Former Forester coach Ken Klein was inducted into the Amateur Hockey Association Illinois (AHAI) Hockey Hall of Fame on Sunday, January 29 during a ceremony at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village.
Klein spent 18 years (1992-2010) on the ice with the Lake Forest College men’s hockey team, serving as an assistant and goaltender coach and working with former head coach Tony Fritz. In 2019 he was presented with the F.A.N. Club Golden Whistle Award as part of the College's Homecoming festivities.
Under Klein’s tutelage, four different Foresters have ranked among the top 10 in the nation in save percentage, including the nation’s leader in 2003-04. Players he developed still rank in the team annals for all-time most saves and best save percentages. Seven of his goalies have earned a total of nine All-Northern Collegiate Hockey Association honors, including a pair of First Team selections.
Klein also served as a coach for the Forester women’s hockey team, GLASA adaptive sled hockey, Deerfield High school, and the College of DuPage.
“At Lake Forest College, I worked under two outstanding leaders. Former athletic director Jackie Slaats focused on the success of the student-athlete and creating a strong sense of community at the College,” said Klein during his induction.
“For 23 years, I also had the honor to work alongside coaching legend Tony Fritz. We spent 18 years together at Lake Forest College and five years with the GLASA Falcons Sled Team. Tony taught me many great coaching qualities but most importantly how to focus on the development of the student-athlete and that each players’ time with us was only temporary, but what they learned from us would last a lifetime.”
The AHAI was founded as the governing body of Illinois amateur hockey in 1975. Today, it is the fifth largest American amateur ice hockey association and is a dynamic force in the molding of amateur hockey in America. AHAI consists of over 2,500 member teams, and is dedicated to the development of today's youth through Athletic and Academic excellence.