When current Hill-Murray coach Bill Lechner joined the Pioneers as varsity assistant and junior varsity coach in 1979, Terry Skrypek had already been entrenched as head coach for six years, sporting a 141-18-2 record.

The Pioneers played in the St. Paul City Conference, skating against teams such as St. Paul Harding, Cretin and St. Paul Johnson. At the time, it was one of the more respected conferences in the state.

The team had practices at Phalen Ice Arena in St. Paul, and the Pioneers wore long green pants with a white stripe down the side instead of the shorts-length breezers of today.

But no matter the differences from the present, Hill-Murray has always had one constant:

“There was talent in the building,” Lechner said.

Skrypek, who was inducted into the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame and received the Cliff Thompson award for his over 40-year high school and collegiate coaching career Thursday, had perennially stacked teams. But surprisingly, a state title had eluded him.

In the 1982-83 season, that changed dramatically. Hill-Murray went undefeated, topping Burnsville 4-3 in the state tournament at the St. Paul Civic Center to cap off a 28-0-0 campaign.

“We had been [to state] so many times before, I had started to wonder if I was ever gonna win one,” Skrypek said, bringing up the 1979-80 season when a 27-0-0 Hill-Murray squad lost 2-1 in the championship to Grand Rapids and future North Stars goaltender Jon Casey. “We had been there before and didn’t win it, so that’s why the 83 season was kind of a nice deal when we realized we could win one and did win one.”

Added Lechner: “That was quite an amazing year.”

Even with an undefeated record, the Pioneers didn’t have many big-name stars. Mark Krois was their lone AP All-state selection, and  they also featured Mark Horvath, Scott Faust, and Tom Graske as important scorers. But with Skrypek at the helm, they kept on winning and swept through the regular season largely unchallenged.

That is, except for a squeaker against Rochester John Marshall in Hill-Murray’s last game before the playoffs.

The Pioneers fell behind 7-2 in the second period in hostile Graham Arena in Rochester, and were down 7-3 at the end of the frame.

“We came back into the locker room and said, ‘What good is it gonna do to lose our last game?’ ” Skrypek said. “Are we just gonna take the night off and say, ‘Well we’re 19-1, instead of trying to win at the game that we play? Is that what we’re gonna do, just cave in?’

“In the third period some of their players, we had overheard them say that they were gonna hit double figures, and that they were gonna rub it in our face”

That didn’t sit very well with Hill-Murray.

“The light bulb went on and these guys said no there’s no way,” Skrypek said.

The Pioneers scored two short-handed goals and then two power play goals to tie the game. Mark Horvath completed the 8-7 comeback victory in overtime to seal a perfect regular season.

“That was what to me told a little about the character of the team and that they weren’t gonna be denied,” Skrypek said. “I think that carried over into sections and the state tournament.”

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Skrypek, who played at Cretin (before the all-boys school merged with Derham) in high school and St. Mary’s in college, spent 14 seasons at Hill-Murray and made 10 tournament appearances.

He had a 325-44-3 record — an 87.3 winning percentage — to pair with his 1983 state title.

Skrypek also helped and inspired Lechner to build his own lengthy and accomplished coaching career.

“He was a good role model, and I didn’t know how much until later to be honest,” Lechner said. “He was very good with the kids and was organized and had success.”

After the 1987 season though, Skrypek jumped at an opportunity to coach for the University of St. Thomas.

“You look at certain things, and at the time I had four kids,” Skrypek said. “There aren’t many college jobs available, and there weren’t that many out there, and this one opened up. I thought well if I don’t take it somebody else is gonna take it, and they’re gonna have it for the next 15 years probably. So I thought well if I’m gonna make a move the time is now.”

Skrypek stayed with the Tommies for 23 seasons, retiring in 2010 after notching 419 victories. He made 10 NCAA tournaments and won the 2005 Division III Hockey National Coach of the Year award.

Although retired, he helps as an assistant for the Cretin-Derham Hall girls’ team with John and Krissy Pohl. Skrypek played in high school and college with John’s father Jim.

“It’s been good, I enjoy it,” Skrypek said. “I think the biggest thing is it lets me get in my skates and I enjoy getting out there and having fun.”
The Cliff Thompson Award is given for “long term outstanding contributions to the sport of hockey in Minnesota” according to the MHCA. Skrypek certainly fits that bill.

“It’s really humbling,” Skrypek said. “When you look at a list of guys who have won that award it’s like a who’s who of hockey.”

Skrypek’s undefeated season was his biggest hockey accomplishment when it happened, and now is just one apex in a career that influenced so many in Minnesota.

“The history of Cliff Thompson was that he was an unbelievable coach and had nothing but respect from the community and his players.” Skrypek said. “Just the fact that that the award is named after him makes me think ‘well gee maybe I did have an influence, I helped some kids in a positive way.’ ”