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January, 23 2011 Roseau Rams vs. Wayzata Trojans
Hockey Day Minnesota Event
In the fall of 1964 a number of parents sought out the school administration
on behalf of boys interested in playing hockey. Their purpose? They
wanted to start a High School team. Interest in hockey had developed
through the Park Board program, but Moorhead's high school age players
were playing on a Moorhead Park and Recreation team in a hockey league
in neighboring North Dakota town: Fargo. Practices were held evenings on
an outdoor rink in Moorhead. League games were played outdoors at
Island Park in Fargo. Seeking to provide a better competitive situation for
their players under proper supervision and coaching, these parents asked
that hockey be included in the athletic program at Moorhead High School.
The administration agreed. The year was 1964 when the first Moorhead
High School team iced a squad. The Spuds first year they played a total of
11 games. They won 5, lost 4 and tied 2 games. Moorhead played teams from Fargo Central, Detroit Lakes and Fergus Falls. From this very inauspicious start, the sport continued to grow both in player participation and fan interest. To date, over 40 former Moorhead Youth Hockey Association (MYHA) players have gone on to play Division I hockey, and over 100 in Division III college hockey. Moorhead is especially proud of the eight MYHA alumni whom have played professionally including: Jason Blake, Joe Cullen, Mark Cullen, Matt Cullen, Ryan Kraft, Tim Laurilla, Brian Lee and Chris VandeVelde. Fast forward some 47 years later, where the Spuds teams before them of '64 played in Island Park Fargo, Hockey Day Minnesota rolled into Moorhead. FOX Sports North, in conjunction with Wells Fargo and the Minnesota Wild announced a cooperative effort to celebrate the fifth annual Hockey Day Minnesota with a full day of hockey programming taking place on Saturday, February 12, 2011.
The city of Moorhead served as the background for the outdoor boys High School games. Minnesota Hockey President of Hockey, Dave Margenau said “Moorhead is an ideal location to celebrate the community spirit of Minnesota Hockey. Moorhead Youth Hockey is well respected and will represent all that makes hockey in Minnesota so special.”
“I remember spending a lot of winter days on the outdoor rinks with my brothers and buddies,” said Minnesota Wild forward Matt Cullen, a Moorhead High School alumnus. “We had a rink in the backyard that my dad built. We hung lights from the gutters so we could play at night with all our buddies. I still remember the silver bucket that was our Stanley Cup. We'd play all day and well into the night until Mom called us in for hot chocolate. Some of my best hockey memories were made right on that rink. “
“Growing up in Moorhead, the only thing that I dreamed about was playing for the Spuds,” said Ottawa Senators defenseman Brian Lee, a product of the Moorhead Youth Hockey system. “When I finally got to high school and was lucky enough to pull that Moorhead jersey over my head and wear the 'M' logo across my chest, I remember being so proud and wanting to do everything I could to continue the tradition that is Moorhead hockey. I still remember playing for the Spuds like it was yesterday and it is still some of the most fun I've ever had playing hockey.”
Hockey Day Minnesota is fast becoming an annual tradition
and a very special day for our great state. A state in which is
rightfully known as the "State of Hockey" because hockey is
part of the fabric that binds us together, it is part of our
identity. With two boys games being featured on the outdoor
ice in Moorhead, the first match-up saw Wayzata vs. Roseau,
with the second game featuring the hometown Spuds vs. the
visiting private Twin Cities school Hill-Murray. Both games
were played on the new outdoor ice sheet at the Moorhead
Youth Hockey Arena complex funded in-part by NHL'er Matt
Cullen. The story of the day was not only the events that
encircle Hockey Day, but the weather. Just as mother nature
blasted former Hockey Day's from Baudette with: extreme cold, Hermantown: snow, Moorheads was about sun and warmth. Warm temperatures in the mid-30s and intense sunlight had wreaked havoc on Moorhead’s outdoor ice. Hoping to save the game from being shifting indoors, local officials tried virtually everything to keep the game moving. The game – and the ice conditions – started off well. But as the afternoon continued, the ice quickly deteriorated.
Midway through the first period of the Spuds’ game against Hill-Murray , the call went out from behind the Moorhead Youth Arena. "We need carbon dioxide as soon as possible". After a quick call to local bar/restaurant J.C. Chumley's a large carbon dioxide tank arrived and was outfitted with a spray nozzle to blast the surface in an attempt to freeze the crumbling ice
The north end goalie crease began melting in the sun and patches of the south blue line began shearing off. Hill-Murray goaltender Tim Shaughnessy, who began the period wearing sunglasses in the Pioneers’ net, soon found himself stumbling through slush that looked more like a wet snow bank, than in did ice. Midway through the second period, game officials had a plan to help with the treacherous ice - moving the net forward. After a quick nod of approval from both coaches, and an O.K. was given by the FSN filming crew, referees shifted the net six feet closer to the blue line, also changing the location of the treacherous zone from the crease to behind the net. Both goalies took a turn with the new net location, as the teams also switched ends midway through the third period so as to equalize the conditions. The game became "borderline dangerous" and it was questioned by many if the game would be canceled at the end of the second. In true Hockey Day fashion, with the many months of planning, volunteer hours getting the event together, and in the spirit of the day itself the game was finished. Wayzata topped Roseau 2-1 and Hill-Murray defeating Moorhead 3-2 on the slushy ice.
FSN Hockey Day Minnesota 2011 coverage included a college match-up between the University of Minnesota Gophers and the Pioneers from the University of Denver with the UofM skating to a 7-3 win at Mariucci Arena. The day was capped off with Minnesota Wild playing a home and home series with the St. Louis Blues. Four Minnesota born natives took to the ice on this evening giving it a true "Hockey Day feel" including Matt Cullen (Wild - Moorhead), David Backes (St. Louis - Spring Lake Park), Erik Johnson (St. Louis - Bloomington) and T.J. Oshie (St. Louis - Warroad). All three Minnesotans from St. Louis were on the power play together late in the first period. Minnesota out-skated the Blues to a 3-1 win in St. Paul for the feature game of the night on the 5th annual Hockey Day Minnesota.
Source in Part: 2011 Hockey Day Minnesota Program/FSN Press Release
