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FCA In Action > FCA Presents John Olver Character in Coaching Award to John LaFontaine

FCA Presents John Olver Character in Coaching Award to John LaFontaine

Published on April 30, 2025

FCA

FCA proudly presents Cranbrook Kingswood School (Michigan) hockey coach John LaFontaine with the John Olver Character in Coaching Award.

This award is presented annually to a hockey coach who exemplifies the FCA Values of Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence — both on and off the ice. In 2021, Coach John Olver himself was honored as the inaugural recipient of the award.

“We couldn’t be more excited to see John LaFontaine receive the 2025 John Olver Character Coach Award,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “Coach LaFontaine lives out his faith in everything he does — on and off the ice. He’s not just shaping better athletes; he’s helping shape Christ-like leaders. His heart for Jesus and the hockey world continues to leave a powerful legacy for God’s Kingdom.”

“John has been an instrumental part of FCA Hockey’s coaching ministry over the past five years, impacting coaches and players at all levels of the game,” said Rick Randazzo, Director of FCA Hockey. “John’s willingness and drive to share Christ with his players is unlike any other hockey coach I have ever known. He has opened his house to players of all ages for meals, Bible study and discipleship, and this has impacted so many for the Kingdom. I know that he has been fired at least twice (once in college and once in juniors) for his unwillingness to compromise his love of Christ to keep his job. He is a true inspiration for me and so many others.”

John LaFontaine is in his initial season as the head coach for the CK Boys Varsity Hockey Team and his second year as manager of the Wallace Ice Arena. While at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep School (2007 – 2014), he gained valuable experience fulfilling his roles and responsibilities as athletic director, sports complex manager and head hockey coach. His hockey coaching experience has been extensive and successful: USHL, NAHL, Junior “A” Tier II and collegiate (Lake Superior State University).

Keith Levinthal, Director of Athletics at Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, said, “It is genuinely a pleasure to watch John LaFontaine coach. His teams reflect his values and approach to educating young people; they exhibit discipline, hard work, class and respect for the game. His interactions with players show that he is both respected and beloved. He is a true asset to Cranbrook, and I am so happy for him to receive this well-deserved recognition.”

Playing at competitive levels before seeking God’s direction for his life, John LaFontaine fell in love with hockey because of its close-knit camaraderie and multifaceted skill base. But it was God who inspired him to trade in his skates for a whistle, opening him to the opportunity to grow in his faith and inspire his players to do the same. With a strong sense of purpose, LaFontaine leads his coaching efforts as a ministry, aiming to inspire and uplift his athletes both on and off the field.

“God has always hit me over the head that I need to get to know players and learn how to serve and care for them more,” said LaFontaine. “It’s really rewarding to see a player come to know Christ. It doesn’t get any better than that. It’s also rewarding to see young men reach their dreams, obtaining a college scholarship to play hockey.”

As an active participant in FCA’s ministry, LaFontaine has co-led FCA Hockey’s Coaches’ Bible Study and has been a key part of the Bible study for more than 10 years. LaFontaine has also had FCA Huddles on his hockey teams, served at camps and has led a Bible study with his teams for as long as he has coached.

“I am so honored to receive this award from FCA Hockey,” said LaFontaine. “The FCA Coaches Bible Study that Rick Randazzo started some 12/13 years ago has changed my life. I basically received on-the-job training, mentoring and tutoring from a group of men who poured into me for all these years. I don’t know where I would be without Rick Randazzo, Paul Baxter, Jason Lammers, Tim Jackman, Brad Larsen, Adam Nightingale and Joe Exter, to name a few. Men who made a huge difference in my life. Men who changed the trajectory of my life. Men who continue to change the trajectory of players they continue to coach.  I can’t thank them enough.”

Throughout his coaching career, LaFontaine has won Coach of the Year at different levels of junior hockey.

Chris McKelvie, head men’s hockey coach at Bethel University and former player under John LaFontaine, said, “Over 20 years ago, God used Coach [LaFontaine] to impact my life in a radical way as He did and has done with many others. Over those 20 years since, I have been fortunate to play under many other successful coaches, but have not once had a coach as impactful as Coach LaFontaine when it comes to his ability to live out his faith while coaching at such a high level. As a coach now, many of the ways I coach are a direct reflection of the way I was coached in juniors all those years back. So, Coach LaFontaine’s impact doesn’t just stop with the players he coaches directly, it has a ripple effect through all the players he has impacted along the way.”

“Surrendering to Christ and living with a purpose that honors Him and gives Him all the glory will give you a peace beyond any understanding,” said LaFontaine. “That peace will draw you in daily to focus on Him, instead of wins/losses, pride, status, ego, money, etc. Partnering with FCA helped me refocus when my purpose drifted. It helped me get back on the right track much quicker. I experienced firsthand Proverbs 27:17, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.’”

