When the puck drops on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Mt. Clemens Ice Arena, and the Pilots face St. Edward’s (from Lakewood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb) in a scrimmage game, a familiar face will again be manning the visitors’ penalty box - for the 23rd year in a row.  

A past parent - his son Jon graduated from De La Salle in 1991, Mike Norgard has been with the DLS hockey program since its inception during the 1999-2000 school year. 

A longtime volunteer, beginning during his son’s high school years, Mike has handled tickets at the gate at football and basketball games, sold concessions, and been available wherever needed for school events. Throughout all this time, he has been a member of the DLS Dads’ Club.

Athletic Director Dan Rohn has high praise for Mike.

“Mike is one of those individuals who works behind the scenes to make DLS amazing,” Rohn said. “He is greatly appreciated by the athletic department and hockey program.”

Varsity Hockey Head Coach Sean Clark says Mike’s selfless dedication is a crucial part of the team’s success on game days.  
 
“Mike is extremely valuable to the DLS hockey program,” Clark said. “He is an ambassador and holds our student-athletes in high regard, and is always quick to share their stories with others.”
 
Born in Detroit, Mike attended St. Theresa Grade School and had hoped to attend Catholic Central, then located on W. Outer Drive in Detroit. He says over 3,000 boys applied, and only 300 were accepted - and so he went to St. Cecilia High School (Class of 1957). 
 
But in those days, Catholic Central had a hockey team, through the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department; Mike played on that team. 
 
Mike no longer works full-time; he had a long career in clothing sales, including a final stint for several years at the Birmingham location of the men’s store Joseph A. Banks. He works part-time at the Detroit Golf Club (DGC). 
 
“Every time I run into Mike at the DGC, he wants to talk about the DLS teams, kids, and programs,” says Rohn. “So whether he is running the penalty box for our hockey team or working the #1 tee at the DGC, Mike is constantly representing and supporting DLS.”
 
Rohn added, “Thank you, Mike. I hope you know how much we all appreciate you.” 

CLICK HERE For the complete 2022-23 DSL hockey schedule.