Page 30 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 124

30 Issue #124 May 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

Continued from page 28 she filled out all of the paperwork. recruiting. Paul Kariya was with Odessa, San Angelo, and Waco.
“I had to go to Montreal for an Penticton at the time and there were This was just after the Minnesota
There was a faculty representative extensive interview,” Mike recalled, numerous other future NHLers North Stars moved to Dallas,
that oversaw the program, but the “but I needed a letter of support playing in the league.” In his second and at that time there were more
eight of us ran the team. We filled
from a prospective employer as season with Bellingham the team professional hockey teams in Texas
the place, got to travel to play, and they were not going to just give me went to the league finals. It was than any other state in the country.
I graduated with a master’s degree
a Green Card to go and look for a then off to Kennewick, Washington, None of these cities were familiar
in one year. I was having too much job. My old coach from River Falls where Mike became assistant coach with hockey and it was a great
fun to leave so I managed to stay offered to hire me as an assistant of the Tri-city Americans, playing experience educating the fans, - it
another year, being a proctor at a coach if I got my card. I was lucky in the WHL. The next season Mike was a good minor league made up
fraternity, kitchen boy at a sorority, enough to have my name pulled returned to Bellingham as GM of Division One guys and minor
taught in the Physical Education
in the lottery and that’s how I got and Head Coach, positions that league guys that didn’t crack the
Dept., and played on the University into the coaching business.” Mike he held for the next two years. In big show, as well as former NHL
Club hockey team. I had my school stayed in River Falls for one year, 1996 Mike, his wife Shannon, and players that were on their way
paid for, my room and board paid then got his first Head Coaching newborn son Braxton moved to down and out of hockey. It was an
for, and I was earning a salary from position with the Bellingham Ice Texas where Mike accepted an interesting league that eventually
the University, so it was a pretty Hawks in the BCHL. “Bellingham assistant coaching position with merged with the Central League.”
good gig.”
is located in the northwest corner of the Amarillo Rattlers in the brand In 1998 Mike was the Associate
While Mike was in school, he Washington state and is only about new Western Professional Hockey
Coach at Lake State in Sault Saint
was on a student visa and in 1987 20 minutes south of Vancouver. League. “Most of the teams were Marie, Michigan, with a Division
his mother Anne became aware of We were the only American team based out of Texas and Louisiana,”
One team that had just won two
a lottery Green Card that was being playing in the British Columbia explained Mike, “the Texas teams National Championships. The
promoted. Knowing that Mike Hockey League, which at that in the league were Abilene, Austin,
would probably remain in the US, time was the premier league for Fort Worth, El Paso, Lubbock, Continued on page 37