Traditions should be kept alive

 Traditions should be kept alive

On Saturday, March 12, the Minnesota State High School League will crown a state champion boys hockey team at the Xcel Energy Center St. Paul. In 1945, the MSHSL began crowning boys hockey champions.

Since 1956, the Department of Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars crowned state bantam-hockey champions. This first event took place during the St. Paul Winter Carnival. The tradition of the VFW crowning bantam hockey champions continues on Sunday, February 13, at Elk River's Furniture and Things Community Event Center. Free admission to the tournament at this new facility is available. The invitational tournament will run through the weekend and began on Friday, March 11.

Two Elk River Rogers VFW Post members were the lightning rods that brought the tournament here in 1990 at Elk River Ice Arena, and then again in 2022 at Cornerstorne Automotive and Kiser Construction.

Barry Henriksen (state commander of VFW) couldn't have been happier to see the tournament return in business. On Friday, he planned to address approximately 750 people in a banquet at the event center's fieldhouse.

Henriksen stated that he would like to express his gratitude to the families, players, and coaches for their hard work. It means a lot to them that they want to participate in this tournament. It is a great experience to see (the high school state tournament). They want to play."

Jim Hesselgrave & Tom Nichols enjoyed long term support from the VFW for bantam Hockey and have formed strong relationships between the VFW and the local hockey community.

Hesselgrave, the VFW's current state hockey chairman, is joined by Nichols (a former post commander) to complete the double. Nichols serves as the gambling manager.

The VFW is facing a difficult battle with its members as it ages and the number posts falls.

VFW serves the primary purpose of helping veterans from foreign wars. Henriksen stated the youth activities were the next most important. The state organization's flagship event has been and remains the hockey tournament.

Henriksen declared that Elk River is always ready to take on the challenge.

VFW Posts requested that the next tournament take place in their home town during the early years. Two years before the tournament was due to begin, the post had already bid for it. The tournament's management is the responsibility of the person who wins the bid.

The VFW Hockey Tournament used to consist of a VFW District Hockey Tournament. There are seven VFW hockey districts. There are two levels of these tournaments, 'A’ and 'AA. The winners of each district tournament advance to the VFW State Hockey Tournament. This changed in 2021 with the VFW State Tournament becoming an invitational tournament. The district playoffs were eliminated just before COVID.

The inaugural state VFW Tournament featured five teams from the metropolitan area and three outstate ones. Roseau won the tournament and was presented with the trophy by the queen & king of winter carnival.

Hesselgrave, Nichols stated that they felt the tournament was given a boost by their participation in 1990. They had attended an earlier tournament and were convinced that they could do better as hosts. They are happy with the outcome.

They felt it was high time to assume the reins once more.

Hesselgrave stated that "it was only natural" for the tournament to move to a new venue in 2022. "I would hate for it to die." What is more important in Minnesota than hockey?

The couple was excited to have the banquet facility at their home. The local post rented an adjacent church in 1990.

Hesselgrave explained that the children who were playing on Friday would walk off the rink to enter the banquet.

This weekend's event will cost around $35,000. About $15,000-$20,000 of that amount will come from charitable gaming. The Sunshine Depot Bar and Restaurant is downtown Elk River. It is a haven where you can enjoy your hometown hockey memorabilia.

VFW Bantam Hockey was a huge success. VFW Posts sponsored over 80 Minnesota bantam hockey teams each year. VFW members have run all VFW programs. They are committed to youth involvement in the many programs. VFW sponsors hockey as well as baseball. The VFW has also supported Special Olympics and Soccer in the past. A Review of the gentleman's Gambling Cape Winachire Ponentone Video Poker Machine