The story of Watford City Oiler Hockey is one of community, dedication, and the realization of a dream. From its humble beginnings in 1985 to its current state-of-the-art facilities, the program's history reflects the unwavering commitment of individuals and the collective spirit of a town.
The Founding Years
Watford City Oiler Hockey was started in 1985 by Dave Hansen and Arden Berg. Dave Hansen moved to Watford City from Grand Forks a year earlier and met Arden Berg, a life-long resident of the community and at the time a member of the Board; the two quickly became close friends. In the Fall of 1985, after encouragement from Lynette, Dave approached Arden with the idea of starting a hockey program in Watford City.
The Park Board supported the idea and flyers were made to recruit kids of all ages to join the new program...Oiler Hockey was born! An outdoor rink was constructed with funds provided by the Park Board.
The first team was formed, consisting of twelve players, ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old. The inaugural home game was against Sidney, in February 1986, starting a rivalry that lives on. In the beginning, the ice was cleaned with a garden tractor and hockey parents armed with shovels.
The first players utilized household items as their equipment, like phonebooks and catalogs for shin pads. Everyone pitched in. Parents would shovel snow off the ice and we would help our kids lace up their skates,” states Lundin.
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Growth and Development
In the beginning, the wins for the Oilers were few and far between however the program grew year-over-year and Oiler teams became more and more competitive. By the 1989-90 hockey season, Watford City had three teams (Mite/Squirt/Bantam) with forty total players.
During this season, a hockey booster club was formed and the Oilers officially entered the amateur Hockey Association making the team eligible for tournaments and players insurance.
Weather permitting, the Oilers played hockey outdoors for seven years until the dream of indoor ice became a reality. The Multi-Purpose Building was constructed and commissioned, in 1994, with the help of countless players, parents, volunteers, and generous donations from the Watford City community.
The Dave Hansen Legacy
Fast forward 40 years and Hansen has not only been the coach for the Watford City Oilers program, but actually coached two teams for a time.From that frigid and wind-swept lagoon to a multipurpose arena to a state-of-the-art facility, Hansen drove that train, but there were a lot of volunteers working with him and Berg to build, not just the team, but the enthusiasm that goes with creating a successful program.
In addition to that, in 2016 twin hockey arenas in Watford City’s Roughrider Center were built, with one dedicated and named the Dave Hansen Arena in January 2017.
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During his speech, Hansen talked about moving to Watford City from Grand Forks in the mid ‘80s and telling someone he wanted to start a hockey program in a huge basketball town.
Hansen was presented with a special award and a plaque with all 59 of the Hall of Fame inductees listed including himself, the only inductee in the class of 2025.
At first his family was acknowledged; his wife Lynette, children Alex, Ryan and Kayla, as well as their grandchildren.
Hansen said during his speech that his family has endured a lot over the past 40 years being in a hockey family such as theirs. Through it all, the family stood by him and as he implied, it made him a better coach, a better father and a better grandfather. And it shows. It’s about the spirit of volunteering and how he engineered virtually an entire community to believe in his vision of one day having a promising hockey program in Watford City.
The Modern Era
The Oiler hockey program now begins a new chapter with the building of the Roughrider Events Center, a state-of-the-art facility, complete with two sheets of ice. Over the years, the Oiler hockey program has grown and prospered under the leadership and support of Dave, Arden, and their families; coupled with the blood, sweat, and tears of loyal hockey parents.
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It is hard to imagine that Dave and Arden’s plan to start a hockey team 32 years ago would have led to the program we have today. Past, present, and future Oiler hockey players will be forever indebted as the beneficiaries of this hard work, commitment, and dedication.
Key Figures in Watford City Hockey History
The success of Watford City Hockey can be attributed to the dedication and hard work of several key individuals. Here's a brief overview:
| Name | Role | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Dave Hansen | Founder and Coach | Started the hockey program in 1985 and has been a driving force ever since. |
| Arden Berg | Co-Founder | Helped establish the program and provided crucial support in the early years. |
| Lynette Hansen | Supporter | Encouraged Dave to start the program and provided continuous support. |