These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
February 25, 2024
In the February 23, 1939 issue of the Roseau Times-Region, a High School hockey tournament was
excitingly described.
Baudette Wins Tournament
Budding Puck Stars Show Stuff in School Hockey Meet. Roseau Loses Final
Hockey fans who did not take in the high school tournament held at the Memorial Rink in Roseau last
Saturday really missed something. The fine brand of hockey these youngsters displayed, not only to
uphold the honor of their schools and gain the coveted trophy, but for the love of the game, as well as
the enthusiastic support of their adherents was most refreshing to witness.
Four teams took part in the tournament, Baudette, Williams, Warroad and Roseau. Every youngster who
took part in the contests gave all he had. The result was three battle-royals with some nice team play as
well as individual efforts and excellent defensive work. Roseau was far outweighed and overshadowed
in size, particularly by Williams and Baudette, but gave a good account of itself, succeeding in going into
the finals by defeating the Williams huskies, 4 to 3.
Warroad put up a hard battle but was unable to cope with the powerful Baudette aggregation, which is
without question the class in this section. Largely responsible for this is the fact that they have a star
player in Zippel. Well over six feet, this young fellow has a lot of speed, carries the puck easily and has a
hard shot. Every time he took charge of the puck for a foray into the enemy territory there was danger
of the net being nicked.
As winners of the afternoon games Baudette and Roseau met in the evening for the championship. Both
teams showed the effects of the hard afternoon battles. Baudette, however, had saved on their star,
Zippel, using him sparingly in the afternoon game, and as a result he was comparatively fresh and able
to go full speed, the effect of which showed plainly on the score sheet where he was credited with four
goals and had a big hand in setting up the others.
Roseau put up a game fight but simply couldn’t quite cope with their heavier opponents and the speed
of Zippel. Delbert Dieter was the iron man of the tourney, playing the full 60 minutes in each contest for
Roseau. He played a great defensive game as well as making numerous drives into the enemy territory.
Espeseth, the other defense man, played almost as much and did fine work.
The forward line of Oie, Wold and Broughton did most of the scoring, Oie being very alert around the
enemy net to take passes for three of the most beautiful goals of the tourney. Two of these came near
the end of the game with Williams, when Espeseth and Broughton laid over two nice passes which Curtis
converted. Broughton and Wold also scored a point each in this game. The pony line of Alley, Grand and
Meyer, although greatly outsized, did not concede anything, holding their own nicely with superior stick
handling. This line also got a score. Alley scoring the first counter in the Baudette game.
The goal minding for all four teams was of a high order, every one of the goalies making numerous fine
stops. Anderson for Roseau covered himself with glory by stopping several of Zippel’s shots when he
came in on the net with no one to interfere.
Dick Davis of Winnipeg refereed the games in his usual efficient manner.
Williams-Roseau
Broughton made the first score midway in the opening period. Roseau, however, held the lead less than
a minute when Brotherston tied it up for Williams and the period ended 1 to 1.
In the second period Roseau again went out ahead after 13 minutes of play on a shot by Wold which
caught the goalie off balance.
The final period saw some nice hockey, both teams playing hard. After 7-1/2 minutes had gone by,
Bannon tied the count at 2-all and six minutes later Brotherston again dented the net to put Williams
out ahead. With only 5-1/2 minutes of play remaining it didn’t look so good for Roseau, but that’s when
the boys stepped out with the best hockey of the game to tally twice, both by Curtis Oie, on some nice
passes from teammates, winning 4 to 3.
The game was exceptionally clean with only two penalties called, one for each team.
Warroad-Baudette
Baudette stepped right out in the opening session to take a 2 to 0 lead, Abbott counting the first within
a minute and a half. The second came eight minutes later on a shot by Peterson.
In the second period play was more or less even, Lien finally counting for Baudette after 13-1/2 minutes
of play.
The final saw both teams struggling hard. Baudette grabbed a 4 to 0 lead after a minute and a half on a
hard shot by Zippel. At 6:15 Lightning put Warroad into the score column with a nice shot and a few
seconds later Harloff sank No. 2. The Lake of the Woods county seaters, however, tightened their lines
at this point and with less than a minute to go made one themselves on a shot by Greenan to win, 5 to
2. Penalties, Warroad 2, Baudette 1.
Championship Game
Roseau and Baudette squared off for the championship in the evening and despite a raging blizzard the
rink was fairly well filled with supporters of both teams. Several carloads of fans came from Baudette
even though driving was almost impossible.
Roseau scored first, Jim Alley making a nice shot after eight minutes of play. With less than three
minutes remaining of the opening period, Greenan and Abbott scored in quick succession to put
Baudette out ahead 2 to 1.
After 7 minutes had gone of the second period, Zippel started his solo work. He accounted for two and
Greenan made a third counter while Dieter sank one for Roseau, the period ending 5 to 2 in favor of the
easterners.
In the final period Oie dented the net for a point for Roseau while Zippel made two more and Nelson a
third point to end the game 8 to 3 in favor of Baudette.
Penalties in this game were two for Roseau and seven for Baudette.
Immediately following the final game the presentation of the beautiful championship trophy to
Baudette took place to climax a most successful tourney. The trophy was presented by Rubin Halvorson,
principal and athletic director of the Roseau high school.
Baudette will meet Hallock soon for the district championship. The game may be played on the Roseau
ice as Baudette people are anxious to see their team in action in the district championship fray.
Baudette played at Hallock last year and feels that this year Hallock should at least meet them half way.
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