Willard Ikola and Mike Sertich are hockey greats from Eveleth and Virginia. And they will be remembered and honored at the Rock Ridge hockey game against Hibbing on Tuesday night.

“We’ll have pictures on the Jumbotron, and a ceremony at the beginning of the game. Willard was Eveleth class of 1950. Mike was Virginia class of 1965,” explained Willie Spelts, a passionate hockey supporter and Director of School to Work Engagement for Rock Ridge.

Ikola died last week at the age of 92. Sertich died last summer at the age of 77.

Ikola’s nephew, Randy Babiracki, shared that the family would want you all to know that he was a big family man himself. “Just his legacy and love for the game of hockey,” he said. “He gave up hockey to be a family man. He was offered a chance to play in the NFL, but it’s not like it is today.”

The puck drops against Hibbing on Tuesday at 7pm at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center.