In a time where most sports records have been topped time and time again and it’s hard to find anyone breaking new ground, St. Cloud Norsemen goaltender Will Ingemann did something nobody has ever done before: win the title of Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year as a goalie.
The award has been around since 1985 when it was first won by Tom Chorske, who would go on to handle the business operations of the St. Cloud Norsemen when he became the General Manager in 2020. So the accolade isn’t just older than Ingemann, it is 20 years his senior, yet this is the first time a goaltender has been handed the prestigious award.
“I’m very honored to receive the award; to be the first goalie to win the itis pretty cool,” admits Ingemann. “I think there will be more goalies that will win it later on. Minnesota goalies are really progressing so I think there will be some really good goalies coming up that could win it.”
Ingemann has a record of 3-1-1 with a 2.24 goals against average and a .903 save percentage with two shutouts for the Norsemen in six games this season. His most recent NAHL game was on November 4th before his Wayzata High School season began. He then had an 18-7-2 record for the Trojans with a 1.38 goals against average, a .941 save percentage and six shutouts in 27 games played.
During his senior season he also committed to the University of St. Thomas. His Wayzata squad came up one game short of the Boys State High School Hockey Tournament, falling to Edina High School 2-1 last week. This week he returned back to St. Cloud to rejoin the Norsemen and give them a three-headed monster in the crease with Tomáš Boľo and Ethan Dahlmeir.
Ingemann was a three-year starter for Wayzata High School and despite that, he feels he learned quite a bit from playing for the Trojans this past season that will help out his hockey career. “I think I learned a lot about being a captain, leading my team,” Ingemann explains. “I understand how to lead a team so that should help me down the road for juniors. I know how to help a team out.”
St. Cloud Assistant Coach Brock Kautz learned a new fact himself when the news came out that Ingemann won the award. “I was not surprised to find out that WIll won the award but I did not know that he was the first goalie to do so,” confides Kautz. “That’s very humbling for him and just a testament to himself and the year that he had; obviously he put up some good numbers. The best part about it is he’s just a great kid, a great human and he does everything the right way. There’s no one more deserving of that award than Will and I’m very happy for him to be able to win that accomplishment.”
Kautz gives the proper credit to Ingemann but also points out that a number of others deserve some of the acclaim as well. “I know that he has a ton of help. Pete Samargia, who does a phenomenal job with him, as well as Pat O’Leary, his high school coach, and his teammates that push him to become better too,” Kautz praises. “I know it’s his name on the trophy but it’s definitely not a selfish award because he’s had some great help.”
The Minnesota State Boys High School Hockey Tournament is nowunder way and while Ingemann wishes he was down at the Xcel Energy Center competing in it, he was pressed to answer who he thought would win the tournament in Class AA. “I’d have to go between Minnetonka or Andover,” pains Ingemann, after taking some time to deliberate on an answer. “One of my buddies on Andover, the goalie Beau Altman, is doing really well this season. I think he’s got it in him to get Andover to back-to-back championships.”
Ingemann and the Norsemen host the Bismarck Bobcats for a pair of games this weekend on Friday and Saturday night. Friday night is Fleet Farm’s First Responders’ Night with proceeds from the tickets going towards the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation. You can get tickets for all Norsemen games at tickets.stcloudnorsemen.com.
Will Ingemann was the first goaltender to be named the Star Tribune’s Metro Player of the Year (Photo Credits: Pete Knutson)