Bernie Sanders Meet Bronco Hall of Famer Bernie Saunders
The now gone-viral Bernie Sanders meme, with the Vermont senator sitting masked with mittens at the inauguration, is actually a great chance to remember a local sports hero and a true pioneer. Western Michigan University hockey Hall of Famer Bernie Saunders and late brother John, the ESPN anchorman, were the first two black hockey players at WMU. Afterwards, Bernie went on to play professionally, and became just the fifth black player in National Hockey League history, with the Quebec Nordiques, in the 1979-80 season.
Saunders WMU career was quite successful, being inducted into the Bronco Hall of Fame in 1994, and his banner hangs from the rafters at Lawson Ice Arena. Saunders left WMU as its all-time leading scorer. In 140 games, he scored 76 goals and had 78 assists for 154 points and he still ranks in the top 20 on the Broncos all-time points list.