Modern day Warroad, Minnesota, has embodied the true culture of hockey in its purest form for decades. This is a place where the traditions are the strongest, the weather the coldest, and the people the most passionate about hockey! Warroad, the only American port on Lake of the Woods, is located at the southwest corner of the lake while Kenora is 90 miles northeast of Warroad by water through a maze of 14,600 islands.
Our goal at Warroad Hockey is to combine modern technical performance with the strong traditions of the game. "Warroad Minnesota brought out my true love for the game of hockey. With the daily access to ice, the competitiveness the players brought out in each other, and the passion for the game.
Warroad Hockey Welcome Home From State Tournament, including Christian Hockey Plant & Town Tour
The Early Days of Hockey in Warroad
Legendary Warrior Henry Boucha tells the tale of Warroad’s hockey roots. When Kenora, Ont., won the Stanley Cup in 1907, it may have launched hockey in northern Minnesota.
The Warroad area was rich with timber and fish, and those industries started shipping goods to eastern markets in the late 1890’s. By the early 1900’s several fisheries and sawmills sprang up all around the lake. They hauled the fish and timber to Kenora until the Canadian Railroad came around the southern end of the lake to Warroad.
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They say that one of the first questions young George Marvin - eventual founder of Marvin Lumber & Cedar Company - asked when he stepped off the train in Warroad from Winnipeg was, “Does anyone play hockey here?” He may have been one of the few that knew something about hockey. It was about the time when hockey started to develop as a winter sport.
Baseball was popular in the summers but people needed something to do in the winters with more time on their hands so they took up ice skating and hockey. They skated on the Warroad River and on an outdoor rink with a warming house they built in town near the Warroad School.
With other Canadians moving into the Warroad area, people like pharmacist, and former Winnipegger, Ed Holland played, encouraged and supported hockey. Soon after, other area communities started making outdoor rinks and communities were able to play games against each other and the rivalries began.
The Minnesota State High School Tournament didn’t start until after World War II but Warroad had been playing hockey in hockey leagues decades before. Other communities like Thief River Falls, Crookston, Grand Forks, Roseau and many other Canadian communities competed in leagues and tournaments during that time.
The Warroad Memorial Arena was not built until 1948. When Warroad played in the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament in 1948, they drove to Minneapolis/St. Paul with parents or whoever had a car, riding in several different cars which took all day. Most kids were in awe of the big city as they came from poor families and had never been to a city before.
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Aside from the high school team, Warroad had a senior men’s team that participated in leagues in the area. Some players were able to play on both teams if they wanted, prior to changes in the Minnesota high school rules.
Later, Cal Marvin, Ginny Christian, Sam Gibbons, Bob May among others from Warroad attended the University of North Dakota. North Dakota didn’t have a team so Cal and the rest of the players went to the Board of Regents and requested that they allow the boys to represent the University and play a few other college teams.
The team was well represented with talent and won most of their games. The university started to support the team and the rest is history. Richard Roberts who is picture above with the 1940 Warroad team attended and played hockey for the University of Minnesota; he was a captain during his time as a Gopher.
After college, Cal Marvin returned to Warroad and took over the Warroad Town Team from Ed Holland. Cal was instrumental in fundraising to build the first Warroad Memorial indoor arena. It was built with the help of volunteers and was operational in 1948. The rink was covered and later they added locker rooms. It had natural ice until the late 1970’s when they added artificial ice and a Zamboni.
The Impact of Cal Marvin
Known as the Godfather of Warroad hockey, Cal Marvin’s legacy continues on nearly two decades after his passing. The youngest of George and Almina’s five sons and second youngest of seven children overall, Cal fought in World War II, and loved the game of hockey so much, he named the Warroad Arena Fund as the beneficiary of his $10,000 life insurance policy.
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In the meantime, Marvin founded the Warroad Lakers hockey club, which would go on to become the most successful amateur senior hockey team in the country. As occasional coach and full-time general manager, Marvin’s Lakers never had a losing season and won Intermediate championships in the United States in 1955 and in Canada in 1964 and 1974.
The Lakers also won Canada's Senior championship in 1994, 1995, and 1996. In all, 19 United States Olympians and national team members also called themselves Laker alumni.
