Clayton Beddoes (1990-94 ice hockey), Maria Blazejewski (2009-13 women’s basketball), Dennis Bolton (1970-74 ice hockey), and Chris Wooley (1986-90 men’s basketball) are set to be inducted into the Lake Superior State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on Saturday, October 24th at the annual Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Induction ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Walker Cisler Center as part of Great Lake State Weekend 2026. All recipients will also be recognized on-ice during the second intermission of the Friday, October 23rd hockey game vs. Bowling Green. The Class of 2026 LSSU Athletic Hall of Fame event marks the 22nd induction ceremony at the university. Tickets for the event can be purchased on the LSSU Alumni webpage. With the event selling out for the past three consecutive years, guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Please note that tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.
Clayton Beddoes ’94
Clayton Beddoes ’94 ranks among the most accomplished players in Laker hockey history. Recruited to Lake Superior State in 1989 by legendary coaches Jeff Jackson and Jim Roque, Beddoes went on to play a pivotal role in helping LSSU capture NCAA Division I National Championships in 1992 and 1994 while establishing himself as one of the premier players in college hockey.
A dynamic forward and respected leader, Beddoes appeared in 172 games during his Laker career, recording 71 goals and 127 assists for 198 points. During his senior season, he served as team captain and led the Lakers to their third NCAA Division I National Championship, finishing the year with 23 goals and 31 assists for 54 points. At the time of his 2026 Lake Superior State Athletics Hall of Fame induction, Beddoes ranked sixth in program history with 198 career points. He also ranked third all-time in career assists (127) and 14th in career goals (71).
Beddoes’ outstanding collegiate career earned him numerous honors, including CCHA All-Rookie Team and CCHA Tournament MVP recognition in 1991, three consecutive CCHA All-Academic Team selections (1992-94), NCAA All-Tournament Team honors in 1994, Second Team All-CCHA recognition in 1994, and Second Team NCAA All-American honors in 1994. A two-time NCAA champion, Beddoes’ dedication to excellence both on the ice and in the classroom exemplified the values of Lake Superior State University and helped set a standard for future generations of Lakers.
Following his collegiate career, Beddoes continued his playing career at the professional level, including time with the NHL’s Boston Bruins and a Spengler Cup championship with Team Canada. He later transitioned into coaching, continuing to make an impact on the international hockey stage. Beddoes has coached in 13 IIHF tournaments, including serving with China’s men’s team at the 2022 Olympic Games, helping Italy earn IIHF promotion in 2019, coaching Italy at the 2020 IIHF Pool A World Championship, and helping China’s women’s team earn IIHF promotion in 2022.
Today, Beddoes remains deeply involved in the game as an assistant coach with the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). He and his wife, Cori, are the proud parents of three sons: Leonard (18), Nicholas (17), and Joe (16). From his championship career as a Laker to his continued contributions as a professional player and coach, Beddoes’ impact on hockey reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence and the enduring tradition of Lake Superior State hockey.
Maria Blazejewski ’13
Maria Blazejewski ‘13 was one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Lake Superior State women’s basketball history during her career from 2009 to 2013. A two-year team captain, she led the Lakers in scoring three times (2009-10, 2011-12, and 2012-13) and led the team in rebounding as a senior, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game. Her outstanding 2012-13 season earned First Team All-GLIAC honors after receiving Second Team recognition in both 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Blazejewski’s name remains prominent throughout the Laker record book. She ranks fifth all-time in career scoring with 1,585 points, fifth in free-throw percentage (80.2%), seventh in free throws made (372), and tenth in field goals made (581). Her senior season was one of the finest in program history, highlighted by a school-record 164 free throws made, an 86.8 percent free-throw percentage that ranks fourth all-time, and a scoring average of 17.8 points per game, ninth-best in a single season.
Her contributions to the program extended beyond statistics. Blazejewski earned the Terry McDermott Freshman of the Year Award, the Bud Cooper Coaches Award, the Chris Comito Award, and the Deb McPherson Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year Award. In recognition of her lasting impact on the program, the women’s basketball team established the “4 Award” in honor of her jersey number. The award recognizes what a student-athlete has given to the university, community, and team, and continues to be presented to deserving Lakers women’s basketball players.
A standout in the classroom as well, Blazejewski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and graduated magna cum laude. She was named to the Dean’s List all four years and received GLIAC Academic Excellence honors three times.
Looking back on her time at Lake State, Blazejewski is most appreciative of the relationships she built along the way. “When I look back on my time with the LSSU women’s basketball program, the first thing that comes to mind is my Laker teammates,” she said. “We pushed each other every day, worked tirelessly side by side, and built memories that went far beyond the court.”
Following her graduation, Blazejewski embarked on a successful professional basketball career that has taken her to nine countries across Europe, Australia, and Puerto Rico. Among her many accomplishments, she finished sixth in MVP voting in Australia’s WNBL, earned All-Portugal First Team and All-Portugal Import Team honors, averaged more than 19 points per game in four professional leagues, and was recognized in 2023 as one of the Grand Traverse area’s Influential Women.
Despite her success on the international stage, Blazejewski says she has gained an even greater appreciation for the support she received during her years as a Laker. She remains grateful to her family, friends, professors, fellow students, alumni, and members of the Sault Ste. Marie community who helped shape her experience at Lake Superior State and looks forward to reconnecting with many of them at the October reunion.
Blazejewski’s connection to LSSU also runs through her family. Her parents, Mark and Kathleen, are both LSSU alumni, and she has an older sister, Meredith, and older brother, Lucas. Her father, Mark, was a member of the 1975-76 LSSU men’s basketball team, which was inducted into the LSSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
Dennis Bolton ’74
Dennis Bolton ’74 was a cornerstone of Laker hockey’s early success and helped establish the championship tradition that has become synonymous with Lake Superior State hockey. A two-time team captain, Bolton led the Lakers during the 1972-73 and 1973-74 seasons, including the program’s historic run to the 1974 NAIA National Championship.
