The University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjacket men's hockey team will kick off the season with its longest road trip of the season, playing Friday, October 27 at Lake Forest College and Saturday, October 28 at Concordia University Wisconsin.
 
That's eight hours on the bus each way to open the season, but for the Yellowjackets it's not only going to be about a pair of games. In the process of making the trip the team will get together with a distinguished alumnus and get the chance to skate with a group of youth players in the process.
 
The road trip will start with a practice at the Crystal Ice House in Crystal Lake, Illinois, followed by a free skate for the entire Crystal Lake Youth Hockey Association. The organization, branded Fire Wagon Hockey, and the youth teams nicknamed the Yellowjackets, are the product of a youth program founded by former Yellowjacket Keith "Casey" VanDamme.
 
"Casey is one of the all-time greatest players in the history of Yellowjacket hockey. He had a great career as a player and has done some amazing things, in the business world and with youth hockey since he graduated from UW-Superior," said Yellowjacket Head Coach Rich McKenna. "He has been a great friend and tremendous alumnus to the men's hockey program over the years, and you can tell he is proud of it, otherwise he wouldn't have nicknamed the youth team the Yellowjackets."
 
Van Damme played for the Yellowjackets from 1977 through 1981 and scored 83 goals and had 100 assists. He ranks fourth all-time in both goals and assists, and his 183 points are the third-most in school history. Van Damme was an NAIA All-American following the 1980-81 season and was inducted into the UW-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
 
Following his graduation, Van Damme had a long, successful career with Transamerica Corporation, and while based in the Chicago area was integral in the development of the Crystal Lake Youth Hockey Association.
 
"Casey has given a lot over the years, to our program and the university as a whole," McKenna said. "So when he reaches out to me and asks if we'd be interested in a free skate with his youth hockey association, we jumped at the opportunity.
 
"Our team is working hard to develop strong ties with the Superior Amateur Hockey Association by working with the youth teams here. This opportunity that Casey is giving us helps us do that with another group of youth players and also do something positive for one of our great alumni."
 
The Yellowjackets will practice for one hour, followed by an hour-long skate with the youth Yellowjackets. A team meal with members of the Crystal Lake Youth Hockey Association will follow the skate.