Several Lake Orion hockey players are being recognized for their athletic accomplishments.
Danny Dries, Kevin Kranker, Adam Krefski, Doug Miller and David Wurst are members of the Orchard Lake Pirates Hockey Club.
The team is coached by Ray Dries and managed by Gerry Kranker, also residents of Lake Orion.
The Pirates are an elite Division 1 Midget travel team whose home rink is located on the campus of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
This season the team is favored to win the Districts, States and possibly National Midget Championships.
The players have an overall winning percentage of .830 and have won numerous Midget A and AA tournaments this season.
Their most notable accomplishments are winning the Regional Silverstick tournament and being the finalists in the International Silverstick tournament. The team’s performance in the finals earned it a place in the hockey hall of fame.
The Silverstick invitational tournament is a very prestigious event with a 35 year tradition. This tournament is considered to be the ‘best of the best.?
Many current and past NHL players have played in this tournament in their youth
. According to Gerry Kranker, even the ‘great one,? Wayne Gretsky, regrets never winning the Silverstick.