Sept. 30, 2010
Go Duluth Schools

Francisco to drop ceremonial first puck before Clydesdales’ game

The Duluth Clydesdales Junior A men’s hockey team will honor Pat Francisco as a Hockey Heritage Hero prior to the team’s inaugural home game at 6 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Arena.

Francisco, the visionary behind the Duluth Heritage Sports Center who continues to work diligently to secure the additional funding needed to complete the community project, will drop the ceremonial first puck before the Superior International Hockey League game against the Wisconsin Wilderness.

“Who’s more deserving than Pat, who has made a significant contribution to the sport of hockey in the Northland?” said Clydesdales’ general manager and coach Butch Williams. “He’s the visionary behind the Heritage Center, a successful and well-respected businessman, a former Bulldogs great, a coach and community builder. His vision for the Heritage Center is the reason the Clydesdales exist.”

Said Jerry DeMeo, CEO & President of the Duluth Heritage Sports Center: “There’s not enough room, even in the cyberspace of the internet, to list all of Pat’s contributions to help make the Duluth Heritage Sports Center a reality. Simply put, there’s no one in our area, past or present, that is more deserving of the title ‘Heritage Hero’ — in sports or otherwise!”

The Clydesdales will honor a Hockey Heritage Hero before every home game in 2010-11.

“As a kid I used to watch the exploits of Pat and his fellow linemates Huffer (Christensen) and Bruce (McLeod), and it inspired me to pursue my own dreams in hockey,” said Williams. “Pat has parlayed some of the lessons he learned in hockey into a successful business career in the Twin Ports. Most impressivley, he hasn’t forgotten his roots and what sports means to young boys and girls in our community.”