RAYHA Hall of Fame
RAYHA Hall of Fame
In
January of 2011, RAYHA formally inducted the inaugural class into the
RAYHA Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place in Roseville Ice
Arena’s Olympia Room overlooking the John Rose Oval as part of the
festivities that made up the 2nd Annual IceBreaker. The Raider Room,
renamed to The Hall of Fame Room is the permanent home for the monument
that marks their contribution. The tribute reads:
“The Success of RAYHA is a direct result of the dedication, talent
and energy of our volunteers. Those listed below are hereby specifically
recognized for their outstanding contribution to RAYHA in the form of
dedicating countless hours, boundless energy, and generously passing
along freely their numerous talents, for the kids benefitting all in
RAYHA now and in the future.”
Listed below are those inducted into the Hall of Fame list in order of
year of induction. Included is a brief bio highlighting some of their
accomplishments.
Class of 2011
Don Black
One of the original founding fathers of Roseville Youth Hockey, Don
Black was a signer of the original articles of incorporation in November
of 1964 and served as RYHA’s first secretary/treasurer. He spearheaded
original fundraisers including an ice-fishing contest on
Lake Owasso, dances at the Bel Rae Ballroom, and assisted the movement
to build the Roseville Arena. Black was Roseville’s 1st traveling team
coach and coordinated coaching clinics. He was the point person in
hosting Gopher Coach Herb Brooks and his Gopher intra-squad games in the
early 70's.
Jack Brodt
Jack Brodt became involved with RAYHA in 1971 when he first registered
his oldest son for mites. He last registered his youngest son in 2006
and with three girls in between, the family had a total of 35 years of
registrations. Brodt arguably has coached more mites in Roseville than
any other coach and has sponsored a Mite team every year without fail
since the 1970’s. He established and maintains the former Roseville
turned collegiate player recognition wall. He has served on the RAYHA
board four separate times (so far) in his 35 years with RAYHA. (Jack was
unable to attend the ceremony as he had a prior commitment to coach the
Minnesota White Caps women’s hockey team in Calgary.)
John Savre
John Savre first became involved in the program when he registered his
son in Roseville in 1984. John Rose encouraged him to run for the board
which he did and became a board member in 1986. Savre attempted to
retire in 1997 when his son graduated from the program. Though he was
not a “hockey guy” per se, he was asked back the following year as there
was a desperate need for his talents. Through his teaching career and
devotion to RAYHA he has been a positive influence in so many young
lives. His countless hours devoted to nearly flawless ice scheduling
despite endless outside pressures while maintaining a positive and
friendly attitude has been a tremendous asset to our association for an
amazing 24 years. It is impossible to spend time at the rink and not
find a kid that John Savre has had a positive effect on.
Dick Czaia
One of the original RYHA officers, Dick Czaia served as 1st Vice
President in 1964 and in multiple positions until 1973. He helped mold
the RAYHA board and it’s policies during formative years. Czaia was
responsible for early sponsorships, and promoted the idea that every kid
in Roseville that wanted to play hockey would have a place to play
regardless of ability to
pay. He volunteered countless hours, and was involved with Roseville hockey long after his kids left the program.
Class of 2012
Milt Anderson – One of Roseville Hockey’s founding
fathers, Milt was the 1st elected president, and a visionary fundraiser,
with a keen eye for any acquisition that would enhance the experience
of Roseville skaters. From mending uniforms and repairing equipment to
transporting kids that could not get the rink, Milt did it all.
Denny & Sandy Malarkey – Denny (with 1st, and
2nd assist to his wife Sandy) coached hockey in Roseville from 74 to 98,
along with another stint in 05/06. Denny served as a Roseville Hockey
board member for 25 years. Over the course of his time at RAYHA he also
was the Roster Book Coordinator, Tryout evaluator, Thanksgiving
Tournament director, Softball Tournament fundraising director, CEO, D2
Rep, Coaching Clinic director, and Chaired RAYHA Association Merger in
1980. Denny and Sandy could always be counted on to do whatever
necessary to keep kids on the ice...
Frank Rog – Roseville Parks and Recreation Director
from 1960 thru 1987. Frank was instrumental in the formative years of
Roseville Hockey. He provided encouragement and guidance to local
coaches to enter the Beltline league in 1963. Frank strongly encouraged
Roseville Hockey to include Falcon Heights, Little Canada, Lauderdale
and Maplewood (to match ISD 623). Initiated relationships with local
businesses and developed those relationships to help grow youth hockey.
Frank was also an integral part of team to bring Roseville their
1st indoor rink. He also acquired the boards from Minneapolis Arena,
giving Roseville their 1st outdoor rink with rounded “corners.” If all
of that was not enough, after he got done with his day job, Frank
volunteered his evenings and flooded the rinks!
Class of 2013
Bob Forliti
Bob began his coaching career in 1965 with the Alameda Pond Ponies,
literally named after the frozen body of water that they skated upon.
Before they could play or practice on the ice, they would first have to
shovel the snow, and it seemed to always be snowing. Bob was the first
one on the ice to shovel and usually was the last one off. If something
was broke and needed repairs, he always had his tools and he knew how to
fix anything. He was the hardest working person at the rink, and an
excellent hockey coach. He sincerely cared for everyone on his team
and wanted to make sure everyone played equal time, long before RAYHA
made it that practice mandatory. He would spend any amount of time
needed to teach you the right way to skate, shoot, hold your stick, how
to play your position – to do things, both on and off the ice the right
way.
