Mankato West High School didn’t have to look very far to find replacements for its outgoing hockey coaches.
On Tuesday, longtime assistant coaches Curtis Doell and Cara Samuelson were promoted to the head-coaching positions.
Doell takes over the boys team from Ken Essay who will become West’s activities director next school year.
Doell has been an assistant coach for the West boys’ hockey team since 2000. He played hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth, then signed a contract with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League. Doell played professionally for the Panthers’ American Hockey League affiliate before moving to Mankato. He is currently a business partner in the private sector.
Samuelson is the new girls coach, replacing Mike Sipe who retired from coaching at the end of the 2008-09 season. She most recently assisted Sipe with the West girls program.
She was also an assistant girls high school hockey coach in Bemidji and played for the Minnesota State women’s hockey team. She currently is a special education teacher at Kennedy Elementary School.
“Both coach Doell and coach Samuelson come to us with experience, a passion for the sport and dedication to student athletes that will enable them to carry on strong boys and girls ice hockey programs at West High School,” outgoing West Activities Director Sharon Euerle said.
Mankato West names new coach....
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)