Minnesota hockey legend, Willard Ikola has died. The Eveleth native won two NCAA national championships and was on the 1956 U.S. Olympic team.

Former Eveleth High School state champion, Olympic silver medalist and eight-time Minnesota state high school championship coach Willard Ikola passed away Monday night at age 92.

Legendary Edina HS hockey coach Willard Ikola – one of the most successful high school hockey coaches of all time, with 616 career wins and eight state titles – had died at the age of 92.

Steve Carroll remembers the silence of bus rides to Edina boys hockey road games. Players were locked in, focused solely on the task to come. Upon arrival, the Hornets would trudge off the bus. Legendary coach Willard Ikola was the last one off,

Minnesota hockey legend Willard Ikola — who won three state high school titles as a player with Eveleth, then coached Edina to eight more — has died at the age of 92.