Willard Ikola was born in Eveleth, a small town in northern Minnesota that had one of the state's most respected youth hockey programs.

He soon took up the position of goaltender, the latest in the line of exceptional goalies produced by Eveleth that included Frank Brimsek, Mike Karakas, and Sam LoPresti.

[citation needed] After less than a year in the IHL, Ikola went to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the University of Michigan.

[4] Ikola helped the US hockey team earn a silver medal as well as being named outstanding goalie of the games.

[8] Famous for his trademark houndstooth hat, Ikola was modest when speaking of his coaching record.

Although he retired from coaching in 1991,[4] he still stayed active in hockey by becoming a scout for the NHL's New York Islanders.