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Rochester Ice Hawks founder, owner Michael Fatis dies at 81
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Post Bulletin
ROCHESTER — Michael Fatis saw the void in Rochester when the Rochester Mustangs junior hockey team disbanded in April 2002.
On May 15, 2002, Fatis moved the Minnesota Ice Hawks from Le Sueur, where they averaged approximately 200 fans per game in six years, to Rochester and the Rochester Recreation Center.
"Our goal is to continue to develop players," Fatis told the Post Bulletin in June 2002.
Fatis owned the Ice Hawks — who changed their name and branding to the Rochester Ice Hawks in 2009 — and kept them at the Rochester Rec Center until 2018.
ADVERTISEMENTFatis' son, Nick, served as the Ice Hawks head coach for a majority of the franchise’s existence.