Bill Goldsworthy played 10 seasons for the Minnesota North Stars. They didn’t call players franchise players back then. Heck, players didn’t even celebrate goals after they scored. That is until Goldsworthy tabbed the first ever post-goal celebration for the North Stars - the "Goldy Shuffle." Besides being a great showman, Goldy was a fantastic player who was both big and fast as well as highly skilled. As a small child, I remember vividly wanting to wear No. 8 like Goldy, because he was the franchise.

Fast forward 40 years, and his legacy lives on in the rinks of Minnesota. Goldsworthy had two children - a daughter (Tammy) and son (Sean). Sean played in the state tournament for Minnetonka in 1990 and then went on to play at St. Olaf. In 1996, he took over for legendary Olaf coach Whitey Aus and coached the Oles for 19 years.

Now, two of Goldy’s grandchildren are skating at a very high level in Minnetonka and Northfield.

Tammy’s son, Luke Loheit, dons the No. 8 sweater for the Minnetonka varsity and is headed to UMD in 2018. Sean’s daughter, Madigan, plays for Northfield, which just took fourth in last week’s state tournament. She finished her junior year with 20 goals and 15 assists for the Raiders.

“It was pretty cool to see my daughter at the X," said Sean. "For some reason it hit me that my dad walked into the state tournament and watched me in 1990, now it was my turn to know what my dad felt back then."

Cousin Luke added, “It was fun to see her be on that kind of stage, because I know how hard she works."

Loheit has the best of both worlds. He’s been blessed with the hockey genes of his uncle and grandpa. But he doesn’t bear the burden of Goldy’s last name to live up to.

“My family has always reminded me not to feel pressured to have to live up to his (Goldy) successes, instead to make my own," Loheit said. "In some way some of his successes motivate me as well."

His cousin Madi (and most hockey experts) agrees that Loheit is a chip off the old block.

“Luke plays with energy. He’s very physical, and competes at a high level. He’s a true power forward, just like my grandpa," she said.

Bill Goldsworthy passed away when he was 51 years old. He never got to meet his grandchildren or see them skate. He would have been very proud that they became who they are today, all on their own.

Bill's daughter Tammy summed it up best: “They may have good genes, but there’s no gene for hard work," she said. "These two have earned everything they’ve received.”