Dakota Ridge names assistant Jeff Towle new hockey coach

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Dakota Ridge has hired Jeff Towle as its new hockey coach, athletic director Matt Heckel said on Monday.

Towle, a former assistant, will replace Alec Hines, who led the program for six seasons.

The Eagles have emerged as one of the state’s top programs, reaching the quarterfinals this past two seasons, and the semifinals in 2014-15.

Towle was hired last week, Heckel said.

He will take over a program that went 12-7-2 last season. Under Hines, Dakota Ridge went 71-75-11, but was 58-20-6 over the past four seasons.