[1] Cross graduated from Boston University in 1960, having played ice hockey for the Terriers for two seasons.

In his senior year, he helped the team record a third-place finish at the 1960 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament.

The Catamounts exceeded general expectation by finishing the season with a 24–12 record and in third place in the conference.

After this promising start, Vermont declined to middling records for four years before winning an ECAC West divisional title in 1980.

"[9] In 2019, Cross received the prestigious Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award,[10] and in 2020, he was inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame.