If you've ever exchanged emails with our next inductee you know this introduction should be written in ALL CAPS.

Sean Hazelton's passion and dedication to hockey has been evident since his playing days. He began playing at the age of 10 with Webster Groves and moved to Affton at the age of 16. He played for St. John Vianney High School and the St. Louis Junior Blues before suffering a broken neck in 1987 that ended his playing days. Following a long recovery, Sean went on to play three years of college baseball.

But Sean's true impact came as an advocate for youth hockey in St. Louis. In 1993, Sean returned to hockey as an assistant coach for the Affton Midgets. He quickly recognized the need to raise the level of competition for young players in St. Louis and sought an alternative. The Central States Developmental Hockey League was a growing program based in Chicago and officially became a league in 1999. Sean was an integral part of bringing Central States to St. Louis in 2000, and competing in the league against some of the top teams in the country paid off quickly. Affton's 2002 Central States team, led by future NHL player Joe Vitale, made it all the way to the National Championship game, losing to South Boston in the Final. 

While the Midget level was St. Louis's entry to Central States, Sean pushed for the continued growth of the league. Soon St. Louis also had teams competing at the Squirt, PeeWee, and Bantam levels. By the mid-2000s, St. Louis teams were competing and winning at the highest levels and in 2006 Affton Central States Midgets were National Champions. Thanks to Sean’s vision, Central States provides players in St. Louis with the stepping stone they need to reach higher levels of hockey. Sean continues to represent St. Louis serving on the Central States Board since 2000.

As part of his dedication to raising awareness of youth hockey in St. Louis, Sean founded and published the Hockey Stop Newspaper from 2000-2017. He also served on the Missouri Hockey Board for many years. 

Since his return as a coach in 1993, Sean has been a continuous force for Affton Hockey. His passion and loyalty to the club is unmatched. He was a member of the Affton Hockey Board for more than 20 years, holding a variety of positions from Member at Large to Club President. Sean oversaw the establishment of Lady Liberty, Affton Hockey's all-female program, and continues to support its development. Sean currently serves as Affton Hockey Director and his steady leadership has made Affton consistently one of the best in the country.