Six years ago, Lake Orion resident Kevin Kranker was playing for the Orchard Lake Pirates, a Midget A travel hockey team. He and his team, including four other Lake Orion players, made it to the finals in the International Silverstick tournament in Sarnia, ON.
Soon, Kranker will head to more exotic places to exhibit his hockey prowess. He’s been selected to play for Team USA in the World University Games in Turkey, February 2011.
The games will be another knotch on his hockey stick. In 2007, Kranker was a senior at Lake Orion High School when he was named All-State in Division 1. After graduation, he joined Oakland University’s Grizzlies and was freshman rookie of the year.
Kranker earned the most valuable player title for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons, and just last March he played on the all-star team in the Grizzlies? college division.
The World University Games will be played in Erzurum, Turkey between January 27 and February 6. Kranker will join fellow Grizzly Jacob DeSano on Team USA.
Kranker’s parents, Vicki and Gerry, still reside in Lake Orion.
– Megan Collier