Leonard Lilyholm

Leonard Lilyholm
Lilyholm in 1972 photo
Born (1941-04-01)April 1, 1941
Robbinsdale, Minnesota, U.S.
Died December 28, 2024(2024-12-28) (aged 83)
Worth County, Iowa, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 163 lb (74 kg; 11 st 9 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Minnesota Fighting Saints
National team  United States
Playing career 1966–1974

Leonard Paul Lilyholm (April 1, 1941 – December 28, 2024) was an American professional ice hockey player who played 77 regular season games in the World Hockey Association for the Minnesota Fighting Saints in 1972 and 1973.

Early life

Lilyholm was born in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.[1] Lilyholm graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1966 and played on the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team. As an amateur, he frequently played for the United States men's national ice hockey team.

Career

Lilyholm was a member of Team USA at the 1968 Winter Olympics and the 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, and 1974 Ice Hockey World Championships.

Outside hockey, Len Lilyholm was an architect and builder who participated in the design of the St. Paul Civic Center, the Saints' new home arena which was completed in January 1973. He appeared as a hockey coach in Ice Castles, a 1978 romantic drama film.[2][3]

Death

Lilyholm died at the age of 83 in a head-on traffic collision along with his wife, Carol, on Interstate 35 in Worth County, Iowa on December 28, 2024. Lilyholm, the driver, crossed over the median and drove southbound in the northbound lanes before hitting another car head-on. The driver of the other vehicle was also killed. Everyone involved in the crash, including Lilyholm and his wife, were wearing their seatbelts. [4][5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1960–61University of MinnesotaWCHAStatistics Unavailable
1961–62University of MinnesotaWCHAStatistics Unavailable
1962–63University of MinnesotaWCHA30326298—————
1965–66Rochester MustangsUSHL241130410—————
1965–66U.S. National TeamIntlStatistics Unavailable
1966–67U.S. National TeamIntlStatistics Unavailable
1966–67Rochester MustangsUSHL20518238—————
1967–68U.S. Olympic TeamIntlStatistics Unavailable
1967–68Rochester MustangsUSHL––5496—————
1969–70Rochester MustangsUSHL––11112226—————
1969–70U.S. National TeamIntl131116274—————
1970–71U.S. National TeamIntl122358—————
1972–73Minnesota Fighting SaintsWHA77813213761010
1973–74Suncoast SunsSHL70119—————
WHA totals 778132137 61010

References

  1. ↑ "Len Lilyholm at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Leonard Lilyholm". IMDb. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  3. ↑ Cermak, Iri (February 2, 2017). The Cinema of Hockey: Four Decades of the Game on Screen. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-2696-3.
  4. ↑ Rippel, Joel (December 30, 2024). "Former Olympian and Gophers hockey player Len Lilyholm among three killed in car crash". The Minnesota Star Tribune.
  5. ↑ Wilcox, Jay (December 31, 2024). "Former Robbinsdale HS Star, Olympian Len Lilyholm Dies". CCX Media.
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