Warroad Lakers

Warroad Lakers

1946-47 to 1996-1997

There is a bit of hockey history

not much known outside of Northern Minnesota and Western Canada, but one which needs to be told. It is the story of the most successful senior hockey team in the United States. It is also the story of one man's dedication to Canada's national game in small-town America and how that dedication could turn this same small town into a producer of top hockey talent for half a century.

Warroad is a community of some 1,700 people located in Northwestern Minnesota on the shores of Lake of the Woods about 11 miles south of the Manitoba border. Its principal industrial firm is Marvin Windows, a major enterprise which markets products internationally. Agriculture, logging, fishing, and the manufacture of hockey sticks are other commercial activities.

The Marvin family has historically played a significant role in the communities life. Most notable are the brother Bill, Tut (Randolph), Jack, and Frank along with sister Mary. Bill is the now retired mastermind behind Marvin Windows which employs 3,000+ people, Tut is similarly retired as a company vice president, Jack is also a vice president who handles the firm’s lumber and hardware retail operations, while Frank, now deceased, was in charge of the company’s Canadian operations. Mary left Warroad early for a career in Minneapolis-St. Paul. However, by far the best known family member is Cal, who has owned and operated various motels and restaurants in the community. What he also has operated with a successful passion for 50 years is the Warroad Lakers Hockey team.

Cal Marvin came back from WWII service with the Marine Corps where he participated in some of the most grueling of the South Pacific campaigns. He had played hockey before the war and Cal's team went on to win the Senior "A" Championship in 1950-1951 with the Crookston Pirates. Cal and others from the area were anxious to renew their part-time ice careers. Along with Dan McKinnon of nearby Williams, he approached the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks about starting a varsity program. The University accepted the idea and thus was born not only the Fighting Sioux, but the Warroad Lakers. The young men of Warroad and environs spent three to four years playing college hockey and drove home on Sundays to play for the Lakers. The team’s name came from the nearby Lake of the Woods. The first Laker team had thirteen players and besides Marvin and McKinnon featured Clarence Schmidt, also from Williams, who had a brief wartime stint with the Boston Bruins, and Gordie Christian, who would later play for the 1956 U.S. Olympic hockey team. Rube Bjorkman, another early Laker, played for both the 1948 and 1952 U.S. Olympic teams. They played their home games on an outdoor rink behind the school and wore the colors of the Boston Bruins. There were no masks, mouthguards, helmets or Zambonis.

The Lakers played in the States-Dominion League for three years and continued to play on outside artificial ice until November 1949 when the Warroad Memorial Arena was opened. Cal Marvin had led the effort to build an indoor arena as a parellel activity to his involvement with the team. Fundraising efforts began on February 20, 1947 and the project was completed for a cost of only $30,000, as all labor was donated. The building was erected as a memorial to those who had died in the service of their country. It seated 1,800, but did not have the luxury of locker rooms at first. The players would change across the street in a local business and then walk to the arena. An artificial ice plant was added in the late 1960’s.

