Jim Roque became the ninth coach in the 41-year history of Lake Superior State hockey when he replaced Frank Anzalone in June of 2005. He is the second former Laker player to take the helm of the LSSU program.
During his first season (2005-06), he led the Lakers to a 15-14-7 finish and their first winning season since 1999-00. The Lakers also earned home ice for the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Playoffs for the first time since that year.
The Lakers continued their upward climb in 2006-07 by finishing 21-19-3 and reaching the CCHA semifinals at Joe Louis Arena for the first time since 1995-96. Roque and his coaching staff mentored outstanding leaders during those two seasons, including Lowe's Senior CLASS first-team and All-CCHA goaltender Jeff Jakaitis, All-CCHA defenseman Derek A. Smith and outstanding captains Steve McJannet and Barnabas Birkeland.
In 2007-08, a young Laker team got off to a 2-11-3 start, then closed with an 8-8-4 record during the second half. Last year's team made big strides offensively, averaging 2.82 goals per game to rank fifth in the CCHA. The Lakers were 11-20-8, setting a school record with eight ties and enduring more than their share of close losses. They finished 1-12 in games decided by one goal. Seven of eight defensemen return from that squad in 2009-10.
Roque began his third stint at Lake Superior State as an assistant coach in 2001-02. Previously, he was an assistant coach for the Lakers from 1988-91 and also in 1994-95. After six seasons as an assistant at Clarkson University, he returned to LSSU in 2001. Roque also spent two and one-half seasons coaching in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1991-93.
During Roque's assistant coach tenure from 2001-05, LSSU moved up in the CCHA standings after enduring three straight 12th-place finishes The Lakers improved to 11th in 2003-04 and ninth in 2004-05. In 2005-06, they placed sixth in the CCHA and began to attract notice in the national polls.
Roque was a member of the LSSU coaching staff when it won the 1988 NCAA Championship, and he recruited the majority of the 1992 title team. He has played a role in all five NCAA Tournament appearances and was part of two CCHA playoff titles and two regular-season titles.
After graduating from LSSU in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in management, the Killarney, Ontario, native started his coaching career as an assistant under Anzalone and stayed on to work with LSSU Hall of Fame coach Jeff Jackson. This is his 13th overall season as a coach at LSSU.
Roque played for the Lakers from 1983-87 and totaled 56 goals and 144 career points, which was good for 19th place on the Lakers' total career points chart. Roque was a part of the first recruited class brought in by Anzalone and was also a member of the first Laker squad to advance to the NCAA Tournament in 1985.
The only other former Laker who went on to become the program's head coach was Rick Comley, who is now the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans. He coached at LSSU from 1973 through 1976.
At Clarkson, Roque coached two Hobey Baker finalists and four National Hockey League players. He was also a part of three Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) regular-season titles, four trips to the NCAA Tournament and one playoff championship.
He and his wife, Julia, have two children-Emma
(14) and Abby (12).
Tim Christian is in his eighth season as an assistant coach at Lake Superior State University and was promoted to No. 1 assistant coach in 2008.
Christian's role with the Lakers has increased substantially during the last six years as he has established himself as a good recruiter, on-ice and conditioning coach and camps director. He is a Central Collegiate Hockey Association alumus who understands what it takes to compete with the nation's top programs.
Since 2005, Christian has served as director of the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Bantam Select Camps held in Sault Ste. Marie in June, and the Laker Hockey Summer Camps.
Christian played for former LSSU head coach Frank Anzalone in the East Coast Hockey League for three years. In 2001-02, Christian was a volunteer assistant coach of the ECHL's Roanoke Express.
Christian, a Grand Rapids, Mich., native, graduated from Ferris State University in 1995. He is among the Bulldogs' top 10 goal scorers. He totaled 100 goals and 109 assists in five seasons at Roanoke and was inducted into the Roanoke Hall of Fame. He leads the Express in career goals and is fourth in career points. Two of the three players who are ahead of him in points are former Lakers, Mike Peron and Michael Smith.
Christian and his wife, Lana, have two sons,
Andrew (11) and Alex (9).
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., native Rich Metro retired from professional hockey in 2007. He joined the LSSU staff as a volunteer coach/video coordinator 2007-08 while completing work on his bachelor's degree in liberal arts. He was promoted to assistant coach in July, 2008.
After winning two national championships with Sault Michigan Hockey Association teams, Metro played for the Soo Hawks and Marquette Electricians AAA midget teams, and Waterloo Blawkhawks of the United States Hockey League. He went on to play collegiate hockey at Northern Michigan University, where he was the Wildcats' rookie of the year and a two-year co-captain. He totaled 24-35-59 at NMU from 1995-99.
Metro played at NMU for veteran coach Rick Comley. According to Comley, Metro's positive attitude and leadership helped guide the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament his senior year after winning only seven games his freshman year.
After professional stints in the Central Hockey League (Columbus Cottonmouths), United Hockey League (Ashville Smoke) and East Coast Hockey League (Pee-Dee Pride), Metro played six seasons with Villard de Lans, France, won two League Magnus French Hockey championships and totaled 59-31--90.
Metro and his wife, Elodie, have a daughter,
Violette (6 months). He is the son of Con and Grace Metro. His
father played on the original Laker hockey team coached by Ron
Mason in 1966-67. His brother, Terry, was a goaltender at
Wisconsin-Stout.
Former LSSU goaltender Don Muio has returned to his alma mater to serve as a volunteer assistant coach and work with Laker goaltenders.
While playing at LSSU from 1969-73, Muio posted a career goals-against average of 3.94 and a career save percentage of .873. He is also ranked ninth in career saves with 2,161. He was a member of the Lakers' 1972 NAIA national championship team.
Muio played two seasons of professional hockey with the Omaha Knights (CHL), Charlotte Checkers (SHL) and Des Moines Capitols (IHL).
Muio's coaching background includes a stint with the Soo Greyhounds (OHL). He also assisted the Lakers in the early 1980s.
Muio resides in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., with his wife, Barb.
They have three grown daughters. He is the director of human
resources for Cross Country Automotive Services.
All about Corey: Favorite movie: Braveheart Favorite food: Pasta What I want to do after I graduate: Go to Australia Advice I would give youngsters: Follow your heart and never give up Worst fear: Dying without making a difference in the world Why I chose LSSU: Small classes Favorite book: First to Fight: An Insider view of the U.S. Marine Corps Best experience this summer: 19 mile round trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon Major: Criminal Justice Siblings: Geoff and Alyssa
