Willie Nelson And The Wolves Claim Historic Hockey Championship
By Erika Littlefield, MCP Intern
William “Willie” Nelson, son of Steve and Heather Nelson and the late Jennifer Nelson, helped lead his Junior Gold hockey team to a championship victory this season. The Wolves finished their season undefeated with a dominant 17-0 record, capping it off with a hard-fought 4-3 win against Grand Forks in the title game. Competing in a district with seven North Dakota teams and one from Montana, the Wolves secured their first championship in over 20 years, making the victory all the more rewarding.
Reflecting on the season, Willie said one of the biggest highlights was the intense back-and-forth matchups, especially against Langdon and Grand Forks in the championship. The team’s journey to the title took them through Watford City and Langdon before facing Grand Forks in the final game, held in Minot.
Willie has been on the ice since he was four years old, a journey that started thanks to his late mother, Jennifer Nelson. She encouraged him to play hockey as an outlet for his energy, hoping it would keep him from getting into trouble at school. After seeing an ad in the paper, she signed him up and he started with just one practice a week, learning the basics. His early background in gymnastics and ballet helped him pick up skating quickly. While his mother initially kept him in the sport, after she passed away, Willie stayed with hockey because it made him feel closer to her. Over time, that connection grew into a genuine love for the game.
His biggest supporters now are his father and stepmother, Heather, who have always been there for him, attending games and supporting him however they could. Beyond his family, he get a lot of encouragement from his teachers and classmates, many of whom check in after his games and even showed up to support him in the championship.
One of the biggest challenges for Willie in hockey was learning to bond with his teammates, who come from all over the Minot area. Building chemistry was crucial, especially in a fast-paced sport like hockey. During the season, the team practiced three times a week for one to two hours per session - resulting in a lot of late nights, but Willie didn’t mind. “I actually enjoyed the long drives, just listening to music,” he said.
The Wolves’ roster includes 27 players, four goalies and 23 skaters. Young players are often brought up to observe and learn from the older athletes. Willie played wing for the last four years but took pride in setting up his teammates more than scoring himself. “I’d rather see my teammates score than me,” he said. He described his role as a “goon”, a player who delivers big hits and keeps opponents in check.
The season runs from October to March, with the team traveling across North Dakota, Montana, Canada, Minnesota and parts of South Dakota. Depending on the location, game rules and ice conditions can vary. While the Wolves competed in several tournaments, their main focus was always district games. One of their biggest wins outside of the championship was in the Border Battle tournament between North Dakota and Montana teams, where they defeated Crosby in the final. On average, Willie played about 15-20 minutes per game.
What Willie loves most about hockey is its fast-paced nature. Unlike other sports, there’s little downtime, it’s always moving. While he also played baseball and football, hockey was the one sport that truly stuck with him. If the opportunity to play in college had come his way, he said he would have seriously considered it.