Speaking
of Sports 

by
Bernie Fratto

 
The Winter Blues -
Looking back at Novi Wildcat Hockey

January 16, 2011  RELATED

I will never forget Nov. 18, 1998, for two reasons. First, it’s the official date that Novi HS Varsity Hockey was born. The next morning, I was wheeled into surgery for a hip-replacement.

The opening night was a real treat.

I had assumed the PA Announcing duties, and I’d prepared 10 CDs with a total of 200 songs to be played at various intervals. As I announced the starting lineups against the backdrop of “The Final Countdown” blaring over the loudspeakers, you could truly feel something special was happening.

For the first six seasons, Scott Olson, Roger Jaussi and myself worked in tandem and we not only witnessed exciting, fast-paced MHSAA hockey, we saw a real phenomenon being built.

Coaches Dan Phelps, Dave Zarem, John Smith and Dennis Gagnon took a program from Ground Zero, and turned it into a State Powerhouse… fast!

Almost immediately, I knew this was going to be an incredible ride, and I wrote about it in 1999. You can read it here it’s entitled “The Wildcat Story.”

Novi Hockey was more than just a game. It was an event, an extravaganza, and the energy inside the packed Novi Ice Arena was a thing to behold. NHL/Red Wing Hall-of-Famer Bill Gadsby was at most of the games watching his grandsons Travis, Garett, and Alex, while their mother Donna was also a fixture in helping the young organization grow.

After one game I was hooked. Following surgery the next day with a new titanium hip, I asked the doctor when I could return to my duties as PA announcer. The doctor said it would be 2-3 weeks, but I didn’t want to miss any games, so I was back in 9 days.

I remember Dave Zarem looking at me like I was crazy as I walked through the doors of the Novi Ice Arena with crutches and a cane, but I was addicted.

Fast forward to January 2011. The accomplishments of this incredible program are too numerous to mention, but can be found on the hockey website, which in itself is also a big part of the team’s success.

Because of this technology I can follow the team from right here in Las Vegas! So as the squad prepares to take the ice this week against Canton, Farmington, and Livonia Franklin, you could say I have a mild case of the Winter Blues.

That’s right, I miss winter!

So, even though it’s 60 and sunny here in the Las Vegas Valley, the Winter Blues I’m talking about refers to the fact I can’t be at any of those games this week. And for the record, I never once minded the snow and ice of January and February.

It simply meant that it was hockey time, and I’m proud of the fact I got to witness Novi become Hockeytown, thanks to the Green and White.

Today I listened to some of those old CD’s I’d created back in the day, and when I close my eyes I can picture the players taking the ice for their pregame warm-ups.

Go Cats!

(c) 2010 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org

This column is shared by Alex Prasad, Lance J. Lilla and Bernie Fratto on alternating weeks.