By the 1950-1951 season the team was playing in

the Northwest Hockey League with Crookston, Roseau,

Hallock, Thief River Falls, and Grand Forks. This would

be the first of many league changes over the team’s

history. The first significant achievement for the Lakers

occurred in 1955 when they won the United States

Intermediate Championship against the Great Falls

Americans in the Montana city. The following year saw

the club play the U.S. Olympic team for the first time,

losing 6-2 in Eveleth, MN. In 1958 the town was

christened with the nickname “Hockeytown USA” by

their mayor Morris Taylor. Cal Marvin, who was now

coaching the team exclusively, took a year’s sabatical to go behind the bench for the 1957-1958 U.S. National team. The Marvin-coached Nationals finished fifth at the World Championships in Oslo and then became the first U.S. sports team to tour the Soviet Union after WWII. When Marvin returned to Warroad the next season he coached the Lakers to a 7-1 victory over the Nationals in Warroad. The late 1950’s saw Laker Sammy Grafstrom named Rookie of the Year in the Ontario-Minnesota League and the team featured such former NHL players as goaltender “Sugar” Jim Henry (New York Rangers/Boston Bruins), and defenseman Ed Kryzanowski (Boston Bruins/Chicago Blackhawks). Somewhat before this time, Bob Johnson, who would later coach Wisconsin to three NCAA titles and Pittsburgh to a Stanley Cup in 1991 vs. the Minnesota North Stars. Johnson played for the Lakers when he was coaching Warroad High School. As the decade closed the team abandoned the Boston Bruins’ black and gold colors and adopted red, white and blue. Running a senior hockey team was always financially challenging and the club resorted to community auctions, bingo games, turkey shoots, fishing contests, and even a “male” style show to raise funds.

The Lakers continued to be successful in league play (see Laker achievements), as they expanded their international activities. One of the most significant events in Laker history occurred in January 1960 when they defeated the U.S. Olympic team 6-4. A few weeks later this same U.S. team won an upset gold medal at Squaw Valley, CA. Laker players and brothers Bill and Roger Christian were in the U.S. lineup following in the footsteps of their brother Gordie, and Dan McKinnon who were on the 1956 team. In March 1962, both the Swedish and Norwegian teams visited Warroad on their way to the World Tournament in Colorado Springs, CO. It was a return trip for the Swedes who had stopped in Hockeytown in 1960.

The Christian brothers returned to the U.S. Olympic

team in 1964, but got back in time to join the Lakers as

they accomplished another significant milestone by

capturing the Canadian Intermediate title by defeating

Kamloops, BC, and taking the Edmonton Journal Trophy.

They thus became the first American based team to win

a Canadian amateur hockey championship. The

previous year, long time Laker Board member John

Heneman began keeping statistics and while the early

records are a bit lean they do show that Bill Juzda, a

member of the Stanley Cup winning Toronto Maple

Leafs 1948-49/1950-51, was in the Laker lineup in 1964-65

and for a limited number of games the following year.

“Hockey sticks by hockey players”, the trademark phrase for Christian Brothers, Inc. got underway in 1964 as the two brothers launched their stick making business. The Lakers reached the Western Canada finals of the Allan Cup in 1965 before losing to Nelson, BC. While the Lakers achieved success in the Manitoba Senior Hockey League during the remainder of the decade their Canadian Intermediate victory and defeat of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team were the highlights of the 1960’s.

Henry Boucha, an outstanding Warroad High School player, had a brief Laker career in the early 1970’s before joining the 1972 silver medal U.S. Olympic team. Boucha went on to play with the Fighting Saints, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars before an eye injury brought a premature end to his career. Another Laker milestone occurred in 1974 when the team won its second Canadian Intermediate title by defeating the Embrun, Ontario Panthers, three games to zero at nearby Roseau, MN. This achievement earned them the Hardy Cup, a trophy not in existence at the time of their first Intermediate victory in 1964. While Canadians might not be happy with a U.S. victory they would take considerable pride in the fact that fifteen of the twenty Lakers were from north of the border. Earlier in 1974 Roger Christian was honored on a special day for his eighteen years’ of service with the team. Blaine Comstock, a backup goaltender on the Hardy Cup team went on to play for the United States in the 1976 Winter Olympics. Success at the Intermediate level continued in the late 1970’s as the club was the Western Canadian Intermediate Champions in 1977 losing to Campbellton, NB, in the finals. In 1979 they reached the Western Canadian Intermediate finals before losing to Quesnal, BC.

