Roseau Times-Region - Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper

by Laurel Latham

Tad Palmquist and Jared Olafson were extremely busy on Monday, October 30, measuring out the placement of the many design elements of the Hockey Day Village at the football field east of the Gardens Arena. Hockey Day 2024 will take place in Warroad, Thursday-Saturday, January 25-27.

"Our football team had a good chance of making the playoffs and played right to the bitter end, so we are just now getting a start on the Hockey Day Village," explained Tad Palmquist, Co-Chair of Hockey Day 2024.

"We are working with a surveyor marking out the placement for the 3,500 bleacher seats around the previously leveled area for the full-size rink. They will be digging in the lines for the rink and a chiller will be set that will make it possible to heat and cool the ice. If the ice gets too cold it pops. Sometimes it's necessary to heat the ice to keep the ice from cracking."

"Warroad is using many of the same vendors that White Bear Lake used last year," reports Tad. "I spent time at Hockey Day in White Bear Lake last January, so I could experience first hand all that goes into holding a Hockey Day event."

"There are many moving parts in assembling a Hockey Day Village," stressed Jared Olafson. "We had a local logger drop off 14 cords of wood. Volunteers helped cut, split and stack the wood to be used in the 15 bonfire pits. There will also be pergolas with a heat source for warming up in. The Hockey Village will have a VIP tent and an entertainment tent where food will be served and for live bands in the evening. There will be a mini-skate path and a kids rink."

"We are going to call the smaller rink the Lakers Rink," said Tad. " We are weaving Warroad history into the Hockey Day Village. Bally Sports North will be televising at Hockey Day 2024 from early morning on Sat., Jan. 27, all day, until the Minnesota Wild game begins at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. We are preparing stories and legends from our area that will be read between games to personalize Hockey Day in Warroad. It's a great opportunity for viewers to learn more about our area."

The very first Hockey Day was held in Baudette in 2007, when a hockey rink was constructed on the Baudette Bay, with 1,500 hockey fans attending.

There have now been 18 Hockey Day events held with each event drawing a larger crowd.

"We are expecting between 8,500 and 10,000 to attend Hockey Day in Warroad in January," continued Tad. "We've blocked off hotel rooms in Baudette, Warroad and Roseau for those wanting to attend. Some of the resorts are offering packages of a couple days ice fishing and a day at Hockey Day.

"We've tried to include as many northern Minnesota teams as possible in Hockey Day 2024. Bemidji is the farthest north Hockey Day has been held other than 2007 and 2008 when Hockey Day was held on Baudette Bay. There will be buses coming from the Eagan-Twin Cities area and from Fargo-Moorhead to Hockey Day in Warroad."

The Warroad Local Organization Committee for Hockey Day Minnesota in Warroad include Brenda Baumann and Tad Palmquist- Co-Chairs, Brian Erickson-Finance and Sponsorships, Michele Jackson-Project Manager, Jessie Anthony-Hospitality, Meg Comstock-Village Experience, Sarah Homme-Riverbend Skate Path Experience, Jared Olafson and Jude Boulianne-Site & Logistics, Darrell "Son" Shaugabay-Native American Culture and Mark Chamernick-Volunteer Coordinator.

"We will need volunteers for helping put the event together like assembling the floor tiles in the entertainment tent, and volunteers during the Hockey Day event for selling tickets, parking, food and drink servers and many other tasks," explained Tad Palmquist. "The best way to volunteer is to sign-up on the hockeydaymn.com website. We are really counting on volunteers to keep everything running smoothly."

"Tickets can also be purchased on the website," said Jared Olafson.

"It's a good idea to purchase tickets ahead of time if possible. Three-day passes are available for adults-$98 and K-12-$63. There will be something fun for everyone at Hockey Day 2024 in Warroad! You don't even have to be a hockey fan to have a great time at Hockey Day!"

Check hockeydaymn.com for all scheduled events taking place in Warroad Jan. 24-27, 2024!