International Falls is one of the most storied programs in state high school hockey history

Off to a successful 9-0-2 start, the Broncos will face a tough section battle

by Bryan Zollman, Let’s Play Hockey

There aren’t many hockey programs who have as storied of a history in high school hockey as International Falls. They have been to 19 state tournaments and won a state title seven times.

But it’s been 23 years since they last won a section final game, and players, coaches, and those rooting for the small-town hopefuls are more than eager to get back down to St. Paul to show the State of Hockey what Bronco Hockey is all about.

With a strong core of returning players, including the high-scoring duo of Anthony and William Yerxa, and a 9-0-2 start to the season, the Broncos are making a little bit of noise in what has become arguably the deepest section in the state.

Section 7A is absolutely loaded with perennial powerhouse Hermantown, currently ranked No.1 in the state, last year’s section champion Hibbing/Chisholm who is currently ranked No. 2 in Class A, No. 9 Cloquet/Esko/Carlton, and Proctor, who is coming off a 4-3 win over Hermantown on Tuesday.

The Broncos face Hibbing/Chisholm tonight, a huge test for a group of kids who have had having success through the youth ranks where they came within a game in pewees and a goal in bantams to reach the state tournament.

“Our youth program has been very strong for about eight years now,” said Chad Baldwin, who is in his sixth season as Bronco head coach. “Twelve years ago a small group of us decided to put time in during the summers and start the Bronco Development Program. We’ve worked with our players from 7 years of age through high school.”

The training program focuses on shooting, stickhandling, plyos, agility, sprints, and body weights. Time spent off the ice has been paying dividends on it. So far this season the Broncos haven’t just been winning games they have been winning by large margins. Through their first six games they outscored their opponents 68-7. They tied neighboring Fort Frances (ON) 4-4 and have also tied Proctor 1-1.

While they don’t play the demanding schedule their section counterparts do, they have won the games they are supposed to win and tied a Proctor team that is coming off a win over top-ranked Hermantown.

What has come with the extra work is another level of dedication that ultimately breeds pride in the program and sets a standard of not just playing for yourself or your teammates, but for everyone who was fortunate enough to wear a Bronco jersey, whether it was in 1950 or 2020.

“We talk a lot about Bronco tradition and Bronco pride,” said Baldwin. “What it means to be a Bronco and how special it is to play for one of the most historic teams in high school hockey history. They know it is an honor and a privilege to pull the purple and gold over their heads and they don’t take it for granted.”

Baldwin, who grew up in International Falls and was on the 2000 team that finished third at state, said this year’s group is special.

“They are a group of brothers,” he said. “What you would see at home is what you see in the locker room. They are joking around, poking and prodding and getting the best out of each other. They love being at the rink and they know when it’s time to bear down.”

The Broncos are led by the Anthony and William Yerxa – not brothers, but cousins – who lead the state in scoring. Anthony has 21 goals and 29 assists in the team’s 11 games and William has 24 goals and 23 assists. Both are seniors and both are believers in their team.

“I think our success has come from us working together, pushing each other and our coaches also pushing us and making sure we work hard and listen to their feedback,” said Anthony, who hopes to play junior hockey and one day play in college.

Anthony led last year’s team in scoring with 31 goals and 38 assists. He’s described as a big, strong, athletic centerman with soft hands, a knack for scoring and a lethal release. His physicality and ability to control and shoot the puck are a combination that should bode well at the junior level.

William is described as having a high hockey IQ, a player with natural instincts who can read plays and be in the right spot at the right time and is also a gritty player who wins puck battles.

“They bring a true love of the game of hockey,” said Baldwin. “Many people think they’re brothers, but they’re cousins. If you asked them though, they will tell you they’re more like brothers.”

The Yerxas came up through youth hockey together and if they weren’t at an organized practice, they were at the outdoor rink or traveling to another town looking for a sheet of ice to play on.

“We have been playing together since we started playing hockey,” said Anthony. “I think that is what makes us successful is that we have been playing together for so long.”

William agreed: “We’ve been playing with each other the majority of our life and that helps a lot because we know where each other is on the ice.”

Coach Baldwin said watching them play reminds him of watching the Sedin twins play back in the day.

“They have an innate sense of knowing where each other is on the ice without having to look,” he said.

While the Yerxas are a big part of the team’s success, there are many other players who make the Broncos such a formidable foe. They returned all of their defensemen, among them Carter Thompson, Carson Crandall, Aiden Lehman and Matthew Black.

“We have a good blend of skill and grit on the back end,” said Baldwin. “Carter Thompson is a smooth skating, puck moving, skilled defenseman who adds a lot of offense to our team. Carson Crandall is another d-man who logs a ton of minutes. He is a great skater, very strong and tenacious. He can and will shut down other team’s top lines.”

In addition to the Yerxas, forwards Brodie Baldwin, Andrew Eide, Bauer Lindvall and Zach Youso add scoring and physicality up front.

They also return their goaltenders, Caleb Joslyn and Kane Thompson, both who are 6’2” and splitting time this season.

“They have been pushing each other in practice to stay on top of their game,” said Baldwin.

The entire team will have to be on top of their game in the gauntlet that is Section 7A.

“To be honest, it’s a daunting task,” Baldwin said of competing in Section 7A. “But it challenges you and makes you become much more of a complete team if you want to challenge for a section title. It pushes you each and every day to get better and be at your best come the end of the year.”

That journey begins tonight with a huge test against the defending section champion Bluejackets.

“Our message has been simple and straight forward, in order to be the best you have to beat the best,” said Coach Baldwin. “We have a great opportunity to show everyone what we are all about. Our guys know who we are and how we need to play to have success.”

Anthony Yerxa believes in his teammates and coaches and says they are ready for the challenge. Seeing Proctor upset Hermantown may have even given them an aditional boost in confidence.

“I think everyone is ready for them,” he said. “I believe we can beat them because of what everyone saw the other night with Proctor beating Hermantown. It won’t be easy, we just have to work hard.”

For a program that has had so much success in the past, the recipe is there. They just have to follow it.

“Bronco Hockey is built on and based on hard work, dedication and self-sacrifice,” Baldwin said. “You play for the Bronco players of the past, present and future. Many of our players have had their dad, brothers, uncles, cousins and grandpa don the same jersey as them. That is special.”

Win or lose, the hard work off the ice when they were younger, the hours spent on the outdoor rink away from practice and bringing pride and dedication back to the storied lore of International Falls Hockey will pay dividends for this team and teams of the future.  A group of kids who, even when the odds may be stacked against them, still put in the time and effort to be the best they can be. That is what makes players winners. That is what gives all those who played before that special feeling when they watch the Broncos take the ice…Bronco Pride.

It’s still there. Strong as ever.