Located along Dixie Highway in Waterford Township, about 40 northwest of downtown Detroit, the Skate Pros skate sharpening shop has been giving Michigan skaters an edge on the ice for the past 14 years.
The man behind the sharpening wheel for most of those years was Louis Post, who was as well-known for the care he took in every hockey player - from the smallest youth player to grizzled pros who would visit his shop during the offseason - had the best blade possible. More than that, he was quick to support local causes, especially those involving youth hockey teams.
When Post passed away on Oct. 4, 2019, at the age of 65, his friend and business partner Randy Brumley wanted to do something to honor his legacy. On May 1, at the Cranbrook Wallace Arena in nearby Bloomfield Hills, a group of Red Wings alumni, local celebrities, friends and long-time customers gathered for a charity game to honor the man and launch the Louis Post Scholarship Foundation.
The game pitted Team Skate Pros, featuring former Red Wing forward Drew Miller, against the Fraser Wolverines, featuring long-time University of Michigan player and coach Red Berenson. They were joined by local radio personality, Meltdown of WRIF, former Michigan State star Corey Potter and Colin Larkin, the brother of Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin.
According to Joe Shields, who was a driving force behind organizing the event, the money raised through auction items, donations and ticket sales was enough to get the foundation off the ground and keep the memory of Louis Post going strong for years into the future.
