Close
Zemenick named MH Female Scholar Athlete of the YearGrosse Pointe North senior excels in classroom and on the iceBy Linley Wartenberg To be successful in hockey as well as school, students have to learn how to prioritize and organize. So when Kate Zemenick earned Michigan Hockey’s Female Scholar Athlete of the Year honors, she attended the Banquet of Champions to accept her award despite the fact she had an AP Environmental Science test the next morning. Zemenick, who has a 3.94 GPA at Grosse Pointe North, just brought her class notes to review before the evening got under way so she’s be prepared the next day her notes worked double duty, though, because Zemenick would up writing her award speech during dinner as well. She jotted down her thoughts on the back of her science notes.
“I was always planning in my mind, but I didn’t know what it was going to turn into,” Zemenick said. “I was really nervous.” A big fan of former U.S. Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks and his inspirational speeches, she said she wanted her words to be “in the moment.” “I didn’t want to tell people `go study,’” she said. “I thought if kids want to go far they need to be passionate about everything they do. Don’t waste your time doing things you don’t want to do.” Her own passion is a big part of her success, counselor Barb Skelly said. “She’s an absolutely outstanding student and person. Nice, outgoing and kind to people. She's got the brains and the personality and is passionate about everything she does." When students have to do something they don’t consider enjoyable, Zemenick suggests making it fun. “I try to incorporate some fun into it, like socializing,” Zemenick. “Or, I think of what it will bring me in the future.” Zemenick, a senior at North, has her eye on the future. Not just her future, but the Earth’s, as well. “I’ve always felt living on Earth is really special, because there’s so much out there,” said Zemenick, who traveled recently to Costa Rica and said she might consider joining the Peace Corps in the future. “We’re really lucky to be here.” Zemenick started a club at school called SAVE – Students Against Violating the Environment – aimed at recycling in school. "She came to me and asked if I would sponsor a new club,” her Environmental Studies teacher Steve Booher said. “She’s a great student, warm, outgoing and supportive of other students and someone who operates behind the scenes, she doesn't have to be in the spotlight.” Zemenick tutors others, and raised money to adopt a lion at the zoo. She’s also taken AP biology, Spanish and pre-calculus. “If I had 25 students just like her - wow. That would be great,” Booher said. “I just found things that have different time frames and do as much as I can do,” Zemenick said. “I like to stay busy, because it’s really fun.” In hockey, Zemenick averaged over two points a game as a forward, was named to the All-State team and helped the Norsemen to the Michigan Metro League playoff quarterfinals. She’s been accepted at the University of Michigan for the fall, and hopes to study science. “I’m thinking I really like environmental science and biology,” she said. “I’m not sure. I’m going to keep my options open.” Playing hockey while maintaining good grades is tough, but Zemenick says coaches understand what’s most important. “When you’re a student athlete, student comes first,” she said. Sue Spires, one of her teachers, called Zemenick an exceptional student who’s a “real leader.” “She’s dynamically talented and gets other kids involved and excited about learning,” she added. Zemenick didn’t know she’d been nominated for the scholar-athlete honor, and was floored when she found out she had won. “I knew I wasn’t the best hockey player out there and there are a lot of girls smarter than me,” she said. North’s athletic director doesn’t agree. “She embodies the essence of a top scholar-athlete,” Carmen Kennedy said. “She's very well-rounded person, very down to earth and focused and her teammates look up to her." LaBerge named Male Scholar Athlete of the YearLivonia Churchill senior defenseman a leader on and off of the iceBy Linley Wartenberg He’s been on the cover and been featured inside as a Star of Tomorrow, but nothing prepared Andrew LaBerge for the honor of being named Michigan Hockey’s 2007 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. “I was stunned,” said LaBerge, who didn’t know he’d been nominated until he got a call telling him he’d won. “It was a great honor. I always figured there were better people out there.”
