Hockey Day Minnesota comes to Warroad January 25-27, 2024.  Located on the very SW corner of Lake of the Woods, this community has earned the reputation, and is known as Hockeytown USA®.  Consequently, it is very fitting this hockey crazed community will host this year’s celebration of Minnesota hockey!

Warroad is rolling out the red carpet for everyone who enjoys hockey, skating, tradition in Minnesota and small town charm to come, enjoy and celebrate.

Come early. Stay late. Skate everyday. That’s our motto. We are proud to offer ice time to our youth hockey players at no cost. We believe that’s what produces great players and allows for anyone to play the great game of hockey in our great State of Hockey. Join us as we partner with the Minnesota Wild, Bally Sports North and Minnesota Hockey in hosting Hockey Day Minnesota 2024! Learn about our history, our heritage, our ways of community-based hockey in Northern Minnesota which is a great place to live life on the ice!

What is Hockey Day MN?

Hockey Day Minnesota is an annual event in Minnesota run in cooperation with the Minnesota Wild and Bally Sports North that celebrates the sport of hockey throughout the state. Now a multi-day showcase, the event is held in mid-to-late January or early February and typically consists of multiple high school games (a mixture of boys and girls), a men’s and/or women’s college hockey game, and concludes with a Minnesota Wild NHL game. With some games now taking place on Thursday and Friday, the main set of games are played on a Saturday and are broadcast on Bally Sports North. Most of the games are played at a featured outdoor location with a rink built specifically for the event. However, some of the college matchups are played in standard home arenas and all of the Wild games are played in an NHL venue (usually Xcel Energy Center).

What is there to do?

Festivities begin on Thursday, January 25 and conclude on Sunday, January 28, with Hockey Day Minnesota on Saturday, January 27, 2024. See below for a full schedule of events and to get your tickets for HDM 2024!

The hockey rink will be set up on the south end of the Warriors football field on the school’s campus with a hockey village on the north side. Everything from a snow hill, a mini Riverbend Skate Path, firepits, vendors, VIP tents and another small rink, called the “Outlaw Rink and Warroad Lakers History,” will provide warmth and fun during the event.

The community features a 2.5-mile ice path, the Riverbend Skate Path , that connects seven rinks. A small version of that popular wintