Joe Franke is a hero for his hockey team — the Fort Wayne, Ind., Komets.
A movie will be made about him. He led his team to the 2003 Colonial Cup Championship.
But what sets him apart from every other hockey player is the fact that he wasn’t one. Franke was the Komets’ equipment manager.
He was told during a game to strap on some pads and take the ice after the team’s main goalie was called up to the American Hockey League and the backup goalie became dehydrated and collapsed on the rink.
“1-0 Joe,” as his town calls him, held his own, causing the game to end in a tie and go into overtime.
He managed to stop three of four shootout attempts and assisted on a goal as the Komets won the game 4-3.
Compared to hockey players, an equipment manager’s role might seem unimportant. But it’s these roles often not considered that can mean the most.
As in Franke’s case, the people out of the spotlight can be the difference between success and defeat.
Show more thanks for those who work in the positions often left forgotten until we need them: A cafeteria worker who takes time to warn about allergens in food and offers healthy lunches is helping students stay healthy.
Show more thanks for the utility workers around the campus who are out during a snowfall shoveling walkways and laying salt and sand on the sidewalks and steps to keep everyone from falling.
Show more thanks for assistants who keep things organized, and thank those in the offices of student activities, career centers and business services and many other places.
Those with big roles are often appreciated, but the smaller jobs that help keep things running smoothly are just as important.
If “1-0 Joe,” an equipment manager wasn’t there for that hockey game, the team and game would have been lost.
The world around us is made of connections and relationships — networking at its finest. Everyone has a job to make something work. We just don’t let people know their job is appreciated enough.
Thank them just as often because it’s never certain when they could play a big role like Franke.
