Superior Telegram
John Hack, a longtime volunteer and tireless worker for youth hockey in Superior and throughout Wisconsin has been selected for inclusion to the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame.
Joining Hack for induction will be Joe Baldarotta, currently a resident of Sturgeon Bay, but a native of Madison and long-time men’s hockey coach at UW-Stevens Point.
In addition, the Wisconsin High School Hockey Coaches Association will induct a pair of brothers, Jack Stoskopf (Stevens Point) and Mike Stoskopf (Hudson) into the WHSHCA Hall of Fame.
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The event is Sept. 12 in Eagle River.
Hack was born, raised and spent his entire working life in Superior, and, by his own admission, came late to the party of ice hockey.
Though he comes from a basketball family, he was influenced into the hockey family by his brother, whose own son played amateur hockey in Spokane, Wash., and by friends in Superior, whose own children grew up in the Superior hockey tradition.
Like many volunteers, Hack’s real introduction to the sport came as a result of his son, Christian, getting into the sport at a very young age. However, from that point on, Hack turned a little volunteer work with the local hockey association, into a lifestyle.
Hack first was elected to the Superior Amateur Hockey Association board of directors in 1982 and ultimately became vice president. He played a leading role in getting the Superior Ice Arena built in 1989 and would go on to become arena manager from 1996-2014.
Hack also was a regional director for 27 years with the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association and still works with WAHA as chairman of the disciplinary committee, as well as secretary and director emeritus of the association’s board. In 1995, Hack was elected to the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame’s board of directors, and remains the group’s vice president and secretary of the hall.
An accomplishment of which Hack is most proud is to be one of the founding members of Wisconsin Selects, the first summer AAA hockey program in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Selects brought together most of the best youth hockey players in the state. With the help of high school, junior and college coaches like Baldarotta, Steve Nelson, Dean Talafous, Dave Witting, Mike Cowan, Steve Kirley, Tom Kuklinski, Steve Freeman, Bob Ritzer and Jack Stoskopf, the Wisconsin Selects program helped youth players not only take their game to the next level, but gave some Wisconsin kids their first real exposure to big-time hockey against teams from across the United States and Europe.
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At the height of the program in the late 1990s the list of players and coaches read like a Who’s Who of Wisconsin Hockey. Many of these players would go on to stellar collegiate careers, and a few into the National Hockey League.
Hack, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and a veteran of the United States Army who served in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.
He has three children, Christian (Susan), Waco, Texas, Jamie (Dan), London, England, and Lindsay (Matt), Superior, and seven grandchildren.
Baldarotta graduated from Madison West High School in 1974 and coached the Regents for four seasons, compiling a record of 59-25-2. They won the state championship in 1983 and he was named the Wisconsin coach of the year.
Baldarotta then played at UW-Stevens Point from 1974-76. and coached the Pointers for 16 years, with a record of 265-171-38, including 10 consecutive seasons and 14 in total with records of .500 or better. His Pointers won the 1993 NCAA Division III National Championship.
The Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame was founded in 1975 and is housed in the Eagle River Sports Arena.
Ceremonies on Sept. 12 include a golf tournament, banquet and the induction ceremony.
All events are open to the public. For tickets call Joe Boxrucker, 715-479-9772, or Pat Weber, 715-479-8912.
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To obtain a brochure, contact John Hack by e-mail at john.hack1967@gmail.com , or 218-391-2301.
A pdf version of the Banquet and Golf Reservation Form is available at www.wahahockey.com .
