Former University of Minnesota basketball standout Rick Rickert, professional actor Michael Laskin and former NHL player Mark Heaslip are among five graduates selected for induction into the Duluth East Hall of Fame.
Rickert, Laskin and Heaslip will be joined in the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 by longtime community leaders Greg Goldman and George Goldfarb. The honorees will be inducted Sept. 26 during a banquet at Duluth East High School.
Rickert, a 2001 East graduate, was named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball following a decorated high school career and became one of the nation’s most highly recruited college prospects. He remained in Minnesota to play for the Gophers and in 2002 became the program’s first player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Rickert went on to play professional basketball for 15 years before retiring in 2018.
Laskin, a member of the East Class of 1969, has worked as a professional actor for more than 35 years. His career has included film and television roles, off-Broadway productions and performances at some of the nation’s leading regional theaters. He also has provided voice-over work for radio, television and animation and has worked with prominent actors, directors and writers.
Heaslip, also a 1969 East graduate, was one of the school’s most accomplished hockey players. He continued his career at Minnesota Duluth, where he received the Bulldogs’ Golden Wolfe Award. Heaslip signed with the Los Angeles Kings in 1973 and played in the NHL for the Kings and New York Rangers, along with several other professional teams.
Goldman, another member of the Class of 1969, is the owner of Kolquist, Seitz and Goldman. He has remained active in the Duluth community through the Harbortown Rotary Club and previously served as chairman of the YWCA Foundation and Voom Foundation. Goldman also is a founding member of the East Foundation, where he serves as treasurer.
Goldfarb, a 1977 graduate, helped build Maurices into a major retail company and has maintained an extensive record of community involvement. He serves on the ALLETE board of directors, is chairman of Essential Health and sits on the University of Minnesota Duluth chancellor’s board. His philanthropic support has benefited several community organizations, including Essentia Health’s Miller-Dwan Foundation.