As the 1980’s opened Laker fans were pleased to see one of their own on the U.S. Olympic team once again. Bill Christian, son of Bill (who had retired after the 1979-80 season), was part of the “Miracle on Ice” as the United States won a surprising gold medal in Lake Placid. He subsequently played sixteen years in the NHL with Winnipeg, Washington, Boston, St. Louis, Chicago and ended his career with the Minnesota Moose of the IHL. The Olympic team visited Warroad in both 1980 and 1984 while the Lakers tied the 1983 U.S. National team 6-6. The 1983-94 team toured Europe and compiled a 5-0 record against teams in Holland, France, Austria and West Germany. That same year a second indoor rink was built in the town named the Olympic Arena. Under the chairmanship of Bill Christian, volunteers erected a metal building at a cost of $150,000. An ice plant was subsequently added later in the decade. The mid to late 1980’s saw the beginnings of league membership problems that would plague the club until the end. In 1985 the Lakers became members of the Southeastern Manitoba Hockey league, but their membership was contingent on a yearly vote and eventually that vote went against them. While the league cited travel problems as the reason for the ouster there would appear to be some basis for the belief that their success was the root of the problem. The Lakers won the league title in 1985, 1987, and 1989. In addition they were the Manitoba Intermediate Champions in 1989 and 1990.

As the 1990’s began the Lakers’ found a home in the Central Amateur Senior Hockey League, known popularly as the CASH League. The price for membership was that the Lakers would not be permitted any players from Manitoba. It did not really matter as the homebrews were as successful in the CASH League as earlier teams had been in the Southeastern Manitoba Hockey League. The Lakers won the league title in 1991-92 and 1992-93 as well as advancing to the Allan Cup Final Four in both those seasons. In January 1992 the team took their second trip to Europe and finished with a 3-1 record against French, German, and Austrian squads. The following month Chris Imes became the ninth Laker to play for the United States in the Olympics when he suited up in Lillehammer, Norway.

On July 23, 1993 a new arena-to replace the original Gardens-was formerly dedicated. Plans had begun back in 1989 for the new facility as the Old Gardens was a wood structure and it was feared it might be lost to fire or wind. As might be expected Cal Marvin headed up the steering committee and his efforts were aided considerably by a $500,000 gift from his brother Tut as well as another sizeable donation from brother Jack. The total cost of the new building was $4.5 million. The new Gardens played host to the Allan Cup Finals in April 1994, the smallest city ever to play host to the event and only the second United States venue with Spokane, Washington hosting the 1979-80 Finals. The Lakers had continued to play in the CASH League and after advancing through the various playoff levels they carried a 33-5 record into the finals. The team featured eleven former NCAA Division I college players including Steve Johnson (North Dakota), Chris Imes (Maine), Larry Olimb (Minnesota), and veteran Scott Knutson (Chicago Circle). The Lakers emerged victorious with a 5-2 win over the St. Boniface, Manitoba Mohawks. Warroad had won the Allan Cup on their own ice with an entire native born roster.

The next year, after playing in the Southeastern Manitoba League, the Lakers returned to the Allan Cup Finals at Stoney Plain, Alberta. They defeated the host Eagles 3-2 on Wyatt Smith’s third period goal and the goaltending of Todd Kreibich. Stoney Plain was once again the opponent in the 1995-96 Finals at Unity, Saskatchewan. The Lakers played an independent schedule that season and were going for the three peat, a feat never before accomplished in Allan Cup competition. (Three Winnipeg victories from 1911-1913 were accomplished by two different teams) The Eagles scored the first goal, but it would be the only one they would get as Warroad responded with two goals in each period for a 6-1 victory and a third straight Allan Cup victory.

The continuing difficulty of finding a league to play in was taking its toll on founder/manager Cal Marvin. While the Lakers played in the Hanover-Tache League in 1996-97, Marvin announced before the season that it would sadly be the Lakers' last. Once again, Warroad fought its was to the Allan Cup Finals at Powell River, BC, but four cups in a row was not to be as the Powell River Regals defeated the Lakers 7-3 in their very last game to return the coveted trophy to Canada. Prior to the Finals and earlier playoffs, a 50 year reunion for all Laker alumni was staged on March 15, 1997, as Governor Arne Carlson proclaimed the day “Cal Marvin Day” in the state. It was one of many honors for Cal, who has been elected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, University of North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Warroad High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The day featured a banquet, gift giving, speeches, reminiscences, and a Laker playoff victory. Nephew Bob Marvin perhaps summed it all up when he said of his uncle: “We are grateful for all that you have given us. You’ve taught us how to really enjoy winter. You’ve taught us how to make things happen. You’ve taught us all about patience and perseverance. You’ve taught us how to win and once in a while how to lose. You’ve held our attention with your wit and wisdom...”

