Larry Bone has been a very important part of the Lakehead Thunderwolves' hockey success over the first three and a half seasons. Who is Larry Bone you are asking? He is Lakehead's Head Scout, who tirelessly travels the arenas of Southern and Eastern Ontario watching countless hockey games looking for future Thunderwolves as well as scouting Lakehead's OUA opposition. A lot of Lakehead's success has come from players from Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario but a large measure also comes from players that have been scouted by Bone.
For potential players outside of Southern and Eastern Ontario, Bone acts as a conduit for Lakehead scouts across the country and he will check on potential recruits based upon the scouting reports he receives. If he thinks a player would be a great Lakehead player, he discusses the player with Coach Belliveau. Bone will then tell the player about the benefits of Lakehead University and for playing for the Thunderwolves, and if the player is willing to commit, Coach Belliveau will try to catch the player in game action.
Bone became involved with Lakehead when he heard Lakehead Athletic Director Tom Warden being interviewed on the Fan 590 Sports Radio network in Southern Ontario. He heard Warden discussing the difficult task of beginning Lakehead's unique hockey program and Bone liked what he heard and volunteered his services. He met Coach Belliveau before Lakehead's first ever away series against Western in London, the two became fast friends, and the rest is Lakehead hockey history.
Why did Bone want to become connected with a school and hockey program so far away from his Newmarket home? "Well, I get to do what I love to do; I watch hockey. The first couple of years we were just making a name for ourselves and no one knew we were alive, now when I talk to kids, they are very familiar with our program. That is partly due to the fact that I am in the arenas down south, and partly due to the great success the team has made for itself. I think also that the organization has contributed so much too. And, of course not the least in the equation is the fine university."
Bone also has important OUA duties for the Thunderwolves. He scouts out Lakehead opposition during the season and reports to Belliveau about the strengths and weaknesses of Lakehead's opponents. When the Thunderwolves are playing away games in Southern Ontario, Larry also acts as an assistant "Eye in the Sky" coach for the Thunderwolves on their away games, helping coaches Belliveau and Nicholas with stats and another pair of eyes. After the games, he and the coaches have a debriefing session about that game's events.
Bone is a native of Newmarket, Ontario and has a rich hockey background. He played minor hockey in Newmarket, played for the Aurora Junior B team under Coach Roger Neilson as well as Junior A in Newmarket, and had a short stint with the Barrie Flyers of the OHL. He then played NCAA Division I hockey for Northeastern University in Boston from 1963-66 and was Captain in 65-66. He is 39th on the Northeastern All-Time Scoring List and was inducted into the Northeastern's Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. He has been an assistant coach for the Newmarket Royals of the OHL, Head Coach of the Newmarket Flyers Tier II Junior Team, and Head Coach of the All Ontario Midget AA Team. Bone is married to wife Sheila and has two grown children and two grandchildren.
Bone said he and Belliveau have a very strong working relationship. "Pete relies on my eyes and my knowledge to speak for him. He trusts me and I support him. When I get someone who is going to commit, I call Pete and he tries to see the young man play. We have never disagreed on a player yet."
Coach Belliveau said Bone is an integral part of Lakehead's success. "L