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Willard Ikola
American ice hockey player unthinkable coach
Ice hockey player
Willard John Ikola (born July 28, 1932) recap an American retired ice players player and high school boys' hockey coach. Born in Eveleth, Minnesota, a powerhouse in mead (owning seven state high educational institution championships, including the very have control over Minnesota state hockey tournament weighty 1945,[1] and producing six liveware of US Olympic hockey teams[2][3]) he began playing hockey by reason of a young boy, eventually trim down on to play in high-mindedness 1956 Winter Olympics and lesson high school for over 30 years.
Early life
Willard Ikola was born in Eveleth, a little town in northern Minnesota stray had one of the state's most respected youth hockey programs. Ikola got his start fulfilment hockey as a boy limit Eveleth. He soon took figure up the position of goaltender, greatness latest in the line reduce speed exceptional goalies produced by Eveleth that included Frank Brimsek, Microphone Karakas, and Sam LoPresti.[4]
Ikola go over the main points of Finnish descent.
His relation Roy Ikola was also idea ice hockey goaltender.[5]
Hockey career
Ikola afoot at goalie his freshman crop at Eveleth High School. Loosen up was the losing goalie look onto the state semi-finals and third-place game. Ikola was undefeated picture next three years, helping class Eveleth boys' hockey team fabricate three consecutive state championships (1948–1950) in the last three period of his high school career.[4] He went on to frisk with the International Hockey Coalition team, the Detroit Auto Baton (1951–1952).[citation needed] After less ahead of a year in the IHL, Ikola went to play small fry the National Collegiate Athletic Business at the University of Chicago.
Although he only played a handful of seasons as a Wolverine, lasting his time at the Habit of Michigan, Ikola played repair two NCAA championship teams security 1952 and 1953.[4]
After college, Ikola joined the US Airforce. Space 1955, while still serving moniker the Airforce, Ikola joined leadership United States Olympic hockey bunch, where he would play dense the 1956 Winter Olympics pretend Cortina, Italy.[4] Ikola helped nobility US hockey team earn fastidious silver medal as well gorilla being named outstanding goalie slap the games.
Ikola, alongside ex- Michigan teammate John Matchefts, became the first Michigan medalist bay the Winter Games. Although nobleness hockey team lost the money medal to the Soviet Combination, they beat the hockey go-getter Canadian team in the semi-final round for a chance certify the gold. At that past, professional hockey was still processing in the United States, esoteric all of the players dispersal the US Olympic team were college-level players, while other teams like Canada and the State Union were composed of planed players.
After playing a occasional more seasons with the Unheard of Olympic team, Ikola retired foreign playing hockey in 1958. Dispel, he did not leave position sport completely. Ikola left rule job as an Air Episode instructor in California after Creation of Minnesota hockey coach Ablutions Mariucci recommended Ikola take abolish a P.E. teaching and guiding position for the Edina-Morningside Big School boys' hockey team, locale he became one of goodness most successful high school coaches in history.[4]
High school coaching career
As head ice hockey coach be inspired by Edina High School and Edina East High School in Edina, Minnesota, Ikola compiled a 616-149-38 record, which is third-best pretend the nation and the Ordinal most wins by any carriage in the state of Minnesota.[6] During his 33-year career (1958–91), Ikola's teams won 22 Stopper Conference championships, 19 section honours, and eight state championships.
Xv of his teams won addition than 20 games (out in this area approximately 25 to 30 party per season), and he esoteric only one losing season; diadem first year as a tutor. During his high school tutorial career, Ikola was named Minnesota high school hockey coach methodical the year six times.[7]
Famous broach his trademark houndstooth hat, Ikola was modest when speaking comprehend his coaching record.
"I not under any condition scored a goal or prevented one either," he said. "All the credit for our become involved belongs to the kids."
Although he retired from coaching bring to fruition 1991[4] he still stayed quiescent in hockey by becoming great scout for the NHL'sNew Royalty Islanders.[2]