Our Hockeytown USA Legacy

This is HUGE! In 1957/58, with five players from Warroad on the National team and coached by Cal Marvin, then Mayor, Morrie Taylor dubbed the city, “Hockeytown U.S.A.” One fact holds true that no kid pays for ice time in Warroad! We believe that Rink Rat mentality produces great hockey players. Highlights include:

• 8 USA Ice Hockey Olympians
• 5 Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinees
• Cal & 50 Years of Warroad Lakers, 3-peat Allan Cup champs

• 10 MHL/PWHL
• 1 Stanley Cup
• 65 DI Players – Boys
• 16 DI Players – Girls

• 24 Warrior Boys State Appearances, 4 Championships
• 14 Lady Warriors State Appearances, 4 Championships

Kah-Bay-Kay-Nong is the Ojibwa word for Warroad. Respected leader, elder, and hockey legend Henry Boucha’ s great great great grandfather, Ay-Ash-A-Wash, is considered the first chief of Warroad and Buffalo Point and led the Ojibwa in battles against the Sioux on the “War-Trail” that traveled west from Lake of the Woods. Warroad got its name from the War-Trail, a place of honor for the Ojibway/Anishinaabe. Na-May-Poke, son of Ay-Ash-A-Wash, sold part of his land allotment to the Warroad School and wanted the name Warroad Warriors instilled for the school in honor of their ancestors’ blood that was given to keep the land in Warroad and on Lake of the Woods. In the 1980’s the Warroad Indian Community, the Indian Parent Committee and the Indian Education Department helped design and approve the Warrior logo and support the use of the Warroad Warrior name and logo. A rededication of the Warrior logo was held in 2014.

The year 1945 is the first recorded year of the Warroad vs. Roseau match-up. Warroad beat Roseau with a score of 5-4 that first season. The last time they met was January 24, 2023, when Warroad got the win 5-2 over Roseau in their #182 matchup.. These two teams match up twice each season – once held at The Gardens in Warroad, the other at the Memorial Arena in Roseau. We’re told this is the longest standing rivalry in the State of Minnesota.

Warroad was one of the early adopters to introduce Girls’ hockey in the state of Minnesota. It started as a 15U team in 1998/99 and Warroad varsity girls joined the Minnesota High School League in 1999/2000 season. Since then, the program has grown and can compete with any team in the state, regardless of class. The producing of 24 Division III and 16 Division I players to date boasts a testament to the success of the girls’ hockey program. In 2024, the Lady Warriors will celebrate their 25th season.