Many of the first Laker players, including Marvin himself, also helped start and play on the first varsity hockey team at the University of North Dakota, one of the most iconic brands in college hockey to this day. Hockey Hall of Fame, the Warroad High School Athletics Hall of Fame, North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Christian Family Legacy
When Gordon Christian helped the United States men’s hockey team win Silver at the 1956 Winter Olympics, he’d be the first member of his family to win a medal at the Olympics … but he wouldn’t be the last.
- Ginny Christian: Ginny was born in Warroad November 21, 1927, and he graduated from Warroad High School in 1947. He played college hockey at the University of North Dakota from 1947-1950. He was part of the National Guard, and was called up for the Korean War in 1951. Ginny is a member of the UND Athletic Hall of Fame, Warroad Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Minnesota Olympic Wall of Fame.
- Bill Christian: It’s very likely the United States doesn’t win Gold in men’s hockey at the 1960 Olympics, if not for Warroad’s own Bill Christian. Trailing 2-1, “Bill” scored the tying and the winning goals in a 3-2 win over the Soviet Union, before the Americans secured Gold with a victory over Czechoslovakia in the Gold Medal game in Squaw Valley, Calif. Before competing in a pair of Olympic games, he and his older brother, Roger, helped Warroad High School to a second-place finish at the 1953 Minnesota State High School tournament. Bill would play 20 years for the Warroad Lakers, never enduring a losing season during that span, before retiring as a player in 1980. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984 and is also a member of the Warroad Athletics Hall of Fame.
- Roger Christian: Like his brothers Ginny and Bill, Roger Christian’s hockey journey began on the streets and outdoor ice of Warroad. He was a member of the 1960 US Olympic team that took the Gold Medal in Squaw Valley, California, scoring 4 goals in the 9-4 win over Czechoslovakia. Upon returning home, he played 20 years for the Warroad Lakers and had his jersey No. 7 retired by the team. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989 and is also a member of the Warroad Athletic Hall of Fame.
- Dave Christian: The son of Bill and nephew of Roger and Ginny, Dave Christian followed in the footsteps of his father and uncles by representing the United States in the Winter Olympics. And like Bill and Roger, Dave would bring a Gold Medal home to Warroad as a member of the famed “Miracle on Ice” team that upset the Soviet Union en route to Gold in Lake Placid in 1980. Just one week after winning Gold in 1980, Christian’s NHL career began with the Winnipeg Jets, the franchise that drafted him with the 40th pick in the 1979 Draft. His NHL career would span 15 years and more than 1,000 games, playing for the Jets, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks.
Gordon, or “Ginny” as he was often called, was a founding member of the varsity hockey team at the University of North Dakota, twice leading the team in scoring and becoming the first member of the school’s “Century Club” for scoring at least 100 points in his career.
Other Notable Warroad Hockey Figures
- Dan McKinnon: The first ever All-American at the University of North Dakota, McKinnon was one of the finest defensemen in the country during his playing days. A founding member of the varsity team at UND, he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at the school in 1982. Named one of the school’s legends, a plaque honoring his contributions resides inside the entry way at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. McKinnon was also a player on the legendary Warroad Lakers hockey teams in the mid-1950s, which were considered some of the finest hockey teams in the country, regardless of league.
- Henry Boucha: One of the most dominant forces in the history of Minnesota hockey, Henry Boucha’s career on the ice flashed like a supernova. Perhaps the most electrifying player to ever play in the State High School League Tournament, Boucha - later nicknamed “The Chief” in a nod to his Ojibwa heritage - helped Warroad to the state championship game in 1969. Injured early in the game against Edina, the Warriors would lose in overtime without their star player. Olympic Team where he won a Silver Medal in the 1972 Winter Olympics in Japan. The year prior, he was selected in the first round of the NHL Draft by his favorite team as a kid, the Detroit Red Wings. In 1974, Boucha was traded to the Minnesota North Stars and appeared on his way to stardom until an on-ice assault at the hands of the Boston Bruins’ Dave Forbes severely injured Boucha’s right eye. He would never be the same, playing the remainder of his career with double and blurred vision. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.
