December 12th, 2022 - By Carson Pavlowich - Mallet Reporter
The Proctor Rails boy’s hockey team hosts the Bill McGann Holiday Classic for the second year this December.
Bill McGann was a Duluth Central HS graduate in 1960, and he would go on to play 4 years of college hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He was voted captain his senior year. McGann began coaching the Rails Varsity team in 1966, and he coached until 1972. He then began coaching the Rails again in 1995, and in 1997 he led the Rails to their first State Tournament appearance. Proctor took home 3rd place in the tournament.
The Bill McGann Holiday Classic consists of three games, on the 27th, 28th, and the 29th of December. The Rails are set to play Somerset on the 27th, New Prague on the 28th, and Osseo on the 29th.
In the second year of operation for the Bill McGann Holiday Classic, the Rails look to come back and win it this year.
Last year the Rails went 3-0, beating Somerset, Red Lake Falls, and Minnehaha Academy.
The Mora/Milaca Mustangs also went 3-0 last year in the tournament. Even though the Rails won all three games, Mora won the tournament because they had a higher goal differential. The Rails had a goal differential of +10 in the three games combined, but Mora outmatched the Rails with a goal differential of +18.
The Rails are looking to do the same as last year and win all three games, but they’re looking to win the tournament this year.
The Rails have some big games inside the section before and after the holiday classic, including a huge game against Hibbing/Chisholm on December 22nd right before the Rails begin the Holiday Classic. Another very big game is against the Duluth Denfeld Hunters on January 5th. Games inside the Section are must wins for the Rails because they determine playoff seeding. These games especially matter against top teams in the section like Denfeld and Hibbing and either winning or losing these games strongly affects how the post-season will go for the Rails.