Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde stopped in Big Rapids, Michigan on the way home to thank his Alma Mater, Ferris State University, by helping announce the team’s 2023-2024 season hockey captains. The Big Rapids Pioneer’s Brendan Sanders spoke with Lalonde about the significance of his visit:
Lalonde was an assistant coach for the Ferris state Bulldogs from 2002 to 2006, helping the team win the CCHA conference for the first time in 2003.
“I really cherished my time here. I learned two things; One, I learned how to treat people right. I saw how to really care about someone and what it’s about,” Lalonde said to the team. “Second thing I learned here is I learned how to win here. This is literally the first winning I’ve ever done.”
Lalonde then announced captains as Brenden MacLaren, Jason Brancheau, Stepan Pokorny and Nick Hale. Senior Brenden MacLaren will wear the captain’s patch for the second year in a row. Stepan Pokorny had previously met Lalonde during the recruiting process before Ferris.
“It was in my recruiting process; he was telling me about the program trying to tell me what this program was about, and he was a big part of why I came here.” Pokorny said.
