Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation
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Donate to Michael Lococo Family
Passed on the ice…
Michael “Mikey” “Mike” Lococo suffered a heart attack December 11th, 2019 and even after what one might consider a flawless or text book resuscitation efforts provided by his hockey team(even an Dawg player from another rink with First Aide/CPR/AED training), and first responders, they were not able to resuscitate him. Mike passed away December 12th, 2019 at the young age of 39. Mike leaves behind his beautiful wife of just over 3 years, his one and half year-old son, and a daughter who is due in March, along with a large Italian family and many friends.
Mike learned to play hockey in his small hometown in Gillette, Wyoming. He and his friends would wait for the cold (which came all too often) and would go to the local pond by the park and play pickup games or would go to the tennis courts in their roller blades and play all summer long. Gillette didn’t have an indoor hockey rink, until Mike and his friends decided to raise the money and build one themselves. Every day after school, Mike and his dad would drive across town to build the indoor ice rink. His commitment and dedication to his love of hockey helped build a community of future hockey players.
While Mike dedicated much of his time to being a husband, running a business, playing the occasional game of golf or hockey, it didn’t hold a candle to his newest passions in life, being a dad. There was nothing he had wanted more nor was there anything he was better at than being Hunter’s dad. Mike was ecstatic about the newest addition on the way, a little princess of his own. Mike waited patiently to be allowed to take his 9-month-old niece to the ice, we can only imagine how long he would wait to take his own daughter.
Mike was… he was everything. He was humble, kind, generous, loyal, and loving. He was a man of faith, a man who adored his wife and family, a man of integrity and strength. He was the best drinking buddy, teammate, confidant, and supporter. He was the kind of person you hope you would learn to be. He was a man who made this world better, so much better.
A letter generously offered to the family from a player on the other team read “Our team was playing against Mikey’s and we were up 7-0 with 2 minutes left in the 2nd period. The face-off was in Mikey’s zone and they lined up to the goalie right side with Mikey setting in as the left winger. The puck dropped and Mike sprung on the line like a lightening bolt. He caught a pass at center ice and smoked my defense men. He gave me a great head fake with 2 stick handles and he shelf’d the puck over my right shoulder to score his teams only goal. I am proud to say that the last thing he did was to totally embarrass me with such a phenomenal individual/team effort.”
For all of those who knew Mike this is a hard time. We will miss the laughter, the fun times, the camaraderie of a true friend, but most of all we will miss the comfort of knowing that he had your back and would be there whenever needed. That was his true strength; lifting up those around him and making them feel loved. Please keep Meg, Hunter, unborn baby girl, family and friends in your prayers during this time of hardship.
We miss you Mike, but we know you are in a better place, and we will see you again soon.
Let’s rally to make sure this young family overcomes this obstacle with OUR help.
Dawg Nation will collect all funds donated and determine the final amount provided to the recipient. Dawg Nation cannot guarantee that the full amount of your donation will reach the recipient. That said, Dawg Nation has historically provided final amounts to recipients in excess of the total amount of funds collected.
Donate to Andy Finney
“It’s not about what team you play for, it’s about being able to play the great game of hockey.”
Being diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer has barely slowed down player, coach and referee Andy Finney. You can still find him 4 days a week, at the rink, coaching this years BVSD Centaurus High School team. Being a coach for over a decade is a passion that he refuses to give up regardless of his diagnosis and how terrible he is feeling after chemo treatments. His passion and commitment to youth hockey and to the hockey community has been steadfast and long lasting.
Finney is a Minnesota boy, he grew up playing hockey on the frozen ponds by his house. Outdoor rinks were plentiful in the cold Minnesota winters and pick up games were easy to find! Finney’s love of hockey followed him to Colorado after college. Finney became an avid and involved “Beer League” player – playing in multiple leagues and tournaments across the Front Range.
A true “rink rat” he began sharing and installing his love of the game by becoming a youth hockey coach at Boulder Hockey Club and the Boulder Y. With over a decade of coaching experience, he has coached every level from Mite to High School. Besides instilling the same love and passion he has for the game in each player he has coached, he is proud of the individual connection that he established with his players. Being a mentor to student athletes is a number 1 priority for Andy. He believes that the game of hockey provides a great opportunity not only to teach the game of hockey to these young men or women, but also to teach good sportsmanship, and strong character development.
