Aberdeen Cougars freshman goalie Jon Loefke got a great opportunity Saturday night.
He got to suit up for the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League in its game against the Aberdeen Wings. Loefke did not play as the Bobcats lost a 2-1 shootout to the Wings.
Nonetheless, it was a great memory for Loefke and a feather in the hat of Aberdeen youth hockey. One of the Bobcats' goalies, Aaron Nelson, was gone as he was preparing for the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament that started Monday in Troy, Mich. The Bismarck coaches asked Loefke to fill in and wear Nelson's No. 29.
Loefke has been invited to a prospects camp for junior hockey in May, as well.
Pierre connection
All season long, basketball fans have been turning out to watch the Pierre senior duo of 6-foot-9 Zach Hanson and 6-foot-6 Lane Severyn. Tonight, Hanson, Severyn and their Governors will visit Aberdeen Central at 7:30 at Golden Eagles Arena.
Both are Division I recruits. Hanson, who has numerous relatives in the Groton and Columbia area, will play for Creighton University in the fall and Severyn for South Dakota State.
Both are re-writing the all-time school record charts at Pierre, as well. Severyn has 1,382 career points (first) and 607 rebounds (first).
Hanson has 1,239 points (second) and 605 rebounds (second). Both players recently overtook the Pierre career leaders in those categories as Troy Schaefer (1,124 points) and Sam Willard (604 rebounds) are now third in those respective categories.
Hanson's mom is Northern State Hall of Famer Jane (Konz) Hanson and his dad is Loren, a Groton High School graduate. Jane was a standout basketball player for the Wolves from 1987-91.
Zach told the Pierre Capital Journal that his mom and dad have been very supportive and "I really appreciate what they do for me."
Zach added that his mom has helped him a lot with his basketball skills. "I'm thankful for that, because I don't think I'd be the player I am without those qualities."
Cancer fundraisers
The normal color of choice at the basketball games at the Summit Center at Yankton High School and the Coyote DakotaDome in Vermillion changed from red to green Saturday.
The dominant school color for Yankton High School and the University of South Dakota is red. However, many fans wore green Conrad's Clan T-shirts in honor of former standout Pierre player and 6-foot-5 junior Conrad Adam.
Adam is fighting osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He underwent surgery in October that required the amputation of his left leg above the knee.
Both Yankton and the Coyotes hosted fundraisers at their games Saturday. Each site raised around $5,000.
At tonight's Pierre vs. Aberdeen Central game, there will be buckets passed for the American Cancer Society to help all those fighting cancer.
Mills honored
South Dakotan Billy Mills received a well-deserved 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal from President Barack Obama at the White House Friday.
The medal is the nation's second highest civilian honor. Mills was the 1964 Olympic gold medalist in the 10,000 meters, the only American to win the gold medal in that race.
"He realized the height of his ambition at the 1964 Tokyo Games, where he ran what was then the fastest 10,000 meters in Olympic history," President Barack Obama said in a White House statement during the ceremony. "Since then, Billy has spent 26 years lifting other young men and women toward their aspirations through Running Strong for American Indian Youth. His organization has championed wellness and unlocked opportunity in Native American communities across our country. The United States honors Billy Mills for inspiring young people to find the best in themselves."
"I am humbled and honored to be recognized by the president in this extraordinary way," Mills said in a statement on his organization's website. "The most powerful thing you can give to a child is a dream. I hope every child in Indian Country knows what is possible if you follow your dream."
John Papendick is the managing news-sports editor for the American News: jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.
Twitter: @jpapendick