Kevin Harmon Vice President for Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics | Minot State University
Kevin Harmon Vice President for Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics | Minot State University
Eric Woodbeck, a long-time coach and educator, has made significant strides in the world of sled hockey. Despite his relatively short experience in this specific sport, Woodbeck was appointed as the goalie coach for USA Hockey’s National Sled team at the end of 2024. His coaching debut with the team saw immediate success with victories over Team Canada at the 2025 Reeve Hockey Classic in Saugus, Massachusetts.
Under his guidance, the USA Hockey's National Sled team achieved victory at the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championships held in Buffalo, New York. Reflecting on his appointment, Woodbeck shared, “The Monday before Thanksgiving, I received a call from my boss at USA Hockey, Steve Thompson, and he notified me that I was going to be asked to become the goalie coach for the National Sled Team... It is an honor to represent your country on a national level.”
The Reeve Hockey Classic supports the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and is part of events like the 4 Nations Face-Off held in Montreal and Boston. For Woodbeck, participating in such international events is both humbling and rewarding.
Woodbeck’s role connects him with familiar colleagues David Hoff ’90 and Corey Gorder ’01 from Bottineau. The trio shares extensive coaching experience through Northern Plains Development Camps (NPDC) and have ties to Minot State University (MSU). “I have known and worked with coach Hoff and coach Gorder for a while now,” said Woodbeck.
His journey into hockey began after two decades of coaching football. In 2011, he joined Minot High School as an assistant coach focusing on goalies. He also contributes to NPDC since 2016 where he first engaged with USA Hockey initiatives like goaltending development camps.
Woodbeck's involvement with sled hockey started in 2018 during a training camp weekend in Minot. “Coach Hoff invited me out to be with them and learn more about sled hockey," he recalled.
Despite his demanding schedule involving various roles including coaching local teams like Bantam Minot Wolves and Team ND 14U Tier II teams along with Prairie Grit activities—he attributes successful time management to support from his wife Amy '06: "I owe a lot of gratitude and thanks to my wife."
Minot State University remains committed to excellence across education domains fostering community engagement through active learning environments alongside public service commitments within vibrant campus life settings.
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