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As the academic year at Waldorf University concludes in May, two familiar faces to the Albert Lea hockey community, Dylan Carlson and Spencer Clark, have completed their impactful freshman season with the Warriors. Both 2021 graduates of Albert Lea High School, defenseman Carlson and forward Clark played key roles for the Warriors’ ACHA D1 squad, contributing to the team’s positive performance and national ranking consideration.

Carlson and Clark’s hockey journeys began at Albert Lea City Arena, where they represented both the Albert Lea Youth Hockey Association and the Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey team. Their return to play collegiate hockey at the same venue for the Waldorf University Warriors marks a full-circle moment in their careers. They also played together for the Steele County Blades (USPHL Premier) in their final two junior hockey seasons after initially taking different post-high school paths.

Both Carlson and Clark are grateful for the opportunity to continue playing the sport they love at the Albert Lea City Arena, the very ice where their passion for hockey was first ignited and nurtured through years of youth and high school competition. The familiar surroundings and supportive local fans have made their transition to collegiate hockey a special experience during their freshman year, which wraps up with the end of the school term in May.

For Albert Lea hockey fans, watching Carlson and Clark continue their careers at their hometown rink, where they developed their skills from a young age, has been a highlight of the season. Their commitment to the sport and their return to play at the City Arena underscore the strong foundation provided by the local hockey programs.

The Waldorf University Warriors, with both ACHA D1 and D2 programs, provide a platform for local athletes to pursue their hockey dreams while staying connected to their community and playing in a familiar environment. The presence of players like Carlson and Clark, who appreciate the continued support at the Albert Lea City Arena as their first year concludes, strengthens the bond between the university’s hockey program and its Albert Lea supporters.

As their freshman year at Waldorf comes to a close in May, the Albert Lea community looks forward to following the continued progress of Carlson, Clark, and the entire Waldorf University Warriors hockey team in the seasons to come at the Albert Lea City Arena.