- T.J. Oshie: T.J. moved to Warroad his Sophomore year of High School and lead the Warroad Warrior hockey team to two Minnesota State Class A titles in 2003 and 2005. He made the state’s All-Tournament Team all three years. He totaled 100 points in 31 games his senior year, was named to the 2005 Associated Press and Pioneer Press All-State First Team and was a Minnesota Mr. Hockey Finalist. In 2014 T.J. to a 3-2 victory in a preliminary game against Russia. The game ended in a shoot-out, where Oshie was called on again and again by Head Coach, Dan Bylsma. T.J. made 4 of his 6 attempts, including the game winning shot. T.J. Oshie played for the St. Louis Blues team from 2008- 2015.
- Brock Nelson: Brock played for the Warroad Warrior hockey team his 10th, 11th, and 12th grades at Warroad High School and graduated from Warroad in 2010. He played hockey for the University of North Dakota from 2010 - 2012. Brock Nelson was the New York Islander’s 30th draft pick overall in 1st round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He played on the World Junior USA Team in 2010.
- Gigi Marvin: Gigi was born March 7, 1987 and grew up in Warroad, MN. She started skating at the age of 2 and competed alongside the boys hockey players in Warroad up until Warroad’s girl’s program took shape. In her high school years she accumulated 196 goals and 229 assists, and was named the 2005 recipient of the Let’s Play Hockey Ms. Hockey Award her senior year. She played four seasons at the University of Minnesota of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and received many honors and awards during that time, including WCHA Rookie of the Year, and was named to several WCHA All-Tournament Teams. Gigi has participated in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championships. She won gold in 2008, 2009, 2011 & 2013 while winning the silver in 2007 & 2012. She also participated in the United States Women’s Select Team for the Four Nations Cup.
Hockey Day Minnesota in Warroad
Warroad’s Hockey Day was my first, but it won’t be my lastby Jackson BolineEditor’s Note: Jackson Boline, a former goaltender and High School Hobey Baker Award winner from Alexandria, attended his first Hockey Day MN event. This article is a first-person account of his experience.
Hockey Day Minnesota epitomizes the essence of classic Minnesota hockey like no other event. The outdoor hockey mixed with the fans who bear the sometimes freezing temps to watch a modern style of how hockey was once played is the best way possible for the State of Hockey to bring together thousands of fans from around the state and watch the best product.
Despite being a devoted hockey fan for as long as I can remember, it’s astonishing that attending Hockey Day Minnesota 2024 in Warroad was my first, and it did not disappoint. While I’ve always followed the high school, college, and pro games on TV during Minnesota’s cherished holiday, nothing prepared me for the dynamic atmosphere of being boots on the ground at the live event.
I made the four-and-a-half hour trip up north on Saturday to experience what Hockey Day Minnesota truly is like, and what the city of Warroad had in store. Entering beneath the welcoming arch atop Warroad High School’s football field, I was surrounded by the comforting aroma of bonfires, which evoked nostalgic memories of playing pond hockey on local lakes as a child. Stepping into the event, there was hockey everywhere I looked. Youth hockey games were active on a small sheet of ice, while images of Warroad’s hockey icons enriched the surroundings, a testament to the town’s storied hockey legacy. The Minnesota Wild had a booth where young hockey fans could shoot at a target, and so many places to take a photo, helping to capture a memory.
Despite the size of the celebration, and amidst the thousands of fans, the intimate sense of a small community prevailed, similar to the warmth of a local outdoor rink, where only family, friends, and teammates gather and compete for fun.
Although I could feel the competitiveness of the fans in the stands, it still felt as if everyone was just enjoying the opportunity to be a part of the celebration. The phrase, “You could feel the excitement in the air” may get overused but, you really could feel it. This was a special moment for the community of Hockeytown USA, and the State of Hockey.
Warroad showcased their heritage before the National Anthem, with an anthem of their own. This was an incredible way to give a glimpse of the Warroad culture and their history. Prior to the start of the game, late Warroad and Minnesota hockey legend Henry Boucha was remembered with his Granddaughter dropping the ceremonial puck, followed by a moment of silence. Henry Boucha’s Granddaughter dropped the ceremonial puck kicking off Hockey Day MN 2024. and the crowd was impressive. The matchup was between two of the state’s top teams in their respective classes in girls hockey with the host team Warroad Lady Warriors and Lakeville North Panthers. Despite a hat trick from Warrioad’s Taylor Reese, Lakeville prevailed 4-3. Although the Warriors lost the game, you could tell this was a moment they wanted to enjoy and take in, instead of focusing on the loss.
