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team morphed into the FOP Stars when the Department didn’t offer any sub- stantial sponsorship. The FOP had been known for backing fraternal activities, and the union’s sponsorship support- ed a growth spurt when some younger officers who came on during the hiring spree of the late 1980s expressed an in- terest in playing.
Like several of the sports teams that consist of Chicago Police Officers, the Stars have become a well-structured op- eration. Each team has a captain, and board members each take on different fundraising endeavors. Fans – and there are many of them – can even purchase Stars merchandise online.
The Stars became a presence. They would roll into the rink with helmets, gloves, equipment bags and jerseys bear- ing the team logo. Jerseys were updated every couple of years. Dougherty has a collection of most of them, something that might fetch a few bucks on eBay if there wasn’t so much sentimental value.
“It was actually kind of an honor to play for the Chicago FOP Stars hockey team,” Aguilar revealed. “When we would go to tournaments, we were somebody spe- cial.”
Legends and lore, of course, are built on success and personality. The Stars had plenty, some of which is not exactly
The Stars have played several charity games against the Chicago Blackhawks Alumni.
fit to print. But the team’s greatest legend might have been the presence of Officer Gary Lorden.
The Rhode Island native was a high school phenom and became an NHL draft prospect. With the ninth pick of the sixth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, the Winnipeg Jets selected Lorden. Three picks later, the Calgary Flames selected Brett Hull.
Lorden opted to play for the University of Michigan, and ultimately his hockey path led him to be nicknamed “The Wiz- ard” for the Chicago FOP Stars. On the job, he became good friends with Paul Bauer.
“He was just a great guy to have in the locker room,” Barrera praised. “On the
ice, he had the confidence to make the little adjustments that someone who is not a pro-caliber player could do. He could distance himself from an opposing player with a simple shift of his body. And he could put a pass right on your tape.” Reach for the Stars
To be a Star, or around the Stars, means having a place to gather where there is no talk about work. The trash talk on the bench has created bonds that transcend the ice.
Barrera said that 90 percent of the team attended his wedding, which was held in Clearwater, Florida. Sure, every practice and every game are chances to
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