Throughout his four years of high school at Livonia Churchill, LaBerge has successfully negotiated being an athlete and a class leader while keeping a strong focus on academic performance. He has maintained a 4.05 grade point average while taking a full class load that included numerous Advanced Placement and Honors courses. “He's active in school, the teachers all know him, he works hard and is a real go-getter,” said Danielle Lamar, a counselor at Churchill. LaBerge was featured in the Stars of Tomorrow in the August 23, 1999 issue of Michigan Hockey, when he played on Cliff Andrews’ Livonia Devils Mite B team. He was also one of several players in a tryout photo that wound up on the cover of July 2002’s spring tryout issue. “Hockey has been my passion, but I always knew that I had to do well in school to be successful in life,” LaBerge told the crowd at the MH Banquet of Champions on April 4. He thanked his previous coaches, including Mike McLean, now an assistant coach with state champion Belle Tire, who was at the banquet. “Andy had no idea he was even there,” said his father Mark. “The coach didn’t know Andy was going to be there, either. When he thanked him, all the kids at his table turned around and looked at him. Andrew LaBerge cites math as his favorite subject and figures he’ll either study finance or pre-med studies at the University of Michigan. On the other hand, he’s had so much experience with his own injuries, part of him would like to be in a position to help other athletes recuperate, maybe as an orthopedic or neurosurgeon “I’ve had a broken wrist, a sprained wrist, a broken collarbone, six dislocated shoulders and shoulder surgery,” he explained. “But all my hard work has paid off,” LaBerge said. Throughout his high school experience, he's consistently gone above and beyond what's been asked of him. When Livonia Churchill coach Pete Mazzoni got a call from the Special Olympics with a request for four kids to help out at a basketball practice, Mazzoni didn't hesitate. He told Andrew LaBerge about it, and knew it would be taken care of. "He's always the first in line to help out with something,” Mazzoni said. “And I didn't have to worry about it, I knew Andrew would have it covered.” LaBerge didn't stop there. “Instead of four guys, he brought six,” Mazzoni remembered. He’s mentored and tutored other students and also organized a hockey equipment drive for Clark Park Hockey Coalition. “I just made sure our whole team donated stuff,” LaBerge said of the equipment drive. An alternate captain with the Churchill Chargers, LaBerge also runs track. His grandfather, Richard Howell ran on the Purdue University Track team, and LaBerge has continued the family tradition. “I’m the only hockey player who likes track,” he said. “In middle school when I started getting competitive in hockey, I needed to do something in the off-season to stay in shape.” In the classroom he’s never missed an honor roll, although he humbly brushes off his 4.05 grade point average, saying some of his teammates have higher marks, and his sister Sarah, who’s on the varsity pom and track quads, rivals his GPA, too. “She’s doing good if not better than me,” LaBerge said of his sister, who’s a junior this year. “Andy’s a phenomenal kid, gets straight A's and is the consummate student-athlete,” Mazzoni said. “I'd take 20 kids like him every year.” This year, on the ice, LaBerge helped lead Churchill to one of their best seasons ever and was named the team’s Hobey Baker Character Award winner for his efforts off of it. "He is very deserving of this award. He's a confident, natural leader who gets along with everybody and fosters the best in people,” said Ellen Betel, his AP American Government teacher. “He works extremely hard and takes pride in everything he does." Gumina named MH Hockey Person of the YearFSN Detroit executive helped put over 600 new players on the ice By Philip Colvin There are a lot of people across the state with a passion for the game. Fox Sports Net Detroit’s John Gumina is one of them and then some. Gumina made an important contribution to amateur hockey in Michigan this year by helping over 600 new players get out on the ice and try out the sport and for that effort he was named the Michigan Hockey’s 2007 Hockey Person of the Year. With youth participation at the younger age groups on the decline in Michigan, Gumina got involved to try and change that trend.