The distinct look of a Hockey Day Minnesota player is just as much of a tradition as the day itself. The eye black smeared beneath the bottom lash, the neck gaiters, and each goalie wearing their team logo toque on top of their helmet. The other great tradition on this day is the newly designed jerseys for the special contest. In the Lakeville and Warroad girls’ games, they each had a unique design that embodied their history. Eye black is a Hockey Day MN staple. LPH PHOTO BY JACKSON BOLINE
The Lady Warriors’ special sweaters had a ‘25’ patch, celebrating 25 years of Warriors girls hockey. The jerseys also had the phrase ‘Kaabekanong Ogichidaag’ emblazoned on the front, which means ‘Warroad Warriors’ in Ojibwe. Lakeville North wore a unique throwback-looking jersey, which embodied their history as well. Warroad captain Madilyn Skogmanb gets ready to take the ice in Warroad’s signature Hockey Day jerseys. Warroad girls hockey is celebrating 25 years. LPH PHOTO BY JACKSON BOLINE
In the second game of Hockey Day Minnesota, Wayzata boys hockey took on Moorhead. The Trojans wore a throwback look as well, but they added blue jerseys and white helmets and gloves, which looked spectacular on the outdoor sheet. Moorhead had a similar idea with their uniform design, going with a throwback looking jersey and white helmet/glove combination. The Spuds also added a stripe on top of their helmets. Wayzata’s Cade De St. Hubert and Moorhead’s Brooks Cullen sporting their signature Hockey Day uniforms, face off to start the game in Wayzata’s 5-2 victory. LPH PHOTO BY JACKSON BOLINE
The nightcap game featured a historic rivalry with Roseau and Warroad. These two teams have a long history, and their jerseys were a great way to celebrate the storied rivalry. Roseau wore a historic sweater with their classic green look and the words Roseau striped diagonally across the chest. Warroad boys hockey wore a white jersey with the Warrior logo circled in the center, and around it was the same phrase the girls team wore, which was ‘Kaabekanong Ogichidaag.’ They also wore yellow breezers with white and black stripes, giving a classic look. The Warriors paid homage to two influential figures of their hockey organization, with a number five on the left shoulder for their late coach Michael Tveit and on the right shoulder the number 16 for the late and great Henry Boucha.
Hockey Day Minnesota was done the right way in Warroad. They were able to deliver a great hockey experience with plenty of activities surrounding the rink. Warroad also did a wonderful job as there was no bad seat in the house, everywhere you sat had a different viewpoint of the action, which just added to the great environment. Hockeytown USA was able to show the state more about their amazing hockey history, and give an unforgettable experience.
Hockeytown USA was a perfect location for one of Minnesota’s most prideful yearly traditions, and the perfect location for me to visit my first Hockey Day MN event. It was a wonderful experience, especially for a first-timer. It definitely won’t be my last.
Jackson Boline is a frequent contributor to Let’s Play Hockey and a former high school goaltender and High School Hobey Baker Award recipient. Boline played in the Class A state championship game in 2018 versus Orono. He had 25 saves in a 2-1 loss.
Warroad Hockey Hall of Fame
The following table summarizes the achievements and accolades of some of Warroad's hockey legends:
| Name | Achievements | Hall of Fame Inductions |
|---|---|---|
| Cal Marvin | Founded Warroad Lakers, built Warroad Memorial Arena | Hockey Hall of Fame, Warroad High School Athletics Hall of Fame, North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame, Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame |
| Ginny Christian | Silver Medalist 1956 Winter Olympics | UND Athletic Hall of Fame, Warroad Athletic Hall of Fame, Minnesota Olympic Wall of Fame |
| Bill Christian | Gold Medalist 1960 Winter Olympics | Hockey Hall of Fame, Warroad Athletics Hall of Fame |
| Roger Christian | Gold Medalist 1960 Winter Olympics | Hockey Hall of Fame, Warroad Athletic Hall of Fame |
| Henry Boucha | Silver Medalist 1972 Winter Olympics | Hockey Hall of Fame |
| Dave Christian | Gold Medalist 1980 Winter Olympics | NHL Career 15 years and more than 1,000 games |