Willard Ikola
Encyclopedia
Willard Ikola was an American ice hockey
player and high school
boy's hockey coach. Born in Eveleth, Minnesota
, a powerhouse in hockey (owning seven state high school championships, including the very first Minnesota state hockey tournament in 1945, and producing six members of US Olympic hockey teams) he began playing hockey as a young boy, eventually going on to play in the 1956 Winter Olympics
and coaching high school for over 30 years.
which he would play for the rest of his career. After winning three consecutive state championships with the Eveleth boys hockey team (1948–1950) in the last three years of his high school career, he went on to play with the International Hockey League team, the Detroit Auto Club
(1951–1952). After less than a year in the IHL, Ikola went to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
at the University of Michigan
. Although he only played two seasons as a Wolverine, during his time at the University of Michigan, Ikola played on two NCAA championship teams in 1951 and 1952.
In 1955, Ikola would join the United States Olympic hockey team, where he would play in the 1956 Winter Olympics
in Cortina, Italy. Ikola helped the US hockey team earn a silver medal
as well as being named outstanding goalie of the games. Ikola, alongside with former Michigan teammate John Matchefts
, became the first Michigan medalists in the winter games. Although the hockey team lost the gold medal
to the Soviet Union
, they beat the hockey powerhouse Canadian team in the semi-final round for a chance at the gold. At that time, professional hockey was still developing the United States, and all of the players on the US Olympic team were college level players, while other teams like Canada and the Soviet union were composed of professional players.
After playing a few more seasons with the US Olympic team, Ikola retired from playing hockey in 1958. However, he did not leave the sport completely. He soon took up a coaching position for the Edina High School
boys hockey team, were he became one of the most successful high school coaches in history.
and Edina East High School in Edina, Minnesota
, Ikola compiled a 616-149-38 record, which is third-best in the nation and the 2nd most wins by any coach in the state of Minnesota. During his 33-year career (1958–91), Ikola's teams won 22 Lake Conference championships, 19 section titles and eight state championships. Fifteen of his teams won more than 20 games (out of approximately 25 to 30 games per season), and he had only one losing season; his first year as a coach. During his high school coaching career, Ikola was named Minnesota high school hockey coach of the year six times.
Famous for his trademark houndstooth
hat, Ikola was modest when speaking of his coaching record. "I never scored a goal or prevented one either," he said. "All the credit for our success belongs to the kids."
Although he retired from coaching in 1991 he still stayed active in hockey by becoming a scout for the NHL's
New York Islanders
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
boy's hockey coach. Born in Eveleth, Minnesota
Eveleth, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,865 people, 1,717 households, and 971 families residing in the city. The population density was 611.0 people per square mile . There were 1,965 housing units at an average density of 310.6 per square mile...
, a powerhouse in hockey (owning seven state high school championships, including the very first Minnesota state hockey tournament in 1945, and producing six members of US Olympic hockey teams) he began playing hockey as a young boy, eventually going on to play in the 1956 Winter Olympics
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
and coaching high school for over 30 years.
Hockey career
Ikola got his start playing hockey as a boy in Eveleth. He soon took up the position of goaltenderGoaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
which he would play for the rest of his career. After winning three consecutive state championships with the Eveleth boys hockey team (1948–1950) in the last three years of his high school career, he went on to play with the International Hockey League team, the Detroit Auto Club
Detroit Auto Club
The Detroit Auto Club was a minor league professional ice hockey team, and one of the four founding members of the International Hockey League in 1945, and operated until 1951. They played their home games at Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. The Detroit Auto Club won the inaugural Turner Cup,...
(1951–1952). After less than a year in the IHL, Ikola went to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Although he only played two seasons as a Wolverine, during his time at the University of Michigan, Ikola played on two NCAA championship teams in 1951 and 1952.
In 1955, Ikola would join the United States Olympic hockey team, where he would play in the 1956 Winter Olympics
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
in Cortina, Italy. Ikola helped the US hockey team earn a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
as well as being named outstanding goalie of the games. Ikola, alongside with former Michigan teammate John Matchefts
John Matchefts
John Peter "Johnny" Matchefts is a retired ice hockey player. Matchefts played for the American 1956 Winter Olympics ice hockey team. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991....
, became the first Michigan medalists in the winter games. Although the hockey team lost the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, they beat the hockey powerhouse Canadian team in the semi-final round for a chance at the gold. At that time, professional hockey was still developing the United States, and all of the players on the US Olympic team were college level players, while other teams like Canada and the Soviet union were composed of professional players.
After playing a few more seasons with the US Olympic team, Ikola retired from playing hockey in 1958. However, he did not leave the sport completely. He soon took up a coaching position for the Edina High School
Edina High School
Edina High School is a three-year public high school located in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The school was founded in 1949 and is the main high school in the Edina School District....
boys hockey team, were he became one of the most successful high school coaches in history.
High school coaching career
As head ice hockey coach at Edina High SchoolEdina High School
Edina High School is a three-year public high school located in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The school was founded in 1949 and is the main high school in the Edina School District....
and Edina East High School in Edina, Minnesota
Edina, Minnesota
Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, Ikola compiled a 616-149-38 record, which is third-best in the nation and the 2nd most wins by any coach in the state of Minnesota. During his 33-year career (1958–91), Ikola's teams won 22 Lake Conference championships, 19 section titles and eight state championships. Fifteen of his teams won more than 20 games (out of approximately 25 to 30 games per season), and he had only one losing season; his first year as a coach. During his high school coaching career, Ikola was named Minnesota high school hockey coach of the year six times.
Famous for his trademark houndstooth
Houndstooth
Houndstooth, houndstooth check or hound's tooth , also known as dogstooth, dogtooth or dog's tooth, is a duotone textile pattern characterized by broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes, often in black and white, although other colours are used...
hat, Ikola was modest when speaking of his coaching record. "I never scored a goal or prevented one either," he said. "All the credit for our success belongs to the kids."
Although he retired from coaching in 1991 he still stayed active in hockey by becoming a scout for the NHL's
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Hall of fame inductions and honors
- 1990 - United States Hockey Hall of FameUnited States Hockey Hall of FameThe United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
- 1900 - The John Mariucci Award, awarded by the American Hockey Coaches AssociationAmerican Hockey Coaches AssociationThe American Hockey Coaches Association was formed in 1947 in Boston. The founding members coached college ice hockey but membership has grown to include coaches at every level of the sport from youth hockey to professional ice hockey, although the organization maintains a focus on the collegiate...
- 1990 - The University of Michigan Hall of Honor
- 1992 - National High School Sports Hall of Fame
- 1997 - Edina Athletic Hall of Fame.