Jim Hoey and Willard Ikola to speak at March 24 meeting

 
"Ike"The Rotary Club of Edina will welcome two program speakers at the Thursday, March 24, meeting. Author Jim Hoey and longtime Edina High School boys' hockey coach Willard Ikola will speak about their joint effort in writing Ike: Minnesota Hockey Legend about Ikola's legendary career as EHS hockey coach from 1958 to 1991.
 
 
Hoey, a retired teacher, played hockey at Greenway High before becoming a captain at St. Mary's University in Winona. He has also written three other books, Minnesota Twins Trivia, Minnesota Vikings Trivia and Puck Heaven, a history of the Minnesota State Boys Hockey Tournament.  
 
Willard Ikola had a legendary 33-year career here at Edina and Edina-East high schools, and led the Hornets to eight state titles and 19 tournament appearances. Ike grew up in Eveleth, Minnesota, and won three state titles as an outstanding goalie for Cliff Thompson's Golden Bears. In college, he backstopped the Michigan Wolverines to two NCAA titles. While in the U.S. Air Force, Ikola played on two U.S. National teams and was named the top goaltender in the 1956 Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.