KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- During its annual Alumni and Friends Weekend, the Western Michigan hockey program will honor Joe Corvo and Lynn Ross for their contributions to the program by inducting them into the Ring of Honor. The Alumni and Friends Weekend is set for July 21-22, 2023.
Born in Oak Park, Illinois and a 1997 draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, Corvo began his Western Michigan career in the 1995-96 season. Over the course of his three-year career, he would total 80 points on 22 goals and 58 assists and served as an assistant captain for the 1997-98 Broncos. He would reach 30 points two times in his career and went on to earn CCHA All-Rookie Team honors (1995-96) to go along with an All-CCHA Second Team selection (1996-97). After the 1996-97 season, he was named the team's Most Valuable Defenseman. During his three years on campus, the standout defenseman helped the team win 51 games and guided the Broncos to a NCAA Tournament berth in 1995-96.
Following his time at Western Michigan, Corvo went on to play 15 seasons of professional hockey, including 11 seasons in the NHL with the Kings, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins. In his NHL career, Corvo played in 708 games, racking up 310 points on 92 goals and 218 assists. He totaled 18 points in 50 career playoff games.
He topped 30 points four times in his career, including reaching 40 points two times. He first accomplished the feat in the 2005-06 season, scoring 40 points on 14 goals and 26 assists with the Kings. He then reached 40 points again with the Hurricanes during the 2010-11 campaign, scoring 11 goals and handing out 29 assists. He retired from hockey after the 2013-14 season.
Ross has been involved in or supported sports throughout her life. A lifelong Michigander, she was a gymnast, cheerleader, and participated in track and field and fast pitch softball during her high school years. After moving to Kalamazoo in 1970, Bronco hockey intrigued her. Her tenure with Western began in 1972 with a job in the Career Planning and Placement Center. As her interest in Bronco hockey grew, she wanted to be closer to the action. She transferred to the Athletic Ticket Office in 1974 and rose to the position of Athletic Ticket Manager in 1980. She served in that capacity until 1986 when she transferred to Lawson Arena as the Assistant Manager/Business Manager for the arena and Bronco hockey. She remained in that position until her retirement in 2021.
During her time in Kalamazoo, she was actively involved in many pursuits within the university and community including full time wife and mother. From 1972 to 1980 she served as President, Vice President and a Board Member of the Clerical/Technical Organization. She worked closely with the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association and acted as a youth team manager volunteer. Ross also promoted synchronized skating and beginning in 1995 she became the volunteer advisor to the WMU Synchronized Skating team until her retirement. She was also involved with the Bronco Hockey Blue Line Club. For all her efforts at Western Michigan, she was named 'W Club Woman of the Year' in 2008.
Within the community she was instrumental in forming the TKO Youth Soccer Board of Directors and served as a Board Member, Registrar, Director of Tryouts and Team Manager from 1991-2002. She was also instrumental in forming the Kalamazoo Central Maroon Foundation and served as it's President for six years. To better serve in all these pursuits, she completed an Associate's degree in computer science and business administration in 1999.
The weekend features a Friday night social at University Roadhouse at 6:30 p.m. The golf outing is on Saturday at Heritage Glenn Golf Club in Paw Paw, Mich., beginning at 2 p.m. The cost for the full weekend is $200 per golfer or $800 per foursome. It is just $40 for those who want to join in the Friday Social.