Warroad Lakers Achievements

1997:Allan Cup Finalists

1996:Allan Cup Champions

1995:Allan Cup Champions

1994:Allan Cup Champions

1993:CASH League and Manitoba-Sask, Champions

1992:CASH League and Manitoba-Sask, Champions

1991:CASH League Finalists

1990:Manitoba Intermediate AA Champions

1989:Manitoba Intermediate Champions

1987:South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League Champions

1985:South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League Champions

1980:Central Amateur Senior Hockey League Champions

1979:Western Canadian Intermediate Finalists

1976:Manitoba Eastern Hockey League Champions

1975:Manitoba Eastern Hockey League Champions

1974:Canadian Intermediate Champions

1973:Manitoba-Thunder Bay Intermediate Champions

1972:Central Canadian Hockey League Champions

1971:Western Canadian Intermediate Champions

1970:Manitoba Senior Hockey League Champions

1969:Manitoba Senior Hockey League Champions

1966:Manitoba Senior Hockey League Champions

1965:Western Canada Allan Cup Finalists

1964:Canadian Intermediate Champions

1963:Canadian Intermediate Finalists

1961:Ontario-Minnesota Hockey League Champions

1960:Ontario-Minnesota Hockey League and Cranford Cup Champions

1959:Ontario-Minnesota Hockey League and Cranford Cup Champions

1958:Cranford Cup Champions

1956:Northwest Hockey League Champions

1955:United States National Intermediate Champions

Laker Timeline/Team Photos 1946-1997

Click on underlined year for individual team photos**

1946-1947 Warroad pharmacist E.J. Holland called a meeting in late November of 1946 to organize a team that would play in the States Dominion League. A 12 game, home and away schedule was developed with arean teams from Hallock, Crookston, Thief River Falls, Roseau and Grand Forks, plus Emerson and Letellier in Manitoba. The Lakers won the league tournament in the first season, defeating Roseau, 10-2, in the title game. In that game, Don Stoskopf was brilliant for the Lakers in goal and Wes Cole scored four times. Gordon Christian and Bernie Broderick each scored twice and Ted Wilson amd Cal Marvin each scored a single goal. Other team members were: Paul McKinnon, Clarence Schmidt, George Dickenson, Don and Pete Frolander. The season ended the next week with a 15-13 win over an all-star team made up of players from Fort Frances, Ont., and International Falls, MN.

1949-1950 The newly constructed Warroad Memorial Arena was opened for the Lakers and Warroad Warriors high school hockey team which shared the new "castle on the corner" located in downtown Warroad on the corners of Main and MacKenzie.

1951-1952 The E.J. Holland memorial scoreboard was dedicated in a ceremony on December 26, 1951, to honor the late team organizer and president of the States-Dominion Hockey League. The Holland Memorial Cup was later developed to be presented to the league champion. R.A. "Tut" Marvin served as the Lakers coach this year.

1952-1953 Willie Toninato, a Laker from Fort Frances, was named coach. Besides Toninato, the "imports" on the Lakers included goalie Harry Barefoot, Frank "Ike" Eisensoph and Mike Person. New lights- 500 watt light bulbs in 48 locations around the rink- were installed in the arena.

1953-1954 Former University of Minnesota Gophers stalwarts Larry Ross and Dick Dougherty, both of International Falls, and Laurie Mitchell, Jimmy Young with Art and Gordie Stratton, all of Winnipeg, were brought in to bolster the Lakers' roster. Ross was coach of the International Falls high school team. Dan McKinnon, Gordon Christian, Dick Roberts and Cal Marvin were among veterans still with the team from its first years. R.A. "Tut" Marvin came back as coach this season.

