Michael Kraft loved writing, video games and traveling, all things that brought him pride and joy despite the challenges he faced in life.

Among his lifelong goals was visiting Japan, a dream he fulfilled with his family in 2023. Another was covering hockey as a journalist, which became an important part of his career as it allowed him to combine his love of sports writing, researching and interviewing with his love of storytelling.

It is with great sadness that we announce Mike Kraft died on July 12 in Minot, North Dakota. He was 36 years old.

Born in Rochester, New York, on April 18, 1990, to parents Patrick and Susan Kraft, he attended Greece Athena High School and graduated in 2008 before continuing his academic studies at SUNY Oswego, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2012.

While at SUNY Oswego, he served as the sports editor of The Oswegonian from 2010 to 2011, becoming an Oswego men’s hockey historian in his own right. His knowledge of the program was second to none. He later served as the managing editor from 2011 to 2012, and was characterized by others as a core part of the Oswegonian family during his tenure at the paper.

After graduation, Kraft began his career as a sports journalist covering a wide range of sports all over the country. His first stop was at the Minot Daily News in Minot, North Dakota, before making additional stops at The Bismarck Tribune in Bismarck, North Dakota, and the Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine, before coming full circle in 2025, rejoining the staff at the Minot Daily News.

Kraft is survived by his parents and his brother Daniel, as well as many other family members.

The Oswegonian mourns the loss of Kraft and will remember his impact in this community.