Calvin University has lost another one of its mighty Knights.

Longtime Calvin University hockey director and head ACHA Division I coach Mike Petrusma passed away Friday evening due to complications from an extended illness.

Petrusma was 61 years old.

A native of Georgetown, Ontario, Petrusma had guided Calvin for 28 seasons and amassed a won-loss record of 520-210-37.

Petrusma had guided Calvin ACHA hockey teams at the Division I, II and III levels which included an ACHA Division III National Championship in 2004. He led teams at all three levels (Division I, II and III) to their respective ACHA national tournaments He played a crucial role in helping Calvin grow into two hockey programs in 2017 as its Division III team moved to the Division I level with Calvin starting a new ACHA Division III team in the process. As Calvin Director of Hockey Operations, he served as head coach of the Division I team and oversaw the operations of both the Division I and III teams.

As a Calvin student in the mid-1980s, he was a member of the Calvin men's soccer team but remained involved in hockey, a game he played extensively while growing up in Canada. He later guided the Calvin women's soccer team as head coach from 1989-to-1994, amassing a won-loss record of 74-28-2 as the program entered the MIAA in its initial years as a varsity program. His passion for Calvin stemmed from his own father Jurjen (George) Petrusma who came to Calvin as an immigrant student from the Netherlands and gained his education degree to become a long-time teacher in the Ontario Christian School system.

One of his great joys with the Calvin hockey program was connecting its alumni from all aspects of the globe. In 2022, he spearheaded a 50-year anniversary of Calvin hockey, bringing alumni back for Calvin Homecoming Weekend while producing with his son Josh and Calvin hockey alum and Howie's Hockey Tape owner Max Sieplinga iconic Calvin 50^th anniversary hockey sweaters and logos.

Another great joy was serving as head coach of ACHA Team Canada at the 2023 World Cup of University Hockey. He previously served as head coach of the 2024 ACHA Division III National Selects Team and an assistant coach on its 2012 team.

Petrusma worked with the Grand Rapids Blades for several years at Eagles Ice Center in Grand Rapids. He was a tireless worker inside the facility. Through his work, the Calvin hockey program was able to build top-shelf locker-room facilities inside Eagles Ice Center with the ACHA Division I locker rivaling many NCAA Division I or professional hockey facilities.

Above all, Petrusma was an enthusiastic supporter of Calvin University and its mission. He was fond of sharing that mission with his players, many of which had no previous connection with Calvin, its mission or its history.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mike Petrusma but we take comfort in his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior," said Calvin Director of Athletics Dr. Jim Timmer. "His spirit and enthusiasm for Calvin hockey and more importantly Calvin University was unmatched. We are incredibly grateful for the many years of service he poured into our institution and its student-athletes. We will miss Mike dearly, not only as a colleague but also as a friend who was always there with a smile and positive attitude."

Calvin University Remembers Mike Petrusma / Mike Petrusma Obituary