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25 Photos / Washington Capitals Photography, Jessi Pierce O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M Carrying this thing around, you see people's faces when they see it. There really is no other trophy like it." Niskanen and Oshie spent the better part of their respective Cup day sharing it with the public. – T.J. Oshie Hockey towns Roughly 2,869 people reside in Virginia. Approximately 1,781 call Warroad home. Nearly one-eighth of each community's populations play hockey, now each laying claim to their first Stanley Cup champion this year. "It's surprising to think [that's the first Stanley Cup in Warroad]," said Cary Eades, who was the Warriors varsity coach for 11 years, including two years with Oshie. "I know (1980 Olympian) Dave Christian made it to the Finals, but to not have somebody develop in Warroad go on to win the Stanley Cup, given how many hockey players the area has developed, it's a bit surprising. It's a real hockey hotbed, and the community prides itself on how the high school teams play and how the youth team plays. It's a big part of the fabric of our communities. It's pretty special T.J. can be the first to bring the Cup home to them." Despite each town boasting its fair share of notable names (see sidebar), Eades recalls asso- ciation numbers in Warroad going up and down. Communities like Mountain Iron/Virginia and Warroad have a constant struggle for registra- tion numbers as available work fluctuates. Still both communities have found a way to thrive, not only fielding teams, but ones that have proven successful, yielding a number of hockey role models. Before raising the Cup, Niskanen, a product of the Virginia Amateur Hockey Association, led the Blue Devils to the program's first-ev- er Minnesota State High School Tournament appearance in 2006. Oshie was a part of both Warroad state titles in 2003 and 2005. The Warroad Youth Hockey Association has grown from an average of 22 8U players per year, to 47 this past season. And then there's Olympian Gigi Marvin, who captured gold with the U.S Women's Olympic team in Pyeongchang this past February, who also hails from Warroad. She's the sixth Olympian to call Warroad home. "I don't know how many towns can say they've done that," Oshie exclaimed. "To have someone from the same class, same high school, win a gold medal and the Stanley Cup in the same year, it's amazing and a tribute to the town of Warroad and the type of pride they put in their hockey. "Carrying this thing around, you see people's faces when they see it, there really is no other trophy like it. I'm so glad to share not only this with them, but two state titles before. It doesn't get much better." It's not only an accomplishment for the play- ers who claim the grand prize on the grand stag- es, but it means a lot to the communities that they share it with. The communities that they ultimately give it back to, the real beneficiaries. "You can't really put it into words what he's meant to the program," former Virginia High School coach Reed Larson said of Niskanen to the Tribune. "It's the support he's given during the summers when it comes to the summer hockey program, financially with the donations he's made at the golf scramble every single year. You can't even put a dollar amount on it. It's to the point where it is priceless what he's meant to the program and what this is to the program right now. You're going to see the benefits reaped for years after this." Warroad 2017-18 total registration numbers: 220 MSHSL appearances: 21 (4 championships) Notable players: Gordon Christian (1956 Olympian), Henry Boucha (1972 Olympian), Roger Christian (1960 Olympian), Bill Christian (1960 Olympian), Dave Christian (1980 Olympian), Gigi Marvin (3x Olympian), Brock Nelson (New York Islanders), T.J. Oshie (2014 Olympian, Washington Capitals) Virginia/Mountain Iron 2017-18 total registration numbers: 201 MSHSL appearances: 3 (2005, 2009, 2010) Notable players: John Harrington (1980 Olympian), Jack Carlson (retired NHLer), Jeff Carlson (retired NHLer), Steve Carlson (retired NHLer), Matt Niskanen (Washington Capitals) HISTORY AT HOME Warroad Virginia/ Mountain Iron