WAS THAT FORMER HUSKY BILLY LUND?
Yes it was. Accompanied by former Huskies Eric Johnson and Kelly Reider, former SCSU forward Billy Lund (1992-95) made a rare appearance in St.Cloud to golf in the SCSU women's golf outing on September 17. No, it was not a special trip just for the women but an annual golf weekend for the boys in Brainerd. And, what the heck, why not play 18 holes of golf in St. Cloud? The former SCSU prankster still has them laughing admits his teammates and golf partners looking forward to a weekend of golf at Maddens resort in Brainerd.
Lund did it all as a prep player for northern Minnesota powerhouse Roseau High School and was named Minnesota Prep Player of the Year in 1990. He followed the footsteps of is father Bob and committed to the UMD Bulldogs after his junior year of high school but had a disappointing season as a freshman getting only 2 assists in 20 games. He thereafter opted for a change of scenery transferring t the Huskies and playing for the St. Paul Vulcans of the USHL while sitting out the mandatory transfer year. With the Huskies, he put together three productive years with 91 points on 27 goals and 64 assists and quickly became a fan favorite with his blue collar style of play. He still holds the single game record for penalties with six versus - you guessed it - UMD.
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 12th round of the 1990 NHL entry draft but never did play in the organization and in typical Billy Lund fashion once commented " they must have lost my phone number". He did however continue his hockey career professionally with the Lake Charles Ice Pirates of the now defunct WPHL (Western Professional Hockey League) where he accumulated 281 points in 277 games from 1997 to 2001. He also spent some time in professional roller hockey with the Minnesota Artic Blast, Minnesota Blue Ox and others and competed internationally with Team USA Inline. While with team USA he once scored 5 goals in a games vs Hungary.
Following his professional career, he returned to Roseau to work in the family carpet and furniture business and play some amateur hockey with the Warroad Lakers. With the Lakers, he participated in several Allen Cup Senior AAA Championships.
Lund has since opened his own carpet and furniture store in of all places Warroad, MN - hostile territory for any former Roseau Ram. He does admit that "it probably would have never happened were it not for my participation on the Warroad Lakers Hockey Club".
A regular at several CIC golf tournaments following his final year at SCSU, he was well known for stocking his team with ringers from the Roseau area and eating up the competition. He once quippped to the crowd at the post event dinner after winning the tournament "maybe I'll bring my grandma next year to even up the playing field".
One of Minnesota's all-time great prep hockey players , it was fun to see Billy Lund and that mischevious smile once again.
Bill Lund's career statistics are HERE
