Minnesota Mullets
The Minnesota Mullets are a Tier III junior ice hockey team located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mullets play in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) Premier Division. From 1993 to 2015, the team played in the former Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL). For most of the franchise's existence, it was known as the Lakers and played in various cities in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.
| Minnesota Mullets | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| League | USPHL-Premier |
| Division | Midwest |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Home arena | Augsburg University Ice Arena |
| Owner(s) | Chris Walby |
| Head coach | Chris Walby (2017–18) |
| Affiliate | Jersey Hitmen (NCDC) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1993–2000 | East Metro Lakers |
| 2000–2009 | St. Paul Lakers |
| 2009–2014 | Edina Lakers |
| 2014–2017 | Forest Lake Lakers |
| 2017–present | Minnesota Mullets |
History
Formed by Ralph Hayne[1] in 1993 as the East Metro Lakers, the team called Aldrich Arena in White Bear Lake home until 2000. Under the guidance of coach Mike LaValle, the Lakers won the USA Hockey Junior B National Tournament in 1999.[2]
The team renamed St. Paul Lakers and moved to Highland Arena for one season before relocating to Veterans Memorial Community Center in Inver Grove Heights. In 2009, it was renamed Edina Lakers when the club called Minnesota Made Ice Center. In 2014, the team relocated again to Forest Lake and became the Forest Lake Lakers.
In 2015, the Minnesota Junior Hockey League was merged into the United States Premier Hockey League as part of the Midwest Division, a new Tier III league within the USPHL. However, the Midwest did not have its own league playoff championships, but instead the top teams from the Midwest Division played the top teams from the USP3 Division for a single championship. The Lakers won their conference semifinals, qualifying for the USPHL USP3/Midwest playoffs but failed to move on past the round robin stage. In 2016, the Midwest Division was split up among the USPHL Elite and USP3 Divisions with the Forest Lake Lakers going to the Elite Division. In April 2016, Kasey Yoder replaced Dennis Canfield as head coach and general manager.
On September 9, 2016, Hayne sold the franchise to Chris Walby. Walby then took over as head coach and general manager from the recently promoted Yoder. He then led the Lakers to a 23–17–4 record and a home playoff spot in the first round. At the conclusion of the 2016–17 season, Walby renamed the franchise to the Minnesota Mullets while remaining in Forest Lake. The Mullets also became a player development affiliate of the Jersey Hitmen of the National Collegiate Development Conference, a new higher-level league run by the USPHL for the 2017–18 season. In 2019, the team moved to Northeast Ice Arena in Minneapolis.
Season-by-season records
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Junior Hockey League | ||||||||||
| 1999–00 | 36 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 97 | 266 | 7th, MNJHL | |
| 2000–01 | 36 | 11 | 21 | — | 4 | 26 | 130 | 205 | 4th, MNJHL | |
| 2001–02 | 42 | 13 | 24 | — | 5 | 31 | 145 | 209 | 6th, MNJHL | |
| 2002–03 | 42 | 26 | 16 | — | 0 | 52 | 186 | 156 | 4th, MNJHL | |
| 2003–04 | 40 | 20 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 174 | 170 | 3rd, MNJHL | |
| 2004–05 | 48 | 14 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 176 | 211 | 5th, MNJHL | |
| 2005–06 | 48 | 10 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 163 | 271 | 7th, MNJHL | |
| 2006–07 | 40 | 6 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 144 | 298 | 6th, MNJHL | |
| 2007–08 | 48 | 9 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 174 | 299 | 8th, MNJHL | |
| 2008–09 | 48 | 12 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 168 | 279 | 8th, MNJHL | |
| 2009–10 | 50 | 27 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 58 | 195 | 162 | 6th, MNJHL | Lost Division Quarterfinals |
| 2010–11 | 45 | 21 | 20 | — | 4 | 46 | 162 | 173 | 5th, MNJHL | |
