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
CityMinneapolis, Minnesota
LeagueUSPHL-Premier
DivisionMidwest
Founded1993
Home arenaNortheast Ice Arena
Owner(s)Chris Walby
Head coachChris Walby (2017–18)
AffiliatesJersey Hitmen (NCDC)
Franchise history
1993–2000East Metro Lakers
2000–2009St. Paul Lakers
2009–2014Edina Lakers
2014–2017Forest Lake Lakers
2017–presentMinnesota 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]

Forest Lake Lakers logo.

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
SeasonGPWLTOTLPtsGFGARegular Season FinishPlayoffs
Minnesota Junior Hockey League
1999–0036431019972667th, MNJHL
2000–01361121—4261302054th, MNJHL
2001–02421324—5311452096th, MNJHL
2002–03422616—0521861564th, MNJHL
2003–0440201811421741703rd, MNJHL
2004–0548142932331762115th, MNJHL
2005–0648103521231632717th, MNJHL
2006–074063112151442986th, MNJHL
2007–084893810191742998th, MNJHL
2008–094812331271682798th, MNJHL
2009–1050271904581951626th, MNJHLLost Division Quarterfinals
2010–11452120—4461621735th, MNJHL
2011–12482027—1411602496th, MNJHL
2012–13502323—4501892206th, MNJHL-MNLost Division Quarterfinals
2013–14461230—4281072057th, MNJHL-MNLost Division Quarterfinals
2014–15422616——521631096th, MNJHL-MNLost Division Semifinals
United States Premier Hockey League
2015–1648397—280257911st 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)
2016–17442316—5511451354 of 8, Midwest Div.
13th of 27, USPHL-Elite		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Chicago Cougars
2017–18442615—3551651224 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
2018–19442219—3471551456 of 9, Midwest West Div.
28th of 52, USPHL-Premier		Lost First Round series, 0–2 vs. Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
2019–20442217—5491751496 of 9, Midwest West Div.
26th of 52, USPHL-Premier		Lost First Round series, 0–2 vs. Minnesota Moose

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]

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
  1. "About Our Sponsor". White Bear Lake Hockey Association. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  2. "Lakers Sink Mariners in Semifinal". Los Angeles Times. 30 March 1999.
  3. "Alumni". Forest Lake Lakers. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  4. "Joel Rechlicz hockey stats". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  5. "Staff Directory". Augsburg College Athletics. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  6. "Edina sticks with Yoder as next head coach". MNJHL. 25 April 2010. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015.
  7. "Former MNJHL Coach Kasey Yoder is headed to MN State Tournament". MNJHL. 4 March 2014.
  8. "Edina Lakers Tap Joe Long as Next Head Coach". Lakers Junior Hockey. 19 April 2011.
  9. "2013-14 Men's Ice Hockey Coaching Staff". Hamline University Athletics. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  10. "Changing of the Guard". Lakers Junior Hockey. 4 April 2014.
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