1954-1955 The Lakers defeated Great Falls, MT 11-8 and 7-6 in a best of three-game play-off in Great Falls to become the U.S. National Open Intermediate champions. On their return to Warroad, the team was greeted by the town fire truck and a mile-long caravan of well-wishers who led the way to a reception that was held at the school gym. A dinner followed at the American Legion Club. The team then added the Northwest League's Holland Memorial Trophy by defeating Roseau, 11-1, to win a five-game playoff series, 3-2. Team members included: Coach Tut Marvin, Ron Gross, Gordie Stratton, Art Stratton, Joe Cyr, Frank Eisensoph, Dick Dougherty, Dick Roberts, Cal Marvin, Jim Doyle, George Guibault, Gordie Palmquist, Gordie Christian, Ed Krysanowski (aka Sonny Calder).

1955-1956 Cal Marvin retired as player and succeeded his brother, Tut Marvin, as coach. Tut moved up to manager. A new Warroad line of Roger Chistian, Sam Gibbons and Buster Oshie joined the team along with imports Murray Belagus and Hec Bourgeois of Winnipeg and Sambo Fedoruk of Fort Frances. The Lakers won both the Northwest League regular season and playoffs. In a game played at Eveleth, the Lakers lost 7-2 to the high-flying U.S. Olympic team (which included Lakers Gordie Christian and Dan MCKinnon). Season record: 21-6-1.

1956-1957 Again Cal Marvin succeeded his brother, Tut, this time becoming the team manager. The Northwest League was re-organized with five team after Grand Forks, which was encountering financial problems, and the Thief River Falls Thieves, whose players didn't like the idea of having imports and voted instead to play with locals only, agred to field teams at the last minute. Other teams in the league were: Crookston, Roseau and Warroad. Among the new faces for the Lakers were Billy Christian, Serge Gambucci of Grand Forks, and Bob Johnson, who would later coach Wisconsin to three NCAA National Championships, and earning the name "Badger Bob Johnson" and won a Stanley Cup as coach at Pittsburgh in the NHL when defeating the Minnesota North Stars in the 1991 Cup Finals. The highlights of the year were Northwest League and play-off championships. Season record: 18-3.

1957-1958 After coaching the Lakers to a stunning 5-1 win over the U.S. National team early in the season, Cal Marvin, 32, was selected to take over as coach of the Nationals. His duties as Lakers coach and manager were given back to his brother, Tut. When the Northwest League finally folded, the Lakers joined the Ontaio-Minnesota Hockey League and in their first year won that league's Crawford Cup. With five members of the Lakers on the National team (Bill, Roger and Gordon Christian, Dan McKinnon and Coach Cal Marvin,) Warroad Mayor Morris Taylor dubbed the city "HockeyTown USA." The Lakers beat the National team again later in the season, 6-4, at Warroad. This was also the year that Warroad Pioneer editor Marvin Kellogg, who doubled as secretary-treasurer of the board of directors for the Lakers, began printing game programs. They were sold at 10 cents a program. Season record: 11-6.

1958-1959 The Lakers repeated as both the Ontario-Minnesota Hockey League's regular seaon champion and Crawford Cup play-off winner. Lakers Sammy Grafstrom (rookie of the year), Jim Henry (top goalie), and Gordie Pennell (leading scorer) claimed special honors while eight Lakers made the league's first and second team all-star units. Included in the year's highlights were wins over the University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of North Dakota and a loss to Denver before more that 10,000 fans at Denver. The season ended with a four-year win-loss record of: 86-21-1. Season record: 26-6.

1959-1960 The Lakers were the Ontario-Minnesota Hockey League champions and Crawford Cup winners for the third straight year. The team defeated te gold medal winning U.S. Olympic team, 6-4, at Warroad in a game just before the 1960 Olympics began. Lakers Billy and Roger Christian were on the Olympic team. Season record: 31-8.

1960-1961 Again the Lakers claimed the Ontario-Minnesota Hockey League championship. Season record: 25-13-1.

