On July 12, 2012 the Central Wisconsin hockey community lost a great advocate and voice when Joe Zuniga passed away at the young age of 67.

Zuniga was the founder and general manager of the Central Wisconsin Saints, a Junior B team that participates in the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League.

Joe was born in Billings, Montana but moved to the Twin Cities area with his family when he was a child. After graduating from high school, Zuniga joined the United States Navy and served his country for two years before moving back to Minnesota. He married Diane Tucci in St. Paul in July 1966.

His introduction to hockey began in White Bear Lake when his wife got young sons Michael and Scott involved in youth hockey. Joe's interest quickly grew and the game soon became his passion. He began by coaching and soon became the director of the Squirt program. He was also involved in the rebuilding of the White Bear Lake Hippodrome, the oldest existing Twin Cities metro area rink still in operation.

In 1979, the Zunigas moved to the Grand Rapids, Michigan area and once again the family got involved with the local hockey program. This time, Joe was one of the leading forces in starting the Kentwood Skating and Hockey Association (KSHA). He, along with Ron Baum, Dick Antonini, Bob Chatlosh and Paul Willacker and others spent countless hours re-working an area in the Pinewood Park area and turned it into a nice outdoor rink.

After moving to two different sites, the group got permission to start fundraising. What started out as a project to cover an outdoor rink on the East Kentwood HS property became plans for an indoor rink with a refrigeration system. 

After getting all the finances figured out, the KSHA broke ground in June 1984 and the first game was played in October 1984, an intrasquad contest featuring Ferris State College.

A month after the initial contest played at KCIA, Michael and Scott Zuniga played for East Kentwood HS in a four team holiday tournament.

Joe and Diane also operated a hockey pro shop for two seasons in the facility, which is the only arena built on public school property in the state of Michigan.

In 1986, the Zunigas pulled up stakes and moved to the Stevens Point area, where Joe once again immersed himself in hockey.

Just over a dozen years later, Joe became the president of the Central Wisconsin Saints Hockey Association, helping to create another organization in the area in an effort to provide area families and their children with a 'family friendly hockey program.'

In early 2001, Zuniga began correspondence with the NHL Players Association in an effort to gain financial support from the NHLPA Goals and Dreams program for a hockey facility and equipment. After a few months of communication between the two groups, the NHLPA gave its blessing and purchased an arena shell and donated 50 complete sets of equipment to be distrubuted to underprivileged children.

Thanks to the efforts of Zuniga and others, the Saints now had their own rink.

The Saints program involved less travel time, kept Sundays free for family activities, and didn't mandate volunteer hours. Zuniga, however, could be found driving the Zamboni, coaching a team in a game, and then helping out in the concession stand after the game, making sure everyone--parents and kids alike--got their money's worth.

In 2009, Joe brought junior hockey to central Wisconsin. The team plays at the K.B. Willett Arena in Stevens Point, and competes against teams from Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

'"We're looking to create opportunities for players to hone their skills and move on beyond high school," Zuniga said in 2009. "We're giving them a future after high school."'

Joe gave his time and talent with a smile on his face and determination to do 'whatever it took' to get the job done. He donated his time so others had a chance to play the game that he loved.

Joe is survived by his wife Diane, and their four children: Michael, Scott, Jodi Maslinski, and Michelle Jastromski. They have eight grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Brooke Maslinski will be a sophomore on the Point-Rapids Red Panthers hockey team this season. She is not a superstar, but she is one of the hardest workers on the team, always supporting her teammates.

I know that Joe taught her well, not only how to play and love hockey, but to love her family and care about other people.

Joe Zuniga would be proud.