Louie Schmitz, a mentor, a coach, a local hero.

From my earliest memories of growing up in Farmington, MN, skating and hockey were a part of my life. I grew up next to my grandparents and just two blocks away from the outdoor hockey rinks. Both places would become extremely special to me. Every winter my dad, Harris, would flood my grandparents garden. I spent hours skating outside, enjoying the day with all of the neighborhood kids. If you didn't find me in my grandparents back yard I would be playing hockey at the local rinks. There was hardly a time I would be there that Louie Schmitz was not also there. Fire hose in hand, nose running and eyebrows iced up, the cold didn't seem to bother him. He was investing his time in all of us "rink rats". To me, this place was the "sandlot" of hockey. I, on the other hand, was greatly affected by the cold. I can't count how many times I frost bit my fingers and toes. Neither can I count how many times Louie was there to help warm them up. With tears running down my cheeks, he would first have me get off my skates and socks and run barefoot out into the snow. It didn't make much sense to me but he knew that it was quite painful to have them warm up too fast. After I would come into the warming house he would have me take a seat on the old bench and he would place his hands on my feet, keeping them there until color began to slowly come back. A man like Louie teaches you more than the fundamentals of a game. He taught many of us "rink rats" what it means to invest in kids, in community, in what's important. He taught me about caring for others, about putting others before yourself. On November 25th Louie and his family were told that he had stomach cancer and later found out it was Stage 4. Please keep Louie and his family in your prayers as he fights this battle. Louie, as you held my feet in your hands, I am praying that you will know that God is holding you in His hands!