1961-1962 Ontario-Minnesota League champions for the fifth straight season. Season record: 31-8.

1962-1963 Ontario-Minnesota League champions for the 6th consecutive season; Thunder Bay Champions; Manitoba-Saskatchewan champions; and Canadian Intermediate Tournament finalists (Olds, Alberta, defeated the Lakers in the finals). Season record: 26-13-1

1963-1964 This time, the Lakers were ready and they disposed of Kamloops, B.C., in three games to become the first U.S. team to win the Edmonton Journal Trophy and become the Canadian Intermediate Tournament champions. Player-Coach Dayton Grafstrom, who was the Ontario-Minnesota League coach of the year, was among a number of Lakers who were honored. On the all-league first team were goalie Allie Reynard, defenseman Bill Mathew, and forwards Bill and Roger Christian. On the second team were forwards Murray Belagus and Jim Stordahl. Stordahl, who was second in scoring to Belagus, was named rookie of the year. Other members of the team were Bob Bartlett, Ron Shalley, Buck Forslund, Reggie Morelli, George Goodacre, Bob Lund, and Myron and Sam Grafstrom.

1964-1965 The Lakers were a Western Canadian

Allan Cup finalist, losing a best of five-game series, 3-1,

on the road to Nelson, B.C. The tournament was a big

expense for the Lakers, who sent a delegation of 21 to

the far west for nine days. Manager Cal Marvin, who

remained at home for the play-offs, couldn't stay there

and boarded a flight to Nelson, arriving just in time to

see the final game. Season record: 30-8-1.

1965-1966 Manitoba Senior League champions.

Season record: 17-4-5.

1966-1967 Season record: 19-13.

1967-1968 Season record: 15-8-1.

1968-1969 The Lakers won the Pattison Cup and the Manitoba Senior Hockey League championship, winning a best of seven-game series 4-3 against the Selkirk Mohawks.

1969-1970 Manitoba Senior Hockey League champions. A highlight of the season was meeting the U.S. National team in the dedication game on February, 12 for the new Thief River Falls Sports Arena. The Lakers lost the game 6-4 before a crowd of near 4,000. Warroad's Henry Boucha was on the National team. Season record: 25-11.

1970-1971 Manitoba champions; Ontario champions; Western Canadian Intermediate finalists. Playoff record: 13-6.

1971-1972 Central Canadian Hockey League champions; Manitoba champions; Thunder Bay champions. Season record: 34-9.

1972-1973 Manitoba-Tunder Bay Intermediate champions.

1973-1974 Manitoba-Tunder Bay champions (H.M. Heneman Trophy); Manitoba Intermediate AA champions; Central Canadian champions; Saskatchewan champions; Western Canada champions (Edmonton Journal Trophy); and Canadian Intermediate champions (Hardy Cup). The Lakers defeated the Embrun, Ont., Panthers 3-0 in the best of five Canadian Intermediate championship series play-offs played at Roseau, MN. This team has its photo in both the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame as the first U.S. team to win the Canadian Intermediate championship.

Team members wereL Blaine Comstock, Allie Reynard, Grant Clay, Tim McKinnon, Dave McConacky, Mike Marvin, Dick Braun, Vic Magda, George Forgie, Warren Harrison, Dave Richardson, Jim Cole, Brian Dyck, Jim Trosky, Bill Christian, Harry Beuchert and Bryan Grand. Player-Coach Bob Tuff. Season record: 37-11-1. Play-off record: 15-6.

1974-1975 Manitoba Eastern Hockey League

champions. Season record: 38-4. Play-off record: 8-3.

1975-1976 Centennial Cup winners; Manitoba Eastern

Hockey League champions; and Manitoba Intermediate

A finalists. Season record: 35-7-2.

1976-1977 Manitoba Eastern League champions;

Manitoba champions; Saskatchewan champions;

Western Canadian Intermediate champions; Hardy Cup

finalists. The Lakers lost a five game series 3-1 to

Campbelltown, N.B., for the Canadian championship.

Season record: 37-11.

