Lakers Hockey Team Honors Dedicated Volunteers

Moments before Saturday night’s boys against Eisenhower, the Lakers lined up along the blue line and watched as members of the staff at St. Clair Shores unrolled a mat that led from the penalty box towards center ice.

Two current players discreetly carried a pair of framed Lakers jerseys and hid them in the box while the rest of the teammates lined up along the blue line and the coaches took their places behind the bench.

Meanwhile, St. Clair Shores Unified assistant coach Russ DiCristofaro walked along the mat and addressed the crowd gathered for the game.

After a brief introduction and a heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors who had come on sponsor night, DiCristofaro called a pair of men from behind the bench to join him at center ice.

Dr. Bryan Baetens and Mike Luxton looked around with trepidation and surprise, then followed the assistant coach’s command and joined him near the center of the rink.

For the next several minutes, DiCristofaro explained to the crowd the valuable contributions each man had made, and continues to make, to the Lakers program.

He spoke of the long and storied pasts each had growing up in St. Clair Shores, being a part of the hockey community and continuing their involvement today.

“These are two of the best men I know,” DiCristofaro said. “I’m proud to say they’re part of the tea and I’m proud to call them friend also.”

Following the speech, the players presented each humbled recipient with a framed Lakers jersey in appreciation of all they have done, and continue to do, for the program.

“It was a total surprise. I really had no idea,” Baetens said. “I really thought all of it was to honor a sponsor or something. I had no idea. It’s really something, though. I feel very honored.”

Dr. Baetens not only serves as the team’s medical staff (which has been a busy job this season) but he’s also the squad’s goalie coach.

“I’ve been a hockey guy all of my life,” Baetens said. “Being from the area, it’s just really nice to be involved and to be able to give something back to this community and this program.”

Luxton, the team’s manager, was just as shocked at the ceremony.

“I was very surprised. They did a really good job keeping this under wraps. I didn’t have a clue,” Luxton said. “It’s a great honor. For me, I just have so much fun doing this with these guys. It’s a labor of love, no doubt.”

Luxton, like Baetens, is also an alumnus of the hockey program in the Shores. He was one of the dedicated few back in 2000 that started pushing for the return of a prep hockey team in St. Clair Shores–a dream that came to fruition in 2003 but is constantly evolving.

“This program is important for this community, I think,” Luxton said. “We try to teach these kids more than just how to be better hockey players. We try and teach them how to grow up and be better people. The kids and the faces on the team might change every year, but we try and keep the program moving in the right direction all the time.”

It’s a tough job, however, for everyone involved, which is exactly why Saturday night’s ceremony was so special. The ability to recognize the hard work of these two men is rewarding for everyone associated with the program.

“You could not find a better group of people than those who help out with this program,” Lakers head coach Frank DiCristofaro said. “I mean “Doc” Baetens comes and gives his time helping our goalies and taking care of these kids. He doesn’t have to be here. And Mike Luxton, it’s the same thing. He doesn’t have to be here, but he gives his time to help these kids and this team. These are genuine people with big hearts that are trying to help the kids. I mean, they don’t come any better than that.”

As the ceremony came to a close, Baetens and Luxton shook the hand of every grateful player on the team and then looked proudly at the framed jerseys presented to them Saturday night. A modest wave to an appreciative crowd followed, before the two men once again took their place behind the bench.

As the game went along, “Doc” Baetens attended to banged up players, while Luxton attended to the needs of the team. Both men offered encouragement and advice to the squad just as they had for years before–just as they will for years to come.