Finney’s continued love of the game drove him to become a youth hockey referee five years ago. Being a ref is a thankless job, but Finney never missed an opportunity to have a “teaching moment” with a player or remind a player that hockey should be a fun game!
Finney’s entire family has been influenced by his love of hockey! His two sons, Max and Jordan both played for Boulder Hockey Club, his daughter Serena can explain the difference between a back check and a fore-check without thinking about it and his wife, Gina aka DJ Gina, played music at many of the games.
Chances are if you had a youth player in a front range league in the last decade, you have come in contact with Andy Finney. He is fighting his diagnosis with the same passion and commitment that he has brought to hockey.
Andy has a long journey ahead of him. Andy & his family are tackling his Pancreatic Cancer from all corners of the rink! Unfortunately some of the treatments are not covered by insurance and the costs add up quickly.
Please consider donating to Andy today – we want to get him back on the ice full-time.
Dawg Nation will collect all funds donated and determine the final amount provided to the recipient. Dawg Nation cannot guarantee that the full amount of your donation will reach the recipient. That said, Dawg Nation has historically provided final amounts to recipients in excess of the total amount of funds collected.
Donate to Hoagie
Dan, or “Hoagie”, as he’s known throughout the hockey community, was our first referee to receive a grant from Dawg Nation. Hoagie was a Postal Carrier away from the ice during his accident when he was hit by a driver while on the job 9 years ago. Your previous generosity helped Hoagie overcome some of those initial medical bills and get back on the ice.
However, a recent blood clot in his lung is has been preventing him from getting on the ice. He has been in the emergency room because he couldn’t breathe. The blood clot formed in his leg as a result of his original accident when we was hit by a car while delivering mail for the post office. His doctor says there are more clots in his body and he will most likely be on blood thinners for the rest of his life.
Let’s rally to put these new medical bills and lost wages in check!
Dawg Nation will collect all funds donated and determine the final amount provided to the recipient. Dawg Nation cannot guarantee that the full amount of your donation will reach the recipient. That said, Dawg Nation has historically provided final amounts to recipients in excess of the total amount of funds collected.
Donate to Pete Thompson
A crippling disease…
Pete Thompson was diagnosed late last year with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and the progress of the disease has been extremely rapid. Less than a year ago he was playing in hockey tournaments and now this disease is making it difficult for him to move around and do the things that most people take for granted. He and his family have been through a lot in recent years as his youngest son was only recently declared in remission from childhood Leukemia.
Pete has participated in various Colorado tournaments over the years including the Pond Hockey Tournament in Silverthorne and the Air Traffic Controllers Tournament in Golden.
Pete is the kind of guy who goes the extra mile and is always available to help people out. He is the primary breadwinner in his family and the financial burdens associated with treatment are significant.
Please join us in doing what we can to help Pete and his family out!
Donate to Tom Albert
The Albert family needs some help!
Tom “Zamboni” Albert is a Boulder firefighter and used to play with the Boulder FF in numerous FD/PD tourneys and out of Foothills with several FD and PD players. In 2016 he suffered a work-related accident which requires surgery. In December 2018, his wife Michelle suffered an asthma-induced heart attack during which her brain was deprived of oxygen. As a result, Michelle has had significant motor skills impairment although her mind is intact.
Tom and Michelle have two sons, one is attending the University of Colorado and the other is a sophomore at Green Mountain High School (where Michelle graduated).
Due to these two events, the Albert family needs help with home health care and supplies and general support. The Alberts are a great, loving family.
Dawg Nation will collect all funds donated and determine the final amount provided to the recipient. Dawg Nation cannot guarantee that the full amount of your donation will reach the recipient. That said, Dawg Nation has historically provided final amounts to recipients in excess of the total amount of funds collected.
Donate to Nick Oprish
Dawg Nation will collect all funds donated and determine the final amount provided to the recipient. Dawg Nation cannot guarantee that the full amount of your donation will reach the recipient. That said, Dawg Nation has historically provided final amounts to recipients in excess of the total amount of funds collected.
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