Through his position with Fox Cable Network and Fox Sports Net Detroit, he offered financial support for the 17 “Hockey is Fun”free clinics that took place this season across Michigan. These CCHA - organized clinics supplied full equipment, ice time and instructors, and gave kids the opportunity to try out the sport in a fun and supportive environment - with no cost to their parents. And not only did Gumina help sponsor the Hockey is Fun clinics, he also supported them with his time, energy and enthusiasm. He laced up his skates, got out on the ice with the kids and made sure the first-time players had a great and memorable experience. “I thank Michigan Hockey for this prestigious award,” said Gumina, who is a Regional Director of Sales and Marketing with Fox Cable Network and FSN Detroit. “The Hockey is Fun clinics were a lot of fun to conduct and well worth the time and effort once you saw the smiling sweaty faces of the girls and boys who participated.” Gumina also acknowledged and thanked all of the volunteer instructors who help conduct the clinics and the CCHA’s Courtney Welch and Mike Gibson for all of their work in putting so many new players on the ice for the first time. “The CCHA, Perani’s Hockey World and Reebok were all essential contributors to this initiative,” said Gumina. “The purpose was to provide an opportunity - without financial obligation on the part of the parents - for their non-hockey playing kids to put on some hockey gear, get out onto the ice and have some fun. I think that we accomplished that and more.” Gumina’s son Nick helped on the ice at the clinics, and Gumina knows first-hand how the beginner players had a blast and will always remember the first time they were able to try playing hockey. At the CCHA Awards banquet this year, Gumina ran into a player who had been at one of the Hockey is Fun clinics. “He had a big smile on his face and said hello to me,” Gumina said. “But he really wanted to know where Nick was. He remembered Nick helping him out and wanted to keep playing.” The outgoing Gumina, who is a Level 5 coach, loves going to the rink and really put the fun into hockey for a lot of kids this year. “We had a great time and are planning on making them even better next season,” he said. Hayes named MH’s 2007 Coach of the YearFor last 31 years he’s run the Plymouth-Canton beginner programBy Philip Colvin After being involved in amateur hockey in Michigan for the last 31 years, Ron Hayes’ hockey resume is long and impressive. He’s been a District Chairman, a Referee-in-Chief, a MAHA president and has served on the executive boards of both the Adray Community and Little Caesars Amateur Hockey Leagues. But the one constant throughout his whole career has been probably his most important – and rewarding - position. For the past 31 years, our winner has run the lifeblood of any association: the beginner’s hockey program.
Hayes has coached thousands of mini-mite players through this program and given them their first taste of the game. Most of those players moved on to play in local associations, and some, like the Dallas Stars Chris Connor of Westland and the Minnesota Wild’s Brian Rolston of Ann Arbor, even made it to the NHL. For his efforts to teach kids how to play the game, and his commitment to making the game fun for them, Hayes was named Michigan Hockey’s 2007 Coach of the Year. “Wow, what an honor,” said Hayes after he received the award at the Michigan Hockey Banquet of Champions on April 4. “I’ve always loved the game and the loved working with the kids.” Hayes’ program at Plymouth-Canton focuses on fun and skill development and his goal is to teach kids the right way to play the game and give them chance to enjoy the sport and become productive citizens. “I really want to thank the Plymouth Canton Hockey Association for all of their support and for letting me do it my way for 31 years,” said Hayes, who was recently named Michigan’s Director of Initiation programs. Hayes’ PCHA beginners program has averaged almost 100 kids a year and he is now instructing the children of former kids from his program. In addition to the instruction and fun, the players take part in pond hockey games (“we’ve been using cross-ice for 25 years,” said Hayes) and have a big Holiday party. A NHL off-ice official for the last 26 years, Hayes “gives up Red Wings games so he can work with the kids,” said his wife Mary. Hayes has seen multiple association presidents in his tenure at the PCHA, and has a knack for teaching and connecting with his players. “He’s developed our young players’ love for the game,” said Plymouth Canton Hockey Association president Kathy Barile. “It’s hard to find someone who cares as much about the kids as Ron does. He wants only the best for them. He’s a great asset.” Hayes was selected for his dedication and committed efforts to helping young players learn how to play the game, have fun and come back again next season. “I just get the credit for all the kid’s hard work,” he
said. michiganhockeyonline.com | contact | staff | advertising | online advertising | ©2007 Suburban Sports Communications. All rights reserved. | Advertising Policy
|
Sponsored by:
|
