Jim Misiora was posthumously inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on January 25, 2009. 

Too see pictures from the 2003 event at Hawthorn Race Course Click here .

Click here for Pictures from 2005, 2007 and 2008

	I wanted to do something to ease my pain, as I prepared to say good by to Jim Misiora, a dedicated teacher and coach.  This web site contains a few pages that will pay tribute to a man that gave so much to so many for so long.  Jim Misiora was the master of giving great quotes to the newspapers, so I'll give you one of my favorites from one of my professors at Loyola Grad school.  He said, "When you work in a Catholic School, The Priest and Brothers take the vow of poverty, and the lay teachers keep it.  Jim Misiora loved teaching and coaching and he certainly wasn't in it for the money. I first met Jim when I had the good  fortune of coaching my son Dan Lopatka's Bantam hockey team.  We won a state championship with such great players as Bob and Cammi Granato, Tom McKenna, Don Yurisich, Jeff Jesdtat, Dave Sheedy and Paul Basic.  Dave and Paul went to St. Rita, in 1984.  By the time they finished their first semester, they convinced my son Dan, Jeff, Don and Tom into joining them at St. Rita. Some Hockey parents thought "Coach Miz" should call some of these prime hockey prospects, but Jim played by the rules.  He never called my son or any of my players. He never compromised his integrity.
							Links to other pages Page 1 Tribute Page 2 Kennedy Cup Page 3 Coach Miz Quotes Page 4 Miz says Thanks Page 5 More Thanks Page 6 E-mail Tributes Page 7 Pictures from 2005 Page 8 Pictures from 2007 Pictures from 2008
				This picture shows Coach Miz at his best at the Hockey awards banquet in 1988, as Team captain, Dan Lopatka, delivers a few friendly quips.  Jim just can't wait to answer with a few of his famous "One Liners" that the newspaper reporters loved so much.

Click on the pictures below to see the full image.  Click the Back button to return to this page.

(Left)  The Day started with Colorado Avalanche Coach, Tony Granato, presenting Greg Lopatka with a Jersey that was autographed by his team.  The Jersey sold for $900.  (Center) we had a warm view of the races on a snowy day.  (Right) Tom Brija (88) brought 2 friends from Indiana, and one of them won the $2000 grand prize.  We tried to disqualify him when we heard he was in the Mt. Carmel class of 1966.

(Left)  Many stories of days gone by were shared and embellished.  (Center) Father Tom and Duke Kucera check on the Door Prize winners.  (Right) Mike, a  member of the class of 1988 won a basket of Chips. 

(Left) Father Tom and Duke call for the split the deck winner.  (Center) We have another cash Winner.  (Right) Mary Misiora digs deep for the $2000 grand prize winner.

(Left) Chris poses with the Black Hawk jersey that brought in $275.  (Center) Connie Johnson shows off the $900.00 Avalanche jersey.  (Right) The crowd waits for the $2000 grand prize winner announcement.

(Left) and (Center) There were some great baseball bargains.  (Right) Duke asks for help from his committee members.

Old team mates.  Kent Allen (87), Dan Lopatka (88), Tom Brija (88) and Mike Scarmouzi. 

If you want to add some names or comments to these pictures, just e-mail me.

To E-mail the Web master, just click here! greg@lopatka.net