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20 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | M A R C H 2 0 1 9 INTERNATIONAL FALLS wins THREE CONSECUTIVE tournaments ('64, '65, '66) FIRST MSHSL Hockey Tournament played at St. Paul Auditorium—won by EVELETH 1945 1950 1940 1975 1964 1964-66 1948-51 THROUGH THE YEARS… 1960 1970 Private schools allowed in the tournament LOU NANNE joins the broadcast booth for the first time at the state tournament EVELETH wins FOUR STRAIGHT tournaments ('48, '49, '50, '51) 36 TOTAL GOALS John Mayasich scored for Eveleth in state tournament appearances from 1948-51 John Mayasich Eveleth International Falls Chris Weinke Hill Murray Lou Nanne Why's it Great? A glance at the storied people and programs from the past 75 years of the State Tournament. COMMUNITY SUPPORT Parents, students and neighbors deck out in school colors from past and present to cheer and celebrate their team on to victory. You'll never see a greater community gathering than at the X and in St. Paul in March. HIGH SCHOOL PRIDE Each year students come up with new and unique ways to celebrate and support their team with signs, cheers and attire. A day or two of hooky from school is kind of fun, too. LASTING MEMORIES If you ever listen to an NHL player from Minnesota talk about their fondest memories, the state high school hockey tournament is bound to come up. Their recollections are still vivid and filled with emotion. But state leaves lasting memories for all of us—players, coaches, parents and spectators. Getting out of school early, watching future college stars and epic overtime thrillers are all part of the experience. Those stories are passed on for generations. THE PINNACLE OF A CAREER There's no doubt, the state tournament in many aspects is bigger than hockey—but it many ways it is not. An appearance at the state tournament is a culmination of not just the hard work of a team for a designated season, but of the hard work a group of friends have put in from youth hockey through high school. For the seniors who dreamed of that moment since they were Mites, they get to look back on how far they've come and all they were able to achieve with their buddies from youth hockey beside them. NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT Bottom line, you can't find anything like it in any sport or any other state. It's as revered as the sport itself in Minnesota, and we're so proud to call it ours. Fan perspective I've been watching the state tournament since 1972, and attending since 1978. From the Met Center to the see-through boards at the old Civic Center, to the Target Center and to the X, growing up in Grand Rapids, it was in my blood. In Rapids, our spring break was attending or playing in the tourney. I played in it with GR in 1980 (State Champs!) and I have coached in it three times. I have a son who played in it and coached in it and now has his own tickets each year. My kids have grown up with it. One of our traditions is having a meal or two between sessions at McGovern's down West 7th. Now my kids bring their friends to McGovern's to continue the traditions. The tourney is the Granddaddy of them all. – Todd Grina, Hutchinson 1 2 3 4 5