Joining the Lakers in 1970 following a successful junior hockey career with the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers, Bolton quickly became one of the most outstanding players in the early history of LSSU hockey. A two-time national champion, he played a pivotal role in the Lakers’ championship success. In the 1972 NAIA National Championship game, Bolton scored the opening goal, assisted on Rod Hooktwith’s goal, and added a second goal of his own to help secure the title. During the Lakers’ 1974 championship run, he recorded three goals and four assists and was named the Most Valuable Player of the NAIA National Tournament.
For his exceptional performance and leadership, Bolton earned NAIA All-American honors and was selected for the 1974 edition of Outstanding College Athletes of America. He was also a member of the Lakers’ 1974 CCHA Championship team. His accomplishments as a player, captain, and leader helped set the standard of excellence for future generations of Laker hockey players.
Following his graduation from Lake Superior State, Bolton remained connected to the game of hockey. He was offered the opportunity to become an assistant coach at Western Michigan while pursuing a master’s degree but chose instead to continue his playing career in the IHL. He later returned to coaching, assisting Soo Greyhounds head coach and LSSU graduate Paul Theriault, and also coached Minor hockey and teams in the NOJHL.
Bolton credits many members of the LSSU community for shaping his experience as a student-athlete and helping guide his journey. “I have tremendous appreciation for the people who helped shape my journey at LSSU, especially Coaches Ron Mason and Rick Comley, Athletic Director Bud Cooper, and President Kenneth Shouldice,” Bolton said. “They were respected leaders and strong mentors who had a lasting impact on me as a young athlete and student. I am also grateful for my teammates and our fans. Every player was essential, and every player contributed to our success. We were a team with shared passion and purpose. Because of our hard work, commitment, and belief in one another, we became the first Laker hockey team to win an NAIA Championship in 1972 and then again in 1974, opening the door for the continued success of Laker hockey.”
Bolton added, “Our team celebrated the championships, but we also celebrated the journey we took together. The friendships, memories, and experiences we shared have lasted a lifetime. Being part of the early days of Laker hockey was a privilege, and I am honored to have played a role in building a foundation for the program’s future.”
Bolton and his wife, Sandy, continue to have a lasting connection to the Laker community. Their daughter Rebecca was born while Bolton was attending LSSU and spent two years as one of the youngest members of the Laker family before later earning her Bachelor of Science degree from LSSU. Their daughter Rachel graduated from Georgian College and has built a career as a Finance/Business Manager in the automotive industry. Bolton and Sandy are also proud grandparents of Rebecca’s son, Owen Shier.
Chris Wooley ’90
Chris Wooley ’90 ranks among the greatest scorers in the history of Lake Superior State men’s basketball. During a legendary four-year career, he established himself as one of the premier players in the GLIAC, combining outstanding shooting ability with remarkable consistency to solidify his place among the greatest players in program history.
Wooley finished his career with 1,861 points, ranking third in program history at the time of his Hall of Fame induction after holding second place on the all-time scoring list for 28 years. He also ranks fourth in career field goals made and averaged 16.7 points per game over his four-year career, establishing himself as one of the most prolific scorers in Laker history.
His finest scoring season came in 1988-89, when he totaled 614 points while setting a Lake Superior State single-season record with 96 three-point field goals, a mark that stood for 36 years. His 230 total field goals that season rank seventh in program history, while his 247 field goals in 1987-88 rank third, giving Wooley two of the top seven single-season field goal totals in Laker history.
Nationally recognized for his scoring ability, Wooley averaged 21.9 points per game during the 1988-89 season, ranking 35th nationally in NCAA Division II. On December 21, 1988, he earned GLIAC Player of the Week honors after scoring 47 points in a 117-107 victory over St. Mary’s College, one of the most memorable individual performances in program history.
Wooley’s accomplishments earned him First Team All-GLIAC honors in 1989 and 1990 and Second Team NABC All-North Central District recognition in 1989. He also held the Lake Superior State single-season record for three-point field goals (96) until 2025 and the single-game record for three-pointers made (eight) until 2009. His remarkable scoring ability and record-setting performances established him as one of the greatest offensive players in Laker basketball history.
Reflecting on his time at Lake Superior State, Wooley credits the people and relationships he found on campus for making his experience so memorable. “My connection to LSSU began when Coach Bob Eldridge recruited me and my St. Martin DePorres High School teammate, David Greenwood, from Detroit,” Wooley said. “During my visit, I met Tony Avant, who immediately took me under his wing and made me feel at home. That welcoming spirit made my decision to become a Laker an easy one.”
Wooley added, “The friendships I built at LSSU have lasted a lifetime. David, Rick Gray, and I were roommates for most of our college careers, and we remain close friends today. I also continue to cherish my friendships with Tony Avant and many of my teammates from the 1986-90 teams. Those relationships are just as meaningful to me as any accomplishment on the basketball court.”
Wooley has built a successful career in law enforcement while making his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife, Hillary, since 2001. Married for 29 years, the Wooleys have two children, William and Maya. William is completing his degree in Optometry at Midwestern University in Chicago, while Maya lives in Ann Arbor and is pursuing a career as a radiography technician. As a family, they enjoy traveling together, with Iceland and Italy among their favorite destinations, and spending summers RV camping along Michigan’s lakes. Wooley also appreciates the longstanding support of his mother, Marian, and his sister, Monica. The Wooleys share their home with two Jack Russell terriers, Rosie and Nellie.