The Iron Range region of northern Minnesota boasts a rich and storied hockey history, filled with legendary players, passionate fans, and iconic venues. From the early days of outdoor rinks to the modern era of state-of-the-art facilities, hockey has been an integral part of the Iron Range community for generations.
Location of Iron Range in Minnesota
Early Pioneers and the Rise of Iron Range Hockey
Ludvig J. Andolsek, born in Chisholm in 1910, embodies the spirit of early Iron Range hockey. The son of Slovenian immigrants, Andolsek's passion for hockey led him to Eveleth Junior College, where he honed his skills as a goaltender. His enthusiasm and leadership qualities earned him a unique opportunity at St. Cloud Teachers College, where he played and coached, bringing with him a talented group of players from the Iron Range.
In the 1930s, Andolsek transformed St. Cloud Teachers College into a hockey powerhouse. The team achieved remarkable success, even defeating the University of Manitoba, a top-ranked team. Despite facing challenges in scheduling games against established programs like the University of Minnesota, Andolsek's team garnered national recognition and showcased the talent emerging from the Iron Range.
Many greats - like John Mariucci, Frank Brimsek, Mike Karakas, Sam LoPresti and John Mayasich - played under legendary coach Cliff Thompson, who coached Eveleth to five state titles between 1920 and 1958 and compiled a record of 534-26-9.
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The Eveleth Hippodrome: A Cathedral of Hockey
No discussion of Iron Range hockey history is complete without mentioning the Eveleth Hippodrome. Opened in 1922, the Hippodrome has served as a home for hockey legends and a gathering place for the community. The Hippodrome opened Jan. 1, 1922, when the Eveleth Reds beat the Duluth Hornets 10-6. The Hippodrome is steeped in history and tradition.
“You walk in and it just -- I don’t know it smells like hockey history for some reason,” Duluth East coach Steve Pitoscia said. “There’s big black and white pictures of guys from back in the day - legends like Willard Ikola and some of those guys that played up there.
Originally built of wood at a cost of $50,000 by then-Eveleth Mayor Victor Essling, the Hippodrome saw renovations in 1938 that replaced the wood walls with brick and added a lobby. Artificial ice and concrete floors were added in 1950 and new locker rooms and coaches’ rooms were built in 2002.
The Eveleth Hippodrome
Rock Ridge defenseman Nick Troutwine said he’s spent almost 15 years skating and playing at the Hippodrome. “It’s almost like a second home to me,” Troutwine said. “It’s just crazy to think of all the great players that have come from here and all the different great teams that skated on this ice sheet.
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Hockey Hall of Fame just over a mile away, the Hippodrome offers its own brand of hockey history. “You start walking around and seeing all of the hockey greats that came out of here and it’s more like a museum,” Rock Ridge coach Ben Johnson said. “It’s just an amazing building for being 100 years old.
Former Eveleth and University of Minnesota great John Mayasich, left, and legedary Eveleth coach Cliff Thompson chat during the team's run of 4 straight state titles from 1948-51. Mayasich was on all four of those teams and went on to become the all-time leading scorer for the Minnesota Golden Gophers with 298 points.
Mayasich also learned by watching the Eveleth Rangers of the Northern Hockey League play at the Hippodrome. “I watched some of the players skate and I’d say, ‘I’m going to try to skate like him,’” Mayasich said.
The hallway under the bleachers on the bench side of the rink of the Eveleth Hippodrome as seen on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.
Now, after generations of heated rivalry between the towns, Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert have consolidated their districts into Rock Ridge. While the new rink is state of the art, Ratai was happy there will still be some games held at the Hippodrome each season. “I’m really glad that they were able to find a compromise to still play some games here,” he said. “I think it’s important for the history, I think it’s important for the community of Eveleth and having these kids be exposed to the history of hockey.
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Junior Hockey and the Iron Range Legacy
The Iron Range has also been home to several junior hockey teams, providing opportunities for young players to develop their skills and pursue their hockey dreams. The Iron Range Yellow Jackets, who played in the MNJHL from 1999 to 2002, were a dominant force, winning the regular season title and playoff championship in all three seasons.
The Minnesota Iron Rangers were an American junior ice hockey team based in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. On July 12, 2011, USA Hockey granted the Superior International Junior Hockey League an expansion team in Chisholm, Minnesota, in the Iron Range region of northern Minnesota to begin play in September 2011.
With their first game being rescheduled twice, the Ironheads finally stepped on the ice for their inaugural game on October 8, 2011. Their first game was against the Dryden Ice Dogs in Dryden, Ontario. In June 2012, Steve Chelios[3] was released and the team was renamed the Minnesota Iron Rangers.
The team was close to another relocation just one season after moving. Members of the community raised $30,000 to keep the team in Hoyt Lakes. The team then had their best season, falling in game seven of the 2014 Bill Salonen Cup Finals. Several players have moved on to college ice hockey programs.
These junior teams have provided a platform for players to advance to higher levels of hockey, contributing to the ongoing legacy of the Iron Range as a breeding ground for talent.
Iron Range Conference Champions
The Iron Range Conference (IRC) has long been a competitive hockey conference, showcasing the depth of talent in the region. While a complete historical list of champions may be difficult to compile, recent years have seen teams like Grand Rapids, Hibbing/Virginia, and International Falls emerge as contenders.
Amazing GR played in the state championship the last two years and Hibbing/Virginia was cochamps with them. Shows the IRC still has some depth even if some of the teams go a little unrecognized statewide due largely to single A status I am guessing. And I Falls winning two years in a row!! Eveleth won it in 1998.
Here's a table with available information about Iron Range Conference Champions
| Year | Champion(s) |
|---|---|
| Last Year | Grand Rapids (co-champs with Hibbing) |
| Two Years Ago | Grand Rapids |
| 1998 | Eveleth |