Lakers to honour “much-loved” men
Lake Superior State Lakers will honour the memory of two “much-loved” gentlemen during Saturday’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association home game against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves.
Saturday is being billed as Gary McClellan/Gil Somes Night and the families of both men will be guests of Lake Superior State when the Lakers and Alaska Anchorage meet in a 7:07 p.m. match at Taffy Abel Arena.
McClellan, who died last June at the age of 74, was a well-known businessman, a charter member of the LSSU Foundation and one of the founders of both the Laker Club and Soo BlueLiners.
“Mac was a tremendous supporter of Sault Ste. Marie and Lake Superior State University,” noted Michigan Soo mayor Tony Bosbous. “He had a unique talent that enabled him to grow not only businesses but the communities in which he lived.”
McClellan was also a loyal Laker hockey fan, from being at the games to painting the fight song lyrics on his garage wall.
As for Somes, he was the Laker athletics equipment manager from 1981 to 1995 and remained linked to the hockey program for almost two more decades. Somes passed away in January of 2015 at age 85.
Lake Superior State athletic director Kris Dunbar, a former Laker athlete herself as a women’s basketball standout, noted that McClellan and Somes “will always be remembered.
“Gary and Gil were special people and very much loved,” said Dunbar. “We could never thoroughly repay them for their contributions to Laker athletics, especially the hockey program. They helped make LSSU the special place that it is.”
Knowing both of these fine me as well as I did, I can attest the love that they had for LSSU, and especially Laker Hockey………but we all know this……Marge, Carol they will be missed.