Lake Superior State University Announces 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees – News 9&10

SAULT STE. MARIE — This year, Lake Superior State University will induct three new graduates into its 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame class.

According to an Oct. 1 press release, the newest candidates are Keith Aldridge, Eric Menk and Chris Nance.

All three will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the annual Alumni Awards ceremony, and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Walker Cisler Center as part of the 2024 Great Lake State Weekend.

Aldridge attended LSSU from 1992-96, where he played hockey all four years and was a member of the 1994 NCAA National Championship team, coached by Jeff Jackson.

During his tenure with the Lakers, Aldridge accumulated several notable statistics, including leading the Lakers in assists in both the 1994–95 (31 assists) and 1995–96 (36 assists) seasons. He ranks tenth in career assists (102) as a Laker and tenth in single-season points scored by a defenseman (41). Aldridge served as a Laker alternate captain during the 1995-96 season and was voted the CCHA’s top offensive defender that same season.

Aldridge set numerous school records during a series against the University of Michigan on February 23–24, 1996, including most assists by a defenseman in a single series (7), most points by a defenseman in a single series (9), and attempting for the most assists by a defenseman in one game, with 4 assists on February 24, 1996. Aldridge’s career totals include 37 goals, 102 assists and 139 points. He was named NCAA Second Team All-American in 1995 and NCAA First Team All-American in 1996.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank Coach Jackson for taking us in when we were kids and helping us leave when we were young men,” commented Aldridge, reflecting on the profound impact the legendary Laker hockey coach had on him.

After graduating from LSSU, Aldridge played professional hockey for ten years in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League and National Hockey League, where he appeared in four games with the Dallas Stars during the 1999-2000 season. He also played four seasons overseas in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany from 2000-04.

Aldridge currently lives in the Metro Detroit area, where he owns and operates a large family-owned entertainment company. He is married to Angie (Acree) Aldridge ’98, a former LSSU athlete. They have three sons: Laker (23), Gunner (22) and Walker (20).

Menk attended LSSU from 1992-96, where he was a key member of the LSSU men’s basketball team, winning the 1996 GLIAC regular season title, a GLIAC Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

“Coach Terry Smith recruited me in high school and coached me for four years at LSSU. Lake Superior State was the only four-year college in Michigan that offered me a scholarship,” Menk commented. “Thank you, Coach Smith, for the opportunity, experience and guidance you provided me during my time at Lake State. I will always be grateful for my experience as a Laker.”

At LSSU, Menk was a standout player, leading the Lakers in scoring for three consecutive seasons (1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96) and in rebounding throughout his college career. In 105 games, he accumulated a total of 1,800 points and 735 rebounds. Menk, a three-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection, earned second-team All-GLIAC honors in 1993-94 and first-team All-GLIAC honors in 1994-95 and 1995-96. As a senior, he captained the team at the school’s only GLIAC Tournament Championship, earning GLIAC Player of the Year and tournament MVP honors.

After graduating, Menk played professional basketball from 1996 to 2016 in the Danish Elite Division (Ligaen), the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL), and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was named league MVP in the PBL three times and named one of the PBA’s Top 40 Players, winning the PBA MVP award in 2005. Additionally, Menk played for the Philippines national team at the 2002 Asian Games and the 2007 FIBA-Asia Championship.

After retiring from his professional career, Menk began working as a sports commentator and analyst for two television stations in the Philippines. He also launched his own podcast and spent two years as an assistant coach in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). In 2022, he continued his education by obtaining a master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern University.

Menk is the son of Al and Lucia Menk. He currently lives in Wesley Chapel, Florida with his wife, Erin Campos, and children, Alexa (11) and Sebastian (8).

Nance attended Lake Superior State University from 1991-96, where she was a four-year varsity letterwinner on the LSSU women’s basketball team. Recruited by the Lakers after an impressive high school basketball career at Newberry High School, she was ranked No. 2 as a junior in the state of Michigan.

Nance won GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors in 1992, but a knee injury sidelined her for a redshirt year. Upon her return, she and her teammates enjoyed a series of successful seasons, culminating in a trip to the third round of the 1994 NCAA Tournament.

Nance led her team in both scoring and rebounding during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons, finishing her career with 1,532 points (sixth most in program history) and 258 rebounds over those two seasons (sixth most rebounds in one season) In addition to GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors, she was named Second Team All-GLIAC in 1993-94 and earned First Team All-GLIAC honors in 1994-95 and 1995-96. Nance ranks second in program history in both career free throws made (436) and total rebounds (882).

“I keep in touch with several of my LSSU teammates, especially girls from my class of 1991: Tammy (Albon) Graham, Darcy (Fraylick) French and Jill (Wetthuhn) Beaudo,” Nance said. “I recently met with the classes of 1991-1993. I can honestly say that getting together with my teammates to reminisce and enjoy each other’s company has surpassed any of my previous experiences at LSSU. I’m honored to be in such good company of successful, talented and hilariously funny women who never exaggerate, speak loudly or make fun of each other.”

After graduating from LSSU in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Nance earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wayne State University.

“For the last 24 years, I have worked as a registered nurse in an incredibly chaotic hospital world,” she said. “I am most satisfied when I can provide all patients in my sphere of influence with a sense of peace and reassurance.”

Nance received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses, a national program recognizing registered nurses who demonstrate excellence in patient care and professional nursing practice and exemplify the values ​​of compassion, courage, integrity and exceeding expectations.

Nance was part of the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class at Newberry High School in 2013 and was elected to the UP Hall of Fame class of 2022. She currently lives at the tip of the glove and works at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital.