Senior Hockey – Gone But Not Forgotten

1970 North Star Oil – MN State and National Senior Champs.  Do you know any of these guys? (Photo courtesy of Dan Semlak)

Senior Hockey All-Metro Reunion at Tom Reid’s on Monday, Dec 22, 2014.  Join Us! 

1971-1972 League Schedule at Wakota

Senior Hockey Era.

The team names are all familiar, seemingly from a distant past, but the memories remain fresh on the minds of those passionate about “old time hockey” and the “good years”.  Full contact Senior hockey thrived and was played by those yearning for more after high school or college and was fueled by the competitive nature of both inner city and out-state rivalries.

In the 60’s and early 70’s metro teams like Kaposia Lounge, Johnny Whites, Bob Carter Ford, North Star Oil, White Bear Dodge, Bob Ross Liquors, Kostka Electric, St. Paul Stage Door, Maplewood Berwald, South St. Paul Steers, Minneapolis Bonnies Tap, Roadside Drive-in, Stephans Buick, Bungalows, Como Rec, Mounds Park Tavern and out-state teams from Duluth, Roseau, Thief River, Grand Rapids, Taconite, Crookston, and Warroad, played in various city leagues throughout the Twin Cities and across the state.

In the 70’s and 80’s a new generation of teams sprung up like Mple Bucks, Mpls Tempo, North St. Paul Legion, Mpls Uptown, St. Paul Saints, Tony Webers Insurance, Moby Dicks, Hastings and the Parkers.

Senior hockey during these years was flourishing, with approximately 50 clubs in Minnesota and Wisconsin playing 60 minute, stop time, full contact games.  State tournaments followed and, as always, teams were vying for National Tournament berths.

Those days are long gone as full contact senior hockey in Minnesota was replaced starting in the 90’s by an explosion of adult no-check leagues and tournaments across Minnesota and in many other parts of the country.

A Reunion of Sorts.

If you played Senior hockey and are interested in getting together to chat about the old days, please join Minnesota Hockey Magazine and the Parker alumni at Tom Reid’s on Monday, Dec 22 at noon.

Minnesota Hockey Magazine is presenting hockey legend Marv Jorde with a lifetime achievement award.  See recent article here.

We would love to see you there!  Pass this on to your hockey buddies and if you have any great photos to share, let us know and we will put them out on Facebook for everyone to enjoy.

1970 North Star Oil – MN State and National Champs Back row from left: Bob Johnson, Danny McDermot, Jim Arndt, Jim Egger, Bob Olein, Dave Duzan, Jerry Christiansen, Bob Boysen, Bill Olein, Bill Carroll, Front Row from left: Bucky Kendig, Roger Simon, Pat Henry, Coach/Mgr Dan Semlak, Jim Kowalski, Craig Buetow, Jack McNamara