1977-1978 Manitoba-Assiniboine Hockey League and Western Canadian champions. Season record: 33-9-1. Play-off record: 8-3.

1978-1979 Manitoba-Assiniboine Hockey League champions; Manitoba Intermediate champions; Western-Canadain Intermediate finalists. The Lakers' appearance in the Western Canadian Intermediate championship series was their last in intermediate competition. The Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association decided in May of 1979 that Warroad would no longer be allowed to represent Manitoba in intermediate AA hockey play-off competition. The reason was that "the Lakers (who had won Manitoba honors in 1971, 72, 73, 74, 77 and 78 along with the Western Canada title in 1964, 74, 77 and 1978, and the Hardy CUp in 1974) were too good; that they "should be competing at a higher level." Season record: 47-8. Play-off record: 14-1.

1979-1980 Central Amateur Senior Hockey (CASH) League champions. Season record: 29-24.

1980-1981 Season record: 24-24-3.

1981-1982 Season record: 13-25.

1982-1983 Season record: 18-26-2.

1983-1984 Season record: 25-22-2.

1984-1985 Southeastern Manitoba Hockey League champions. Season record: 25-15.

1985-1986 The Lakers made their first European tour playing games in Holland, France, Germany and Austria. Season record: 20-15-1. European tour record: 6-0.

1986-1987 Southeastern Manitoba Hockey League champions. Season record: 21-9

1987-1988 Lakers 40th season. Southeast Manitoba League play-off finalists. Season record: 26-17.

1988-1989 Manitoba Intermediate champions. Season record: 16-7. U.S. team returns to face the Lakers on January 10,1988 in Warroad

1989-1990 Southeastern Manitoba Hockey League champions; Manitoba Intermediate AA champions. Season record: 32-11.

1990-1991 Central Amateur Senior Hockey (CASH) League finalists. Season record: 22-11-1.

1991-1992 Central Amateur Senior Hockey (CASH) League champions; Manitoba-Saskatchewan champions; Allan Cup final four team. The Lakers made their second European tour- (Holland, France, Germany and Austria). The "new" Gardens was under construction. Season record: 35-10.

1992-1993 Central Amateur Senior Hockey League champions; Manitoba-Saskatchewan champions; Western Canada champions; Allan Cup final-four team. Season record: 33-11-2.

1993-1994 Manitoba champions. Western Canada champions. Allan Cup champions. Team members: Player-Coach David Marvin, Captain Scott Knutson. Assistant Captain Mike Ross, Assistant Captain John Hanson, John Gillie, Bruce Elson, Jared Baines, Todd Kriebich, Larry Olimb, Greg Lund, Shane McFarlane, Wyatt Smith, Steve Ross, Jamie Byfuglien, Steve Johnson, Denny Fry, Rger Lien, Darin Olimb, Steve Johnson, Dan Marvin, Chris Imes, Matt Knox, Vince Huerd, Derick Ewald. Manager: Cal Marvin. President: Jim Cass. Board Members: Spenver Estling, Frank Marvin and Stu Weston. Season record: 37-6.

1994-1995 Manitoba champions. Western Canada champions. Allan Cup champions. Team members: Player-Coach David Marvin, Captain Scott Knutson, Assistant Captain John Hanson, Assistant Captain Jared Baines, John Gillie, Steve Ross, Bruce Elson, Todd Kriebichm Greg Lund, Shane McFarlane, Wyatt Smith, Jamie Byfuglien, Vince Huerd, Denny Fry, Roger Lien, Clay Hahn, Ted Brickey, Donnie Riendeau, Dale Lund, Todd Kemball, Wayne Bartley and Shawn Pomplun. Manager: Cal Marvin. President: Jim Cass. Board members: Spencer Estling, Frank Marvin, Stu Weston. Season record: 33-8-1.

