MHM 2018 Oct-digital

STARS OF THE NORTH
Mark Loahr — Totino Grace
Recipient - 2018 Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame
MINNESOTA HOCKEY MAGAZINE
STARS OF THE NORTH
This year, we are bringing honor to those deserving of special recognition through our Stars of the North.
Every month, we will look to the hockey community to let us know who is deserving and will honor them in this section.
In addition, we will be honoring one person as The North Star. This is based on contributions to the game of hockey,
service to the community and overall character.
THE NORTH STAR
RICK RANDAZZO
Executive Director FCA Hockey and visionary
North Star Christian Academy and Sports Complex
We are pleased to announce the first North Star
for Minnesota Hockey Magazine is Rick Randazzo.
Rick, through his vision and leadership, has been
pivotal in the creation of the Northstar Christian
Academy and Northstar Sports Complex in
Alexandria, Minnesota. Please see the article in this
issue for a full story.
Gary Steffes has been an FCA Hockey staff
member for several years. He has traveled the
country and internationally alongside Rick, served
at multitudes of events under his leadership, and
has an office directly adjacent to the FCA Hockey
National Director. Gary sees how Rick operates on a
daily basis.
“Rick Randazzo is an incredibly inspiring sacrificial
servant leader. As a sacrificial servant leader, Rick is
passionate, driven, and is an incredible, incredible
example of a great mentor and friend. That man
lays his life down, not only for his family, but for the
ministry, and for others. He is constantly giving of
himself. He sacrifices beyond what most people
would do. This goes way beyond what most people
are comfortable with. It is obvious his love of Jesus
Christ and his love of people. For me to sit next to
him and see how he operates, how he loves people,
how he takes phone calls when he doesn’t have
time, how he works late, how he sacrifices for his
wife and five kids, driving hours on end to be there
for them, how he loves his wife, runs a ministry and
now runs a prep team. He does so many things. So
for me he is incredibly inspiring and I have learned
so much from him. I hope I can become just half the
man he is.”
For over 30 years, Loahr served as the head coach of his alma mater Totino Grace. Loahr led his team
to the state tournament 4 times (1993, 1995, 2002, 2005). The Eagles captured the title in 2002, with
runner up finishes in 1995 and 2005. Loahr became the 12th coach in state history to win over 500
games. In addition, his Eagles teams won 10 section academic team titles. Besides hockey, Loahr
coached the boys and girls golf, softball and bowling in high school as well as coaching hockey and
football at the youth level for over 20 years in Roseville and St. Anthony.
Randy Schmitz — Lakeville North
Recipient of 2018 Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame
Spent 38 year coaching career in Lakeville included six state tournament births. Schmitz was awarded
Sectional Coach of the Year five times from his peers in hockey. He also served as the head softball
coach in Lakeville for 30 years earning six Section Coach of the Year selections, five state tournament
appearances including two runner- ups.
Gary Stefano — Maple Grove
Recipient 2018 Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame
Head coaching at Park Center and then Maple Grove, Stefano compiled a career record of 249 -54-26.
At Park Center, in 1993 earned Section Coach of the Year when he led his team to the state tournament.
In 1996, took the helm of Maple Grove, where he served as the head coach for 17 more seasons
earning Section Coach of the Year four times (2004, 2007, 2010, 2012). In 2012, he led Maple Grove to
their first state tourney berth.
Tony Sarsland — Elk River
Recipient 2018 Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame
With over 40 years of coaching experience, fifth on all time coaching wins list with 588 wins in five
different programs. Inspired by MHCA Hall of Famer Whitey Aus, Sarsland began his coaching career
in 1970 in Hallock. He moved on to become an assistant coach at Columbia Heights, and from 1978-85
was the head coach in Beloit WI where he led his team to a second place finish in the 1981 WI state
tourney. From 1985-2012 Sarsland served as the head coach of the Elk River team, capturing 11
conference titles and leading his team to six state tourney births, capturing the 2001 state title finishing
with an overall record of 588-189-26.
Bruce Plante — Hermantown
Recipient 2018 Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame
In 28 seasons as a head coach, Plante amassed 547 wins, leading Hermantown to 13 state tournament
berths including three state titles (2007, 2016 and 2017). His team played in the championship game
an unprecedented eight straight times from 2010-17. He was selected the state’s coach of the year in
Class 1A in a vote by his fellow peers 5 times. No other coach in either class has received the award
more than twice.
OCTOBER 2018 MINNESOTA HOCKEY MAGAZINE MINNESOTA HOCKEY MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2018
82 83