Remembering Michael Doan
Family members, friends, former teachers and teammates once again showed their support for the annual Michael Doan Memorial Golf Tournament that was held on Saturday at Crimson Ridge in Sault Ste. Marie.
Proceeds from the tournament go into a bursary fund that is awarded annually to two graduating student athletes at St. Mary’s College in the Sault.
The late Michael Doan was an outstanding, multiple sport student athlete at St. Mary’s College during his high school days. In 2009, as a sensational goalie, Michael back stopped the St. Mary’s Knights to their first ever all Ontario gold medal high school hockey championship.
“The community support for this (golf tournament) event continues to be nothing short of amazing and humbling for all of us involved along with the entire Doan family,” said Mike Flammia who is part of the organizing committee for the annual golf tournament and bursary award.
Flammia is also a former hockey coach and teacher of Michael Doan’s at St. Mary’s College.
“We want to ensure that this bursary lives on at St. Mary’s College and truly honours Michael for his contributions to our community at SMC,” added Flammia, who as the owner and operator of the three Little Caesars franchises in the Sault, is also a sponsor of the golf tournament. “There are two bursaries given each year, totaling $2,000 each. We’ve also been fortunate enough to make enough money that we’ve also given to the Twinkie Foundation and Arch Hospice for grieving families.”
Michael Doan passed away on Saturday, July 15, 2017 following a single vehicle accident near Rochester, Minnesota. He had been at a friend’s wedding the night before.
A personable and extremely likeable young man, Doan had just completed his first season in the Southern Professional Hockey League when he passed away at age 25.
Prior to turning pro, Doan played four seasons of collegiate hockey.
After three seasons with the Northern Michigan University Wildcats of the Division 1, Western Collegiate Hockey Association, he returned to Ontario and starred for the University of Windsor Lancers.
Before that, Doan fashioned a spectacular two-year goal-tending career in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, starring for both the Soo Eagles and Soo Thunderbirds. He also played a season in the Ontario Jr. Hockey League but it was his performance in the NOJHL that led to the scholarship at Marquette-based Northern Michigan U.
A former high school athlete of the year while at St. Mary’s College in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Doan was an all-city standout in hockey, basketball and football.
What you think about “Remembering Michael Doan”
Comments are closed.
Michael was such a caring young man. It was an honor to have had the chance to work with him in hockey and get to really know this shining light. So sad.