Edina City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Story
Edina City Council Honors Late Hockey Coach Willert Iola
Historical Development of Edina Hockey Program
Legacy and Community Impact
Votes (1)
Recognition and Moment of Silence for Coach Willert Iola
The meeting began with formal recognition of Coach Iola's passing and his 92-year life. Speakers provided biographical context, including his Olympic silver medal achievement as a goalie and his transformative 33-year coaching career. The Hornets hockey team honored him by wearing his signature fedora on the bench during an evening game.
Notable Quotes (5)
ID lost a true legend last month when Willert Iola passed away at the age of 92 following a successful career as a hockey goalie including leading the US team to an Olympic silver medal.
He was a motivator he was good with words he pulled you into the coach's room sometimes and you had some little one-on-ones but it was all positive everything was positive and that's what I can say about him is most positive guy I've ever met.
Edina Hockey didn't exist really I mean we had some great coaches and some people came in but you know on the term cake eaters he created the cake eaters he created the success and what I love about it he did it with an Iron Range feel of hard work and discipline.
We won the first title in 69 and without Braemar I don't think that would have been possible it really helped our program not only at the high school but at the youth program.
It's going to be a loss to the community to lose a pillar like that these little kids know the name Ike and they know the Fedora and it's just going to be carried on.