Longtime hockey coach Nathaniel “Whitey” Aus of Plymouth, Minn., passed away on Jan. 20, at the age of 80.

Aus grew up in St. Paul and he benefited by the strong hockey programs that the city had developed in the 1940s and 1950s. The St. Paul City Conference was among the hockey powers in the state along with the northern teams.

Aus attended Murray Junior and Senior High School where he played football, hockey and baseball. He did the same at St. Olaf College for four years, and enjoyed his love affair with sports. His coaches were very influential in encouraging Aus’ interest in education as a career. They were great mentors and positive role models during those formative years. They took coaching seriously but also made it fun.

Aus graduated from St. Olaf in 1959 with a bacherlor’s degree and in 1964 from the University of Minnesota with a master’s.  He was captain and voted as MVP of his college hockey team during his senior year.

In addition to coaching hockey, Aus was an assistant football coach all 17 years in Roseville, and a varsity assistant in tennis. He coached eight years in the soccer program and spent eight years as the head men’s tennis coach at St. Olaf. He assumed leadership of the entire athletics program at St. Olaf between 1989-95, while continuing as the head men’s hockey coach. He retired after the 1996-1997 season, a total of 38 years.

Aus tried to integrate his Christian faith with his teaching and coaching wherever God led him. Being part of the spiritual maturation of young people was as exciting to Aus as watching them progress as student-athletes.

The interaction and cooperation between colleagues was another highlight of Aus’ career.  Membership in the old St. Paul Suburban Conference and the old North Suburban Conference, as well as the MIAC, built friendships, deepened appreciation and increased respect for and with other coaches. It is about the kids, but it takes men and women of integrity to be mentors, friends and role models for our young adults.

Aus was honored during his teaching and coaching career with the following:
• Roseville “Young Educator of the Year”
• FCA Coach of the Year
• NAIA National Hockey Coach of the Year
• MIAC Hockey Coach of the Year
• FCA “Hall of Faith” inductee
• St. Olaf Athletic Hall of Fame

Whitey Aus was a great man. His soul shot like an arrow to the God that he devoted his life to. – Ken Pauly

Sorry to hear of the passing of Whitey Aus today. Coached at Kellogg HS and then St. Olaf for twenty seasons. His son Erik coached at Centennial for 24 years and his nephew Dave at Blaine and now Brainerd. Great hockey family. – Anthony LaPanta

Our condolences go out to the family of Nathaniel “Whitey” Aus who passed away last Saturday. Whitey coached the Ole Men’s Hockey team from 1978-1997. – @StOlafWHockey

Sad loss for the sport of hockey. Former mentor, leader and Head Coach of @OleMensHockey, Whitey Aus, passed away. He was single handedly one of the greatest human beings to bless this earth. Every player he coached was lucky to have him in their life. #umyaya – @Packer_Hockey

Bio courtesy Vintage Minnesota Hockey

Andrew Carroll, a four-time University of Minnesota Duluth hockey letterman and multi-year team captain, passed away Monday at the age of 32. The Shoreview, Minn., native owns the distinction of being the only individual in the 74-year history of UMD hockey to hold some type of team captaincy role for at least part of four different seasons as he served as a tri-captain during his final collegiate go-around in 2008-09,  co-captained the Bulldogs as a sophomore, and was an alternate team captain in 2007-08 and for the month of December while a rookie. A three-time WCHA All-Academic Team honoree, Carroll skated in 153 games with the Bulldogs and had 69 points (34 goals and 35 assists).

Carroll left quite an imprint away from the rink and classroom as well. In 2008-09, he became the first Bulldog men’s hockey player to receive the Shjon Podein Community Service Award (presented annually to a UMD student-athlete who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the field of play and has made noteworthy humanitarian contributions in the Duluth and UMD communities). In addition, Carroll was one of 10 NCAA Division I hockey players who were chosen as finalists for the 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which is based on achievement in the “Four C’s” – classroom, character, community and competition.

After graduating from UMD with a degree in physical education, Carroll went on to play professionally for seven seasons with nine different American Hockey League and ECHL teams.

In honor of Carroll, the 2017-18 Bulldogs will sport a special AC decal on their helmets.

Let’s Play Hockey  columnist Kevin Hartzell provided his thoughts on the passing of Andrew Carroll:

I am heartbroken. So are many others.  The sudden loss of our brother, Andrew Carroll, has many of us shaken and sad.

The first time I saw Andrew, the first time I really took notice of him, was at a USHL All-Star game where he was a participant. I was a spectator for reasons that don’t matter. I was not pleased with the way many players were approaching the game. They played like the NHL used to play their all-star game, at about half speed. Not Andrew. He stood out mightily. He was trying. He took pride in himself and his game. I was immediately drawn to him.

I didn’t know at the time that I would be the next coach of his Sioux Falls Stampede USHL franchise. I had missed him, however. He had moved along to UMD. But he was never far away. He made an impression on many in the Sioux Falls community. I got to hear about some of his “legacy” of being a bright light, worker bee and leader from those in the community. 

At UMD, Andrew, I believe, became the first and only Bulldog to earn a captain’s letter at some point in the season for all four of his collegiate years. I can’t even imagine how impressive a freshman/sophomore has to be for this to happen. Andrew did this.

But to know him, is to not even question this. I got to know him in a variety of settings. And while I may not know him as well as many others, it honestly didn’t take very long to feel you knew him. He was genuine. Giving. A great positive energy in all settings. A D-1 captain for four years says it all.

I could tell more stories, but in a way, they are all the same. He was going to do the extra for his friends and family around him … and with a smile on his face. You would find yourself telling others proudly, “I saw Andrew Carroll today.” I suspect the same was said by many others.

It makes me really sad that I won’t be saying that again. That said, I know that I was blessed by the time that I got to share with Andrew. And I know there are a lot of folks who feel that same sense of having been blessed by their time with him. He will be greatly missed.