The Wildcat Story

Novi Becomes a Hockeytown: 
Wildcats Build a New Tradition of Excellence

by Bernie Fratto
Fall 1999

Novi High School Athletic Director Jon Fundukian stared at his phone as it rang off the hook. Without picking it up, he knew who was calling. Dan Phelps wasn't shy about wanting to be Novi's first hockey coach. "I actually had other offers prior, but this was really the one I wanted," said Phelps. His hockey mentality dictated he would take the body, dig it out of the corner, and make something happen. The 42nd phone call was the charm. Fundukian picked up the phone, spoke with Phelps, and Novi Wildcat Hockey was born.

The story of Novi High School varsity hockey is one of heart, determination, vision, and perseverance. "I was looking to build a team, of course," said Phelps. "But I was really looking to build an entire program."

Some of the hurdles Phelps faced in his first season in October 1998 included constructing a locker room, a schedule, practice times, and, of course, a roster.

Even at ground zero, Phelps knew a top flight hockey program would benefit the school, the students, and the community. High school hockey has grown 45% in the last three years in the State of Michigan, and the future is bright. The success of the Red Wings and other hockey programs has helped, but ultimately the goal of Novi hockey is to build identity.

"We want a program that kids can look up to and will want to be a part of," said Phelps. His goal is to build a winning program while providing a vehicle for student athletes to learn life's lessons through sportsmanship, fair play, and a sense of belonging.

However, anything in life worth having usually doesn't come easy. Yogi Berra said the sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up. While it's true the Wildcats started 0-9, they also showed tremendous competitive spirit their first year. Phelps pointed out that the scores and the record were not indicative of the accomplishments of the team. "The players were learning a system that was brand new to them, but I knew it was just a matter of time before it clicked, because the kids were working hard."

On December 28, 1998, the Wildcats skated off the ice with a 3 - 1 victory over Walled Lake Central, the first in the school's history. After that, winning became a habit. The victory led to a six game winning streak, including a gritty 4-3 come from behind win over league rival Hartland. The Novi Wildcats finished the rest of their games with a 9-6-1 record, a superlative achievement for a first year program in hockey-rich Michigan.

While the Novi program is relatively new, Phelps and his staff bring impressive credentials to the program. Phelps played two years in the Western Ontario Junior B league, one year with the Detroit Falcons, and played his collegiate years at Wisconsin Stevens-Point. Assistant Coach Dave Zarem also played junior hockey and has coached at all levels for 14 years. Assistant Coach John Smith played at Kent State.

As a second year program, the Wildcats find themselves in the thick of contention for a league championship, and they believe they can continue to grow. Nine returning lettermen were among the 58 athletes trying out for roster spots, and the decisions were not easy.

While certain high schools in the area are synonymous with football, basketball, or other sports, and boast the state championships, it's not inconceivable to envision Novi a hockey powerhouse in the future.

Phelps emphasized that he's received tremendous support from Fundukian and Dr. Jennifer Cheal, Novi's principal. "They've been very good to us," Phelps said, "and we want to give back to the school and the community."

- Bernie Fratto for the Novi Wildcats
Fall 1999