Former NHL player and Bloomington, Minnesota, native Mark Parrish was given a rude welcome to the high school coaching ranks on Friday night thanks to St. Louis Park's forward line of sophomore Willy Basill, junior Bauer Neudecker and senior Lexi Robello. 

The trio dashed and crashed their way through Parrish’s Orono team, combining to score three goals in the Orioles’ 5-2 season-opening victory at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center. 

“Hats off to St. Louis Park, they played a great game,” said Parris, adding that his debut may have been a slight baptism by fire. 

“It was really fun,” Parrish said with a grin. “It was probably a little bit (more) than I expected it to be, and I realized there are definitely some things we definitely need to work on.”

Basill, Neudecker and Robello were responsible for exposing the areas the Spartans need to improve. 

Basill scored his first two varsity goals, with his first giving the Orioles a 2-1 lead early in the second period. His second made the score 5-2 in the third, effectively cementing the win. 

“I’m just thankful for my teammates who fed me great passes on both goals,” Basill said. “I just found the back of the net.”

Scoring twice made the win even sweeter for Basill, who faced several of Orono's players last season as a member of the St. Louis Park Bantam AA team. 

The Bantam A Spartans edged the Orioles 4-3 en route to winning the single-A state championship. 

That loss stoked Basill’s competitive fire and helped him add an edge to his game.  

“We were double-A last year and they were single-A, but they were still a great team,” Basill said. “There was definitely a chip on my shoulder.”

St. Louis Park coach Terry Keseley said Basill’s skill set makes him a good fit to play with the speedy Neudecker and Robello. 

“I think that Bauer and Lexi are both really creative and smart hockey players, and Willy fills that line pretty good,” Keseley said. 

“It’s a little nerve-wracking knowing that I’ve got to play up with him,” Basill said of skating on a line with Neudecker. “But it’s fun.”

Robello, who assisted on both of Basill’s goals, was a Metro West all-conference honorable mention pick after posting 15 goals and 30 points last season.

Neudecker was an Metro West all-conference selection and led the Orioles in scoring with 27 goals and 48 points as a sophomore. He was also voted St. Louis Park's Most Valuable Player by his teammates. 

Neudecker returned to last year’s form with a goal and two assists for a game-high three points against the Spartans.  

Keseley said that having a former NHL All-Star on the opposite bench played no factor in his team’s performance. 

“Our kids just get out there and play,” Keseley said. 

The chemistry of the between Basill, Neudecker and Robello was evident throughout the game.

Neudecker attributes his line's success to time they spent together in the offseason and said they were excited to test their mettle in game action. 

“It’s kind of a relief to start winning and scoring goals with these guys,” Neudecker added with a smile.


First-year Orono head hockey coach Mark Parrish yells out instructions to his team in a 5-2 loss on the road. Photo by Rick Orndorf

First Report

Junior forward Bauer Neudecker scored a goal and added two assists, and sophomore forward Willy Basill scored his first two varsity goals as St. Louis Park defeated Orono 5-2 on Friday night at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center. 

Sophomore forward Brenton Ryan and senior forward Patrick Bordewick each added a goal while senior goaltender Conor Klaers made 29 saves for the Orioles (1-0-0).

David McCuskey and Timo Pelto finished with a goal apiece for the Spartans (0-1-0) in the first game under the guidance of new head coach and former NHL player Mark Parrish.  

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