​Both players and coaches within the St. Xavier Bombers’ ice hockey program regarded Lawrence “Larry” Sickman Jr. as the indispensable glue holding the team together. The St. Xavier High School community came out in full force to support Sickman and his family during his funeral services on July 10 at St. Xavier Church, mirroring the steadfast support he had given them for years.
Sickman, who died on June 30 at the age of 84 following a battle with cancer, was a Cincinnati native and a proud St. Xavier alumnus from the class of 1960. Over the past several seasons, he became a devoted champion of St. Xavier hockey. After starting as a substitute teacher at St. Xavier in 2017, he felt the hockey program did not receive the recognition it deserved and resolved to be a steadfast advocate in the stands, even as he fought his illness.
“Larry Sickman was the glue to our team,” said Brian O’Connor, a senior captain who helped spearhead a tribute on the ice. “He showed up to almost every single game, no matter where it was. He would pull us aside in the halls to ask if we were ready for the game. He is such a light to all of us and is genuinely one of the strongest men I know.” The team’s appreciation for Sickman extended beyond words; they found a meaningful way to honor him in a moment visible to everyone in the arena.
O’Connor’s teammate, sophomore Ben Watras, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing Sickman’s broad influence on the program and the wider St. Xavier community. “Whenever someone found out they had him for a substitute teacher, they celebrated not just for a free bell but because of his generosity,” Watras said. “He would walk around the room handing out pieces of candy while they worked, pausing to ask kids how their year was going. Mr. Sickman embodied the exact sense of community that St. Xavier strives to foster, making everyone feel seen and putting smiles on all faces.”
Sickman’s impact extended well beyond the rink. His early commitment to supporting the team was evident after he began traveling to games, home and away, for as long as his health allowed. At the outset of the 2025-2026 season, he even made the long trip to the Chicago suburb of Hammond, Indiana, for a preseason tournament, underscoring his dedication to the Bombers and the sense of community he helped cultivate.
Even though illness prevented him from joining every game in the most recent season, Sickman remained a constant presence in spirit and in memory for the team. The Bombers responded in kind, with nearly the entire squad turning out at St. Xavier Church to pay their respects at Sickman’s funeral—a testament to the profound mark he left on the program and the school.
As a St. Xavier alumnus who remained deeply connected to his alma mater, Sickman’s contributions extended beyond personal encouragement. He was a living embodiment of the community ethos that the school champions, a person who could light up a room with his kindness and generosity. The students he mentored, the games he attended, and the countless small acts of support he offered all formed a thread in the fabric of St. Xavier hockey—one that will continue to inspire future teams to value character, empathy, and commitment as much as they value wins and losses.
Larry Sickman’s legacy endures not just in the record books or the banners that hang in the rink, but in the everyday interactions of players and coaches who carry forward his example of steadfast support and communal spirit. His presence on the bench, in the hallways, and in the stands created a model of what it means to be part of a team—where every member matters, every gesture of encouragement is noticed, and the wellbeing of the whole community takes precedence over personal notoriety. In honoring him, the Bombers reaffirm a promise to nurture the same inclusive, supportive, and dedicated culture that Sickman helped to build—one that will continue to draw players, families, and fans together in shared purpose and pride.