of his era. As player-coach, he led his Colgate team to an 11-1 record in his Senior year, 1943.

Service as a Marine Squad Leader in the Okinawa Invasion in World War II brought him a Purple Heart. He returned to Colgate as assistant coach, while commuting to Clinton to play for the Comets. He consistently led his Comets team in scoring and his outstanding, exciting play is credited with a remarkable increase in fan support. This eventually led to the establishment of professional hockey in the Utica area.

In 1948 he moved to Clinton to coach the Hamilton College team. Thirty-six years and over 650 games later he retired as "Dean of American hockey coaches."

Gregg Batt developed a popular ice hockey scorebook and served on the N.C.A.A. Ice Hockey Rules Committee. He also coached football, baseball and tennis at Hamilton.
A Colgate teammate remembers: "Above all, Greg Batt contributed his human qualities to his players and colleagues. He was a soft-spoken father figure whose door was always open. His humanity made him approachable and endeared him to those whose lives he touched."