Fort Wayne native, former Komet to head Trine's youth hockey programs

ANGOLA (06/27/2018) — A Fort Wayne native with deep ties to the city's hockey community, including six seasons as a player for the Komets, will join Trine University as youth program director and assistant ice arena manager.

Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock will begin at Trine on Aug. 6, overseeing the Thunder Hockey Association as well as other community programs. He comes to Trine after serving as head of athlete development for Canlan Ice Sports in Fort Wayne, where he directed, managed and developed all ice hockey programs from U6 to U18.

"I'm excited and blessed to have the opportunity to grow the game I love at Trine University," said Schrock. "Everyone I've met at Trine, including (ice arena manager) Mike Ferrell and (president) Dr. Earl Brooks, has given me the feeling I can be part of something special, to have the opportunity to teach youth and be surrounded by people who can help me grow as well."

"I can't wait to get on the ice and start working with the kids," he said. "I remember being 6 years old and the feeling I had when I first got started. There is no better way to give back than seeing youngsters today enjoy that same experience."

Schrock graduated from Snider High School in 2003 and played one year of junior hockey for the Toledo IceDiggers of the North American Hockey League. He then attended NCAA Division III Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania, earning a degree in communications and captaining the school's hockey team in his senior year to the 2009 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey title.

He was named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference's All-Academic team all four years he was at Neumann and received the school's sportsmanship award and St. Francis Clare Award in 2008 and 2009. He was inducted into Neumann's Hall of Fame in 2010.

He returned to Fort Wayne and joined the Komets in the fall of 2009, earning Rookie of the Year honors for the 2009-10 season, when the team won the Turner Cup championship in the International Hockey League. He was also part of the 2011-12 squad that won the President's Cup championship in the Central Hockey League.

He earned the Mr. Hustle Award from the team in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and the Weigmann Family True Komet Award for the 2011-12 season. He was named captain for the 2013-14 season and served in that role until his retirement at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Schrock played in 379 regular-season games over his six seasons with the Komets, scoring 66 goals and 129 points.

His hockey success has continued past his playing career. He coached the Summit City Panthers to the Indiana State High School Hockey Association 1A State Championship last season.

"We are very fortunate to have Kaleigh join our staff," said Ferrell. "Kaleigh has a real passion for teaching youth to skate, play hockey and have fun. With his very successful career as a player, his experience at working with youth and all his connections in the area, we feel he will take our programs to a whole new level. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Kaleigh and see what great things we can make happen at the Thunder Ice Arena."

"My goal is to grow the game of hockey in the Angola and throughout northeast Indiana," Schrock said. "As part of that process, we will create a culture where we assist in the athletic and character development of every kid who touches the ice at Trine."

For more information on the Thunder Ice Arena and Trine hockey programs, visit thundericearena.com.

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