Bob spent endless hours plowing rinks on the lake so the neighborhood
kids had a place to skate. He went so far as to convince the city to
stop the demolition of an old warming house and then figured out a way
to move it to the lake so all the kids had a warm place to put on their
skates. As if that was not enough “above and beyond” he then proceeded
to put up lights and would pay for all the electricity so kids could
skate at night.
He was the kind of person that pushed you to do your best, no matter
your talent level. He just wanted people to be happy and see a smile on
their face
Bill Olein
Bill spent 32 years in the City of Roseville, working at the ice arena
and the oval and serving citizens and certainly will leave a legacy that
includes working well above and beyond the call of work duty in giving
his time up for all those Thursday and Saturday night hockey games,
special events, flooding rinks, organizing tournaments, mentoring youth,
and other evening and weekend duties through the years. His
selflessness was instrumental in creating an atmosphere of teamwork and
cohesion in the winter sport community and organizations such as the
RAYHA, Roseville Area Figure Skating Club, Midway Speed skating, Greater
Minnesota speed skating, Friends of the Oval Foundation.
Bill’s dedication and determination was a key factor in achieving
National Gold Medal Award Status for the Skating Center. But most
importantly, working with 100 plus youngsters annually on the payroll,
Bill acted as role model and mentor to thousands of area kids, giving
them a blueprint on being a good citizen.
John Rose - Former board member, coach, and past
president of the RYHA (predecessor of RAYHA) who was also an avid
organizer and event volunteer. He was also a past director of District 2
as well as a Roseville school teacher and a Minnesota state legislator.
He was a strong believer and proponent of sportsmanship and fair play.
John was concerned that our fund-raising was always asking the same
people for the money and the effort and believed that we could create a
better flow by establishing events that could bring in dollars from
outside the immediate community while providing benefit to participants.
Due to his influence, we started the Thanksgiving B tournament which
not only provided a showcase at home for our B Peewee and B Bantam
teams, it brought in outside dollars.
As a State Legislator, John was a strong proponent of the development of
a National Sports Center in Blaine, and the development of the Oval in
Roseville which bears his name. Speed skating had strong interest at
that time and John believed that an outdoor speed skating track with an
artificial ice infield would be a major benefit to several sports while
bringing additional revenue to Minnesota and to the Roseville area. He
worked tirelessly with his fellow legislators, contractors, and sports
organizations to get support and eventually the John Rose Oval became a
reality.
Jerry Griffith
Jerry wore many hats for RYHA, 1971-72 Winakawa Saints visit, Major Team Director 1971-72, served as Internal VP 1972-73 and 1973-74, and coached Coach of A Bantams 1974-1975. Could always be counted on when things needed to get done.
Dave MacKinnon
Dave spent multiple years on the board - 1968-69 Pony Director Local League, RYHA President 1968-69, 1971-72, Director At Large MAHA 1969-70, Vice President RYHA 1969-70 and 1970-71. Coached PeeWees and other teams for many years.
Class of 2015
Don coached hockey several years at Lexington and the Alameda Pond in the late 50’s and early 60’s. On many occasions he assisted in flooding rinks at night to provide good ice for the next days games. Don also coached Squirts, Pee Wees and Bantams during the early years before Recreation Dept. Manager Frank Rog set up teams from Roseville, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale and Little Canada. It became evident that a need for better competition existed for the better players. That is when the Major Bantam team was selected in 1963 and they were entered in the Belt Line Bantam League which included teams from White Bear Lake, Shoreview, Mounds View, Minneapolis northern suburbs and extended as far south as Edina. Don also was one of the three founders that signed the Articles of Incorporation creating the Roseville Youth Hockey Association.
Don was an active participant in Roseville Youth Hockey Association from 1966 -1988, starting with his eldest son’s first season until his death in 1988. He coached many teams during those years, from Mite teams to traveling Pee Wee teams. He managed several RYHA hockey teams during this time too. Don was a board member for many years. He was President of RYHA for two years in the late ‘70’s. He spent many hours putting outdoor rinks together, helping flood the rinks, as well as shovel rinks. During the 60’s and 70’s, when most households had one car and multiple players, he put together car pools so families could more easily juggle their many activities. He was a man who others could count on to help and get the job done.
Co Founded Alemada Pond team, which grew to become RAYHA .A champion for a rink with boards, a warming house, lights, he could usually be found flooding the rink late at night and returning to his house resembling a walking snowman. The following story is a good snapshot on how Ted felt about youth hockey - One night he had been out flooding the ice. He returned home covered in ice, a bloody face and a big smile. His concerned wife asked “What happened to you?” “Oh, nothing,” he responded “ a light fell off a pole and just hit me in the face. But the ice looks beautiful!!” He got four stitches the next morning, but there was good ice.
Jeff Johnson
A coach for countless seasons, Jeff served on the board for 7 years, with 5 of them as President.During Jeff's tenure the financial security was ensured, and designed several programs to make hockey accessible to all, and reversed a declining enrollment of skaters. Jeff is widely known for his ability as a listener, a communicator and a consensus builder. He will be remembered for giving a voice to the C level skater.
For
more information on the ceremony please contact RAYHA Vice President of
Operations: Jeanna Hinderer. rayha.communication@gmail.com