At most Lake Forest varsity hockey games, there are mite players in the stands, usually wearing their hockey jerseys. They are cheering with home-made signs for their favorite Scouts and often run around the rink, stopping behind the Lake Forest bench, where they bang on the glass to wave at a certain player or two.

 

Lake Forest head coach Steve Sarauer often brings these youngsters into the Scouts locker room between periods or after the game when he’s talking to the high school student-athletes.

 

Hockey is, of course, the tie for all. The mites play at the Lake Forest Winter Club. Sarauer also coaches one of three Winter Club mite teams, and each of the three Winter Club mite teams has three varsity players serving as assistant coaches.

 

“When the mites come behind the bench (during a game) … to see the looks on their faces,” is priceless, Sarauer said. “Having mites at the games brings this full circle and it’s great to see the mites supporting their coaches. Even players on the varsity who are not coaching mites know about certain mites in the Winter Club since the high school players are constantly talking about their mites (who they coach).

 

“High school varsity is the goal for these mites, and although that goal changes for some (over the years), it really gives the kids something to work for and definitely keeps them engaged in the game.”

 

Winter Club and the Lake Forest High School club have no direct affiliation, but you’d never know.

 

“People in Lake Forest are always willing to help, no matter the situation,” Sarauer said. “I have a Winter Club player battling leukemia and had stickers made for the Winter Club players’ helmets to support this player.

 

“I had multiple parents from the Lake Forest High School program reach out and offer to help, even though they don’t know the Winter Club player. Many Lake Forest High School players asked for stickers as well, so they can (show) support.

 

“The hockey community (in Lake Forest) is small, but when needed, everyone steps up and is watching out for each other.”

 

Sarauer, 43, has been coaching for 24 years and is in his seventh season at Lake Forest, with the Scouts sitting at 7-14 in the SHL. Sarauer knows the mites look up to the varsity players and often ask him about the Scouts. The youngsters are often “starstruck” by the older players, he said.

 

“Once I brought the high school players on as full-time assistant coaches, the reaction from the kids and the response from their parents has been nothing but positive,” Sarauer said. “The high school coaches quickly learn how hard coaching is, and it changes them as players, too. Not only controlling mites, but also having productive practices is not easy. The players I have coach the mite teams are more attentive at varsity practices considering they’re getting an understanding about the struggles of coaching. In addition, confidence in their own game has also (increased) by coaching mites. Since they have to talk and coach, I see these players more involved on the ice with the varsity team, communicating more with teammates and helping each other with more positivity, even in tough situations.

 

“You see the same type of supportive and positive instruction from the coaches at the mite level translated to the varsity team, which has really improved the team concept on the varsity.”

 

Sarauer encourages parents of mites to approach their mite assistant coaches and talk to them. “Making the high school kids converse with parents has been a positive for the coaches’ development as well,” he said.

 

At the end of the season, each mite team has a banquet – and the varsity players, er, assistant coaches speak at the banquets, offering a team overview, including comments about the young players.

 

“They think these speeches out and put the time in so each mite has a memorable banquet at the end of the season,” Sarauer said.

 

Forward Noah Kowalski is the Scouts’ leading scorer so far in league play with 5 goals and 9 assists in 19 games. He is an assistant for the Winter Club’s mite white team with forward Tommy Swift and goalie Logan Marsch.

 

The mite green team features assistants Jack Rancourt, TJ Marks and Jack Milliman. The mite black team has assistants Frankie Catalano, Robert Krebs and Grady Strothman.

 

“My favorite thing about coaching mites is teaching them things that I have learned over the years, creating a bond with the kids and having them turn into great players who want to get better,” Kowalski said. “My favorite moment was our first regular season game. It was intense, back and forth … and we won.”

 

Sarauer said the mite assistant coaches have a strong impact on the youngsters. “The mites get (so much) from the high school coaches; they literally believe anything they say since they’re such influential role models.”

 

Many parents of mite assistant coaches share stories about their son with Sarauer. “The high school-aged coaches go home and talk to their parents, which has been positive; it’s great to hear from their parents how much they enjoy coaching mites,” he said.

 

Many of the up-and-coming coaches write college essays about their experiences coaching mites and the impact it has had on them.

 

“One of the high school-aged (assistant) coaches last season approached me about a mite player who he was having trouble getting to focus. He was looking for feedback on how to deal with the situation,” recalled Sarauer, who immediately asked the high school student, “Do you think you were like that when you were a mite?”

 

The assistant coach replied, “I sure hope not … but I have a feeling my mite coach would say, yes.”

 

The high school player smirked and snapped, “I got this.”

 

He made it his goal to engage this player in practice and keep him focused since he knew exactly what to do as he was that mite player in the past.

 

Sarauer said the mites have gotten improved confidence and individual attention, thanks to the Scouts. “The mites listen more to the high school coaches, so I will tell them to say something specific to a player since I know it will mean more coming from a high school-aged coach,” he said.

 

Every season, Lake Forest High School hosts a Youth Hockey Night at a varsity game for Winter Club players, as well as others from the Falcons, Vipers and elsewhere in the area. The rink is filled with youth players, most wearing their jerseys. Five players and a goalie from the Winter Club mite green team skate out with the varsity players for the starting line-up, the national anthem, and more.

 

“The experience is always a memorable night and I hear about how great it is that we include these younger players in Lake Forest High School Youth Hockey Night,” Sarauer said.