CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston ACHA hockey team will lift the lid on the program and their 2021 season Sat., Jan. 9 and Sun., Jan. 10 at the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, N.D. at Wilson Arena.

Minnesota Crookston at Jamestown
Sat., Jan. 9 – 7 p.m.
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/jamestown/
Minnesota Crookston at Jamestown
Sun., Jan. 10 – 4 p.m.
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/jamestown/

The Golden Eagles are currently set to play 17 games in ACHA Division II. UMN Crookston is returning to play after their NCAA program was disbanded in 2009. The Golden Eagles had an ACHA team for a short time after that, but are returning a competitive side for the first time in almost a decade. UMN Crookston will be led in their first season by Head Coach Steve Johnson, one of the top junior hockey coaches of all-time who was a three-time USHL Coach of the Year recipient. Johnson was also an all-time great hockey player for the University of North Dakota helping UND to a national title in 1987.

Minnesota Crookston has 15 players on the roster for the inaugural season with a strong representation from the region with three players from Crookston, Minn., four players from Grand Forks, N.D., two players from East Grand Forks, Minn., one from Thief River Falls, Minn., and one from Baudette, Minn.
The Golden Eagles have several players with junior league hockey experience including. Casey Kallock played for the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL. Cam Olstad played for the Winnipeg Blues and Neepawa Natives of the MJHL before spending a season competing for NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Stout. Parker Adair played for the Thief River Falls Norskies of the SIJHL. Jake Sumner played for the Willmar WarHawks and Breezy Point North Stars of the NA3HL.

UMN Crookston also has several top prep players. Josh Nelson scored three goals and dished out 28 assists over his last three years at East Grand Forks H.S. Ben Trostad tallied five goals and 38 assists over his last three years at Crookston H.S. Brandon Boetscher scored 10 goals and three assists in his last two years at Crookston H.S. Tyler Zahradka notched 12 goals and 19 assists as a senior at Grand Forks Central H.S. Zach Larson tallied 11 goals and nine assists as a senior at Grand Forks Central H.S. Gunner Ferrier had 22 goals and 23 assists in his final three years at Lake of the Woods H.S. Tristan Morneault notched 10 goals and 12 assists as a senior for the Mathieu-Martin Matadors in Dieppe, New Brunswick. Ty Hamre tallied four goals and 11 assists in his last two years at Crookston High School. Austin Ryba notched three goals and six assists in 2019-20 for the Grand Forks Stallions.

UMN Crookston has four student-athletes who compete in multiple sports for the Golden Eagles. Brian Bekkala and Trostad are both on the men's golf team. Morneault is a member of the men's cross country team, while Sam McGregor is on the trap team.

Jamestown Preview
The University of Jamestown Division II program is 4-10-1 thus far on the 2020-21 season. The Jimmies started out competition Oct. 2 and 3 with a series against University of Mary. Jamestown is coached by Head Coach Bryce Nybo. They posted a 3-19 mark during the 2019-20 season.

Minnesota Crookston Roster
5 – Austin Ryba – Fr. - F – Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln H.S.
7 – Sam McGregor – Jr. – F – Hastings, Minn./Hastings H.S.
8 – Josh Nelson – Fr. – D – East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks H.S.
9 – Ben Trostad – Jr. – D – Crookston, Minn./Crookston H.S.
10 – Brian Bekkala – Sr. – F – Livonia, Mich./Franklin H.S.
12 – Cam Olstad – So. – F – Grand Forks, N.D./University of Wisconsin-Stout
16 – Brandon Boetcher – So. – F – Crookston, MInn./Crookston H.S.
17 – Tyler Zahradka – Fr. – F – Grand Forks, N.D./Grand Forks Central H.S.
18 – Casey Kallock – Jr. – D – East Grand Forks, Minn./Minot Minotauros (NAHL)
19 – Zach Larson – Fr. – F – Grand Forks, N.D./Grand Forks Central H.S.
20 – Gunner Ferrier – Fr. – D – Baudette, Minn./Lake of the Woods H.S.
21 – Tristan Morneault – Fr. – F – Dieppe, New Brunswick/Mathieu-Martin H.S.
22 – Parker Adair – Fr. –  F – Grand Forks, N.D./Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL)
25 – Ty Hamre – Fr. – D/F – Crookston, Minn./Crookston H.S.
31 – Jake Sumner – Fr. – G – Alta Loma, Calif./Breezy Point North Stars (NA3HL)

Jamestown Roster
1 – Chase Engebretson – Fr – G – Morris, Minn.
3 – Jonathon Bullock – Fr. – D – Tacoma, Wash.
4 – Josh Moe – Fr. – D – Mandan, N.D.
5 – Gunnar Gibbs – So. – D – Grand Forks, N.D.
7 – Tanner Chastek – Jr. – D – Bemidji, Minn.
8 – Lukas Brockman – Fr. – F – Elk River, Minn.
10 – Keaton Cline – Fr. – F – Killarney, Manitoba
11 – Casey Noyes – Sr. – F – Gloucester, Mass.
12 – Josh Hoffman – Fr. – F – McMurray, Penn.
13 – Chris Wracker – Fr. – D – Columbia, S.C.
15 – Lomar van Rooijen – Jr. – D – Centurion, South Africa
16 – Dylan Carlson – Fr. – F – Coleraine, Minn.
17 – Braxton Neas – So. – F – Bismarck, N.D.
22 – Connor Rollo – So. – F – Camarillo, Calif.
24 – Kirwin Johnson – Fr. – D – Meeteetse, Wyo.
29 – Jimmy Grosklaus – Jr. – G – Colorado Springs, Colo.
30 – Samuel Potter – So. – G – Champlin Park, Minn.
44 – Graham Day – Jr. – D – Oxford, Ohio