| 2011–12 | 48 | 20 | 27 | — | 1 | 41 | 160 | 249 | 6th, MNJHL | |
| 2012–13 | 50 | 23 | 23 | — | 4 | 50 | 189 | 220 | 6th, MNJHL-MN | Lost Division Quarterfinals |
| 2013–14 | 46 | 12 | 30 | — | 4 | 28 | 107 | 205 | 7th, MNJHL-MN | Lost Division Quarterfinals |
| 2014–15 | 42 | 26 | 16 | — | — | 52 | 163 | 109 | 6th, MNJHL-MN | Lost Division Semifinals |
| United States Premier Hockey League | ||||||||||
| 2015–16 | 48 | 39 | 7 | — | 2 | 80 | 257 | 91 | 1st of 9, Western Conf. 2nd of 17, USPHL-Midwest | Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. Decatur Blaze Won Conf. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings 1–1–1 in USPHL Round Robin (L, 1–3 vs. Eels-USP3; W, 6–3 vs. Hounds-Midwest; T, 2–2 vs. Hitmen-USP3) |
| 2016–17 | 44 | 23 | 16 | — | 5 | 51 | 145 | 135 | 4th of 8, Midwest Div. 13th of 27, USPHL-Elite | Lost div. quarter-finals, 1–2 vs. Chicago Cougars |
| 2017–18 | 44 | 26 | 15 | — | 3 | 55 | 165 | 122 | 4th of 9, Midwest West Div. 15th of 44, USPHL-Premier | Won First Round series, 2–0 vs. Wisconsin Muskies Lost quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Minnesota Moose |
| 2018–19 | 44 | 22 | 19 | — | 3 | 47 | 155 | 145 | 6th of 9, Midwest West Div. 28th of 52, USPHL-Premier | Lost First Round series, 0–2 vs. Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings |
| 2019–20 | 44 | 22 | 17 | — | 5 | 49 | 175 | 149 | 6th of 9, Midwest West Div. 26th of 52, USPHL-Premier | Lost First Round series, 0–2 vs. Minnesota Moose |
| 2020–21 | 44 | 19 | 20 | — | 5 | 43 | 157 | 168 | 6th of 9, Midwest West Div. 34th of 62, USPHL-Premier | Lost First Round series, 0–2 vs. Hudson Havoc |
| 2021–22 | 44 | 18 | 24 | — | 2 | 38 | 131 | 164 | 6th of 8, Midwest West Div. 45th of 64, USPHL-Premier | Lost First Round series, 1-3 vs. Hudson Havoc |
| 2022–23 | 44 | 7 | 36 | — | 1 | 15 | 89 | 209 | 9th of 9, Midwest West Div. 63rd of 69, USPHL-Premier | Did not qualify |
Notable alumni
The Lakers have produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division I and Division III, and ACHA college programs, and professional hockey.[3]
- Matiss Kivlenieks: Lakers in 2013–14 and 2014–15; played for the Columbus Blue Jackets (2019–20)
- Joel Rechlicz: Lakers in 2003–04; played 23 games for the New York Islanders (2008–2010) and three games for Washington Capitals (2011–12)[4]
Coaches
| Coach | Seasons | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1993–95 | ||
| Mike LaValle[5] | 1995–99 | Named assistant coach at Augsburg College |
| Jeff St. Martin | 1999–02 | |
| Don Babineau | 2002–04 | 46-34-1-1 record over two seasons. |
| Cal Ballard | 2004–05 | |
| Stu Ronsberg | 2005–08 | |
| Dan Strot | 2008–09 | |
| Wes Durand | 2009–10 | Single season most wins as a member of the MnJHL in franchise history and most goals scored in single season in franchise history. |
| Kasey Yoder[6] | 2010–11 | Named assistant coach at Austin Bruins (NAHL)[7] |
| Joe Long[8] | 2011–12 | Named assistant coach at Hamline University[9] |
| Dennis Canfield[10] | 2014–2016 | Named head coach of the Atlanta Capitals (NA3HL) |
| Kasey Yoder | 2016 | |
| Chris Walby | 2016–present | Bought the franchise in September 2016, renamed it to Minnesota Mullets the next season. |
References
- "About Our Sponsor". White Bear Lake Hockey Association. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- "Lakers Sink Mariners in Semifinal". Los Angeles Times. 30 March 1999.
- "Alumni". Forest Lake Lakers. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- "Joel Rechlicz hockey stats". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- "Staff Directory". Augsburg College Athletics. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- "Edina sticks with Yoder as next head coach". MNJHL. 25 April 2010. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015.
- "Former MNJHL Coach Kasey Yoder is headed to MN State Tournament". MNJHL. 4 March 2014.
- "Edina Lakers Tap Joe Long as Next Head Coach". Lakers Junior Hockey. 19 April 2011.
- "2013-14 Men's Ice Hockey Coaching Staff". Hamline University Athletics. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- "Changing of the Guard". Lakers Junior Hockey. 4 April 2014.