LSSU hockey and Sault Ste. Marie loses its 'go-to' guy

By LINDA BOUVET, LSSU Sports Information Director

SAULT STE. MARIE – Sault Ste. Marie and the Lake Superior State hockey program lost a great friend, ambassador and “go-to” guy when Bud Clarke passed away Tuesday night at Marquette General Hospital.

Clarke, retired as chief of the City of Sault Ste. Marie Water Department and Parks and Recreation Department for 13 years, was involved in a variety of community projects throughout his lifetime. He was a part of Laker Hockey since its days as a club sport and had a role with the I-500 since it began.

“I can’t tell you how many Laker games he missed, but it wasn’t many,” said Laker Hockey’s legendary equipment manager Roy Forrest, who has been with the LSSU program off and on since he was a student in the 1970s. “We did so many things together. I’ve know him from the time he worked at the (Pullar) as coordinator when I played minor hockey.”

Forrest also served with Clarke on the I-500 Parking Committee, which recently divvied $9,000 to local organizations and events. He worked side-by-side with Clarke during the first of two successful endeavors to save Kaines Rink.

“He let everybody get involed,” Forrest said. “You show an interest and the next thing you know you’re more involved than you thought you would be. You did it because of Bud, and because everyone had the common goal of supporting youth programs.”

Clarke, who was named Sault Ste. Marie’s Sportsman of the Year in 1983, was a long-time chairman of the Sault Salmon Derby and member of the Sault Michigan Hockey Association and Soo Indians Junior A hockey team boards. He was the public address announcer for the Indians and the Lakers. He also had the unique opportunity to announce a few Soo Greyhounds and Detroit Red Wings games played at Pullar Stadium.

In the mid 1990s, when the Norris Center Ice Arena was renovated and forced the P.A. announcer to relocate to the press box, Clarke became LSSU head of off-ice officials. Young Laker fans may not know the depth of his role within the Sault Ste. Marie community, but the student section loved his warm smile and enjoyed greeting the off-ice crew, exchanging knuckles on the glass as they walked along the boards to the scorer’s box.

Former LSSU Director of Athletics and current Voice of the Lakers Bill Crawford shared nearly five decades of Laker Hockey memories with Clarke.

"Bud Clarke was the quintessential volunteer in this community,” Crawford said. “He was always willing to help, to organize, to lend a hand. He was a fixture with the Laker Hockey program for more than 45 years, and most impressive, he was just a nice person. He always enjoyed a good story and a laugh. Bud did a lot of smiling. He loved family and friends and he had many, many friends. He will be missed."

One of Clarke’s many dear friends is Jim Duquette, who recently retired as an LSSU off-ice official.

“He was a legend,” Duquette said. “I’ve got so many stories. One of his nicknames was ‘The Crow.’ Every time we needed something, if it was shiny, he’d pick it up. I knew him for 40-some years. With hockey, we’d be at the Pullar on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and some Sundays with the Lakers, Indians or Sault Amateur. There was a bunch of us. We were so involved. He was our go-to guy. If he didn’t know someone who could help us get the job done, that was unusual.”

Duquette remembered that the first time the group was ever paid for their services was when another local legend, former LSSU Director of Athletic Bud Cooper, gave them $3 each for working hockey games.

“Back then you could get a beer across the street for 25 cents,” Duquette laughed. “We didn’t do it for the money. It probably cost him money to do all of these things. Bud gave a lot back.”

The hockey community is invited to celebrate Clarke’s life and many friendships Friday night at the Christopher Columbus Hall.