Coaches
Steve Sarauer
Hockey Director and Varsity Head Coach
Steve grew up playing his youth hockey in West Bend Wisconsin and eventually played Midget AAA hockey in Milwaukee with the Pettit National Selects and Wisconsin AAA, both of which are now the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals. After playing Midget Hockey Steve was invited in 2002 to the Phoenix Coyotes rookie camp where a knee injury took him out of camp. After recovery Steve played for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee while going to school. Steve began coaching during this time and coached multiple teams at Wisconsin AAA as well as the Pettit High School team in Milwaukee. After graduating school Steve was recruited to coach in Barrington Illinois where he became the Asst. Hockey Director of the Barrington Redwings and the Barrington Broncos High School program. Over the 4 years at Barrington High School Steve coached the JV and Asst. Coached the Varsity team. Steve's JV team won the High School State Championship 2 times and had 2 state-runner up finishes in four consecutive years. After Barrington Steve moved on to coach at the Mission AAA program and coached Peewee Majors, Bantam Minors, Bantam Majors and U16s and was runner-up in the National Tournament with the Bantam 99's and a semi-finalist with the Bantam Major 03's. Steve also took over as Director of the Lake Zurich High School hockey program and was able to develop a single team struggling high school program into a three school co-op that was able to field two teams and post impressive finishes in the IHSHL each season. Steve has been the Lake Forest High School Hockey Director and Head Varsity Coach for the past two seasons and the program has taken off since. In his first season the Varsity team won the IHSHL Varsity division league Championship and for the past two seasons the Varsity team has been in the top 15 of the Varsity programs in the state. Steve also took over the reins at the Winter Club as Hockey Director this past November and it has already made a difference for the High School program. The 2020-21 LFHS Scouts will roster three teams and are moving in the right direction for the upcoming years.
Mike McCann
JV Gold Head Coach
Prior to coaching Mike played three years at Salisbury Prep School Varsity and four years at Colgate University NCAA Division 1. Mike then played a minor pro for the Peoria Riverman and the Mississippi Riverkings in 2014-15. Mike played the 2015-16 season playing professionally in Hungary.
This season will be Coach Mike's 4th season with the Scouts and is a Assistant Coach on the Varsity team as well.
Mike has a clear vision and strategy that is crucial in training and preparing for the Varsity level.
Jimmy Warrick
JV Blue Head Coach
Jimmy Warrick grew up playing in the north shore area of Illinois before going on to play for 2 years at Shattuck St.Mary's. From Shattuck Jimmy starred for two years playing junior hockey in New York where he won league MVP and a scoring title. Following his junior career Jimmy committed to play for the Aurora University Spartans an NCAA D3 team.
Jimmy has a background in coaching at the AAA level coaching with the Chicago Young Americans U18 team for two seasons as well as the high school level. He was also a scout for the Johnstown Tomahawks in the NAHL and the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League. Jimmy also does skating and skills training with all age levels.
He is currently the Assistant Hockey Director for the Winter Club of Lake Forest and Director of Player Personnel for the New York Aviators in the USPHL.
Jimmy's passion for coaching started at a young age. He has been working with many youth AA and AAA teams as well as players individually. He is a very energetic and motivated coach who loves the game and loves to teach it. His passion is shared on the ice during every skate.
Claude Desgagne
JV Gold Assistant Coach
Claude has a Degree in Kinesiology from Laval University Majoring in Biomechanics and Sport Psychology.
This is Claude's 4th season with the Scouts program. Claude has a extensive coaching resume in both Canada and the US and has been a important contributor to the LFHS players individual skills
1990-1995 owned and operated high altitude training camp in British Columbia
1991-1994 Okanagan Hockey school as Director of Hockey Development and Power Skater
1995-2001 Chicago Young Americans Skills Director and Off-ice Training Director
2002-2006 Chicago Young Americans Head Coach
2012-2015 Highland Park JV Head Coach
2016- 2018 Lake Forest JV Head Coach
2019-2020 Lake Forest JV Assistant Coach
Claude also owns and operates a training facility in Highwood since 2010.
MARK PASSALINO
Goalie Coach
Goalie Coach Mark Passalino brings over 40 years of local and college hockey
experience to the Lake Forest Scouts hockey organization.
Growing up playing at West Park, house league at Centennial and Pee Wee and Bantam
with the Lake Forest Vikings, Mark then played hockey for Carmel High School. While
at Carmel he was voted MVP for 2 consecutive seasons.
After high school, Mark joined the Franklin Park Jets Junior A Hockey program and
competed in national tournaments. One of these tournaments resulted in a recruiting
offer from Badger Bob Johnson at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Mark went on
to play for 4 years at UW training with Goalie Coach Bill Howard. His freshman year the
Badgers won the NCAA Division I National Championship. Another highlight was
shutting out the Russian Olympic team for one period three years after their 1980
Olympic loss.
After college, Mark coached the Niles West Indians for 3 seasons.
Mark is proud to be the Falcon’s Goalie Director for last 13 years. He takes pride in
seeing the young goalies develop to their best potential each season. He enjoys working
with the different teams during the week and the specialized training at the weekly goalie
clinics. In addition, Mark has served on the Falcon’s Board for 8 years.
Mark looks forward to supporting and growing the Scouts organization to the next level
in the coming years.
Casey LaBonte
JV Blue Assistant Coach
Casey LaBonte is a prominent skating and skills coach for Warrick Hockey Advantage. Casey grew up playing for the Skokie Flyers and played for the Topeka Capitals in 2013-14 of the NA3HL and continued to play in the CIHL, the MNJHL and the ACHA. Casey is currently a finance major at Lake Forest College and this is his first year with the Scouts program. Casey also coaches multiple teams at the Winter Club including Peewee's and Squirt's this seaosn. Casey has benefited many young adults throughout their playing careers. He has worked with players of many different levels and age groups. Casey’s goal is to assess player skills to design and implement his program to develop hockey players to the best of their ability in hopes of moving them onto the collegiate level.