1995-1996 Manitoba champions. Western Canada champions. Allan Cup

champions. Team members: Player-Coach David Marvin, Captain Scott

Knutson, Assistant Captain John Hanson, Assistant Captain Jared Baines,

John Gillie, Bruce Elson, Shane McFarlane, Jamie Byfuglien, Billy Lund,

Todd Kriebich, Sandy Gasseau, Donnie Riendeau, Aaron Novak, Bryan

Lundbohm, Adrian Hasbargen, Vince Huerd, Wayne Bartley, Greg Lund,

Keith Stewart, Roger Lien, Kaine Martell, Clay Hahn and Mike Ross.

Manager: Cal Marvin. President: Jim Cass. Board Members: Spencer

Estling, Frank Marvin, Stu Weston, Dave Gray, Denny Fry, Mike Larson.

Season record: 35-1.

1996-1997 Warroad Lakers 50th and final season. Hanover-Tache

League regular season champions. Manitoba champions. Western Canada

champions. Allan Cup runner-up. Team members: Player-Coach David

Marvin, Captain Scott Knutson, Assistant Captain John Hanson, Assistant

Captain Jared Baines, John Gillie, Bruce Elson, Shane McFarlane, Todd

Kriebich, Billy Lund, Sven Grafstrom, Jamie Byfuglien, John Tykeson,

Mike Ross, Aaron Murphy, Greg Lund, Adam Rodak, Donnie Riendeau,

Rocco Cammarata, Roger Lien, Matt Ulwelling, Adrian Hasbargen, Lee

Marvin, Neal Vatnsdal, Robin Cook, Trent Proctor. Manager: Cal Marvin. President: Jim Cass. Board Members: Mike Larson, Dennis Fry, Spencer Estling, Frank Marvin, Stu Weston. Season record: 37-7-1.

1994-1995 Warroad Lakers

1996-1997 Warroad Lakers 50th season and Final Team Photo

1973-1974 Warroad Lakers

1993-1994 Warroad Lakers

1995-1996 Warroad Lakers

Sign upon entering Warroad celebrating the Warriors High School Championship, and the Lakers 50 years in Warroad

"Cal" Image used by permission from artist Marv Espe and Timber-Trails.com

1995 Allan Cup Championship Program

Warroad Lakers on U.S. Olympic and National teams

1952- John Noah

1955- Dan McKinnon, Gordon Christian

1956- Dan McKinnon, Gordon Christian

1958- Dan McKinnon, Gordon Christian, Roger Christian, Bill Christian, Cal Marvin (Coach)

1960- Bill Christian, Roger Christian

1961- Sam Grafstrom, Dayton Grafstrom

1962- Bill Christian, Roger Christian

1964- Bill Christian, Roger Christian

1965- Bill Christian, Roger Christian, Bob Lund, Sam Grafstrom, Myron Grafstrom, Cal Marvin (Manager)

1966- Jim Stordahl

1970- Henry Boucha

1971- Henry Boucha

1972- Henry Boucha

1973- Blane Comstock

1974- Blane Comstock

1975- Blane Comstock

1976- Blane Comstock

1980- David Christian

1984- David Christian

1989- David Christian

1992- Chris Imes

Warroad Lakers in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

1982- Cal Marvin

1984- Bill Christian

1989- Roger Christian

1995- Henry Boucha

Warroad Lakers in the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame

1998- Bill Christian

Warroad Lakers in the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

1995- Cal Marvin

Warroad Lakers in the National Hockey League

Clarence Schmidt- Boston Bruins

"Sugar" Jim Henry- New York Rangers, Boston Bruins

Ed Kryzanowski- Chicago Blackhawks

Bill Juzda- Toronto Maple Leafs

Allan Hangsleben- Hartford Whalers

Henry Boucha- Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars

David Christian- Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks

Bob Johnson- Pittsburgh Penguins (Coach)

Howard Walker- Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames

Chad Erickson- New Jersey Devils

Wyatt Smith- Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild

Source in part and used by permission: The Warroad Lakers 1946-47 to 1996-97 by Roger A. Godin; Cal and the Lakers "Winning Under Two Flags" author Warren Strandell; Beth Marvin and the Warroad Historical Society**