Falls vs Fort is the best hockey rivalry in the state. Unfortunately, most people in our large state don't care about Fort Francis, Ont. So, Warroad vs Roseau is spotlighted for the northern rivalry.

I have wondered the last three years why we (Falls High or Falls City Counsel) haven't pushed for a I Falls vs Fort hockey game on Fox Sports Net. We have had great teams lately and Fox Sports Net has expanded the amount of games they cover. One televised game (if well promoted in I Falls & Fort) would "hook" viewers from around the state to want it televised each year. Everyone in MN would be proud to see the waiving American flags and hear the chants of "USA..USA..."

There was a game scheduled. It was with Hermantown. Our High school Ad was contacted by a individual who is involved in Hermantown hockey the game was going to be played in Herm. on there outdoor rink. The AD penciled in the game but he later found out this guy didn't have the authority to schedule this and MN Hockey wanted one team from the North and one from the South so when you see hermantown playing on hockey day the team there playing was supposed to be The International Falls Broncos.

leave Chopper alone
How much time have you volunteered or given to your community?

instead why don't you negative people step up for once go to a council meeting make a presentation to help set up the game help out or shut up. If your interested i could give you the number of a guy with MN Hockey who will give you all the info you need.

Thanks Henely, norpole, we have continued to try to bring a game here or somewhere else in the northland, we are after all the best hockey town/team ever in the state of Minn. The mayor and the council will help anyone in an attempt to get good coverage for the Falls and sports, our historic hockey program is of course one of the best in the US and of course one of the most powerful tools we could use to promote our area, so Henely or norpole, if you have a back door(remember the loser from Region 7 and 8 played to go to the state until Duluth raised a fuss), anyway, if anyone has an idea or someone who can pull some strings, get in touch with us and maybe we can work with Mr Rolando and get something going. The Broncos are fun to watch this year, they can put it together and make a run for it, Virgina and Hibbing along with the old Cathedral(Marshall) stands in the way. Go Broncos, watch the basketball team and all the sports, some good talent still in the Falls. Merry Christmas.. Chopper

I have a question about an outdoor game.

Why do we have to wait for FSN or some other media outlet to approve of an outdoor game before one is held. I would be willing to bet the farm that if an outdoor game is scheduled and played, someone somewhere south of Duluth will take notice and I am with Norpole, I will be there in purple and gold shouting until I spit my vocal chords out for the Broncos.
The team plays Lake of the Woods twice a season, what if some sort of "sharing" of an outdoor game can be set up where the "home" game every other year is outside. One year the game in Baudette can be on the bay, the next year the game in the Falls can be on Sand Bay or some other user friendly location. I am sure that Rolando and Novak could work out the schedule so that the game is in Jan or Feb to ensure enough ice for a safe game and I am almost certain that the game would eventually be televised. The schools could invite two other teams like Warroad and Roseau and hold some sort of outdoor Border Battle tournament.
Other options could include putting the rink right on the border with 1/2 in Canada and 1/2 in the US and involve Fort Frances, both the girls' and boys' teams could play each other.
I just think it could be a lot of fun and the ideal showcase of the town's hockey program.

It is great when cooler heads -- norpole, doorsman -- prevail. The possibility of a throwback game is exciting whether it is on FSN or not and I would like to propose that the Muskie/Bronco game would seem to make great sense, particularly as it involves two ancient and usually competitive rivals on other sides of an international border. The first year might be for local consumption only but if it is staged regularly and with style -- bands, parades, ice fishing contests -- it is the sort of thing that will quickly attract the attention of CBC as well as FSN. And it would drive the border people crazy if the location straddled the border, allowing people from both sides to attend without a passcard or passport. You could station customs people behind each goal to grant international clearance.

For a place that celebrates winter and hockey equally, this seems a natural. Keep up the good work, Doorsman.

There are a lot of teams in the area that could also use the temporary outdoor rink. The Bantams, Peewees, Squirts, Mites 12U, 10U, 8U could all look at scheduling an outdoor game on the rink. International Falls could have its own outdoor hockey day with each local team playing an outdoor game. It would be a great experience for the kids and a wonderful experience for local hockey fans.
If the Fort/Falls game somehow straddled the border it would be cool to have both bands and have border patrol officers as goal judges. You could even use a mixed officiating crew. I just believe there is a lot of potential with this project and all it needs is someone to take the reins and make it a reality.