Former Lake Superior State goaltender and assistant coach Don Muio died on April 12 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was 65.
Muio resided in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., with his wife, Barb.
He is survived by Barb, three daughters and five grandchildren.
Muio was the director of human resources for Cross Country Automotive Services prior to retirement. Muio had a variety of coaching stints, including as an assistant at LSSU in the early 1980s and served as a volunteer goaltenders coach for seven seasons from 2004 to 2011.
“Don Muio was a good man, a great husband, proud father, loyal friend and a fierce competitor,” noted former LSSU director of athletics and current LSSU broadcaster Bill Crawford in a statement. “He was a quality goaltender on the great Laker teams of the early championship years. He was such a positive influence on the Laker goalies. He was a very successful business man who used his LSSU degree to his family’s advantage. He was proud of his Laker heritage, a Hall of Fame team player, and he will be missed. Don fought his battle with cancer as he did opponents on the ice — with every ounce of effort and strength.”
“The Lakers have lost one of their own and it saddens us all.”
“My only focus is to help the goalie prepare and improve his game,” Muio said during an interview in 2009. “The single focus is much easier to deal with. There aren’t all of the challenges you face as a head coach. I particularly enjoy the interaction with the individual goaltenders. Lake Superior State is so fortunate to have a bunch of great gentlemen come in. Their character lends to the learning process.”
While playing at LSSU from 1969 to 1973, Muio posted a career GAA of 3.94, along with 2,161 career saves and a career save percentage of .873. He was a member of the Lakers’ 1972 NAIA national
championship team that was inducted into the LSSU Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Funeral details are available on Soo Today.
