Photo Credit: Delaware Thunder
The definition of a leader as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary is, “Something that leads.” Gotta say, Justin LaPorte is that player for the Delaware Thunder. He seems to calm everything down on the ice.
A hockey team in the small town of slower-lower Delaware, in Harrington, was founded by Charlie Pens Sr, and it’s great to see a leader evolve like LaPorte has. LaPorte might not be the flashiest Left-Winger, but he is an integral part to the overall success of the Thunder. He really has grown into a leader his teammates have so craved, “I’m feeling alright, just trying to do the little things to help the team out and win,” LaPorte said to me about a month ago. “Just trying to do the little things that don’t necessarily turn up on the scoreboard.”
LaPorte has really matured into a solid, reliable, peaky Winger for the Thunder. He has been instrumental in the Thunder’s own zone, but LaPorte just so happens to be a great Penalty Killer, as well, to which his team really feeds off this success, “There’s been a lot of new faces in the locker room over the course of the past few weeks, but it appears that everybody’s gelling together,” LaPorte said. “Just doing the things well that don’t turn up on the scoreboard, but just playing hard.”
The 23-year-old reliable Winger in LaPorte won’t kill you with his offensive stats (6g, 14a), but he’s gosh darn good defensively, to include sticking up for his teammates. LaPorte is a team first guy, who leads by example, like Cam Atkinson of the Flyers does so well.
The neat thing about this Thunder group is their relationship they have built with the fans. The majority of Thunder players stay hours following the games, greeting the fans, signing autographs, shaking hands, cheering with them as some fans are jingling cow bells. It’s really quite unique, “The fans are awesome here (Laporte said laughing.)” “They’re definitely a factor and yeah it’s good to play home in front of them.”
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All in all, it’s not about the wins and losses with this fan base that the Thunder have built. It’s about treating this team like they are a family, and it starts with how a team treats the fans first and foremost. The Thunder pride themselves with treating the fans like they are Gold, so it’s a mission accomplished.