 

 

-FCA-

FCA In Action > FCA Presents John Olver Character in Coaching Award to John LaFontaine

FCA Presents John Olver Character in Coaching Award to John LaFontaine

Published on April 30, 2025

FCA

FCA proudly presents Cranbrook Kingswood School (Michigan) hockey coach John LaFontaine with the John Olver Character in Coaching Award.

This award is presented annually to a hockey coach who exemplifies the FCA Values of Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence — both on and off the ice. In 2021, Coach John Olver himself was honored as the inaugural recipient of the award.

“We couldn’t be more excited to see John LaFontaine receive the 2025 John Olver Character Coach Award,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “Coach LaFontaine lives out his faith in everything he does — on and off the ice. He’s not just shaping better athletes; he’s helping shape Christ-like leaders. His heart for Jesus and the hockey world continues to leave a powerful legacy for God’s Kingdom.”

“John has been an instrumental part of FCA Hockey’s coaching ministry over the past five years, impacting coaches and players at all levels of the game,” said Rick Randazzo, Director of FCA Hockey. “John’s willingness and drive to share Christ with his players is unlike any other hockey coach I have ever known. He has opened his house to players of all ages for meals, Bible study and discipleship, and this has impacted so many for the Kingdom. I know that he has been fired at least twice (once in college and once in juniors) for his unwillingness to compromise his love of Christ to keep his job. He is a true inspiration for me and so many others.”

John LaFontaine is in his initial season as the head coach for the CK Boys Varsity Hockey Team and his second year as manager of the Wallace Ice Arena. While at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep School (2007 – 2014), he gained valuable experience fulfilling his roles and responsibilities as athletic director, sports complex manager and head hockey coach. His hockey coaching experience has been extensive and successful: USHL, NAHL, Junior “A” Tier II and collegiate (Lake Superior State University).

Keith Levinthal, Director of Athletics at Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, said, “It is genuinely a pleasure to watch John LaFontaine coach. His teams reflect his values and approach to educating young people; they exhibit discipline, hard work, class and respect for the game. His interactions with players show that he is both respected and beloved. He is a true asset to Cranbrook, and I am so happy for him to receive this well-deserved recognition.”

Playing at competitive levels before seeking God’s direction for his life, John LaFontaine fell in love with hockey because of its close-knit camaraderie and multifaceted skill base. But it was God who inspired him to trade in his skates for a whistle, opening him to the opportunity to grow in his faith and inspire his players to do the same. With a strong sense of purpose, LaFontaine leads his coaching efforts as a ministry, aiming to inspire and uplift his athletes both on and off the field.

“God has always hit me over the head that I need to get to know players and learn how to serve and care for them more,” said LaFontaine. “It’s really rewarding to see a player come to know Christ. It doesn’t get any better than that. It’s also rewarding to see young men reach their dreams, obtaining a college scholarship to play hockey.”

As an active participant in FCA’s ministry, LaFontaine has co-led FCA Hockey’s Coaches’ Bible Study and has been a key part of the Bible study for more than 10 years. LaFontaine has also had FCA Huddles on his hockey teams, served at camps and has led a Bible study with his teams for as long as he has coached.

“I am so honored to receive this award from FCA Hockey,” said LaFontaine. “The FCA Coaches Bible Study that Rick Randazzo started some 12/13 years ago has changed my life. I basically received on-the-job training, mentoring and tutoring from a group of men who poured into me for all these years. I don’t know where I would be without Rick Randazzo, Paul Baxter, Jason Lammers, Tim Jackman, Brad Larsen, Adam Nightingale and Joe Exter, to name a few. Men who made a huge difference in my life. Men who changed the trajectory of my life. Men who continue to change the trajectory of players they continue to coach.  I can’t thank them enough.”

Throughout his coaching career, LaFontaine has won Coach of the Year at different levels of junior hockey.

Chris McKelvie, head men’s hockey coach at Bethel University and former player under John LaFontaine, said, “Over 20 years ago, God used Coach [LaFontaine] to impact my life in a radical way as He did and has done with many others. Over those 20 years since, I have been fortunate to play under many other successful coaches, but have not once had a coach as impactful as Coach LaFontaine when it comes to his ability to live out his faith while coaching at such a high level. As a coach now, many of the ways I coach are a direct reflection of the way I was coached in juniors all those years back. So, Coach LaFontaine’s impact doesn’t just stop with the players he coaches directly, it has a ripple effect through all the players he has impacted along the way.”

“Surrendering to Christ and living with a purpose that honors Him and gives Him all the glory will give you a peace beyond any understanding,” said LaFontaine. “That peace will draw you in daily to focus on Him, instead of wins/losses, pride, status, ego, money, etc. Partnering with FCA helped me refocus when my purpose drifted. It helped me get back on the right track much quicker. I experienced firsthand Proverbs 27:17, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.’”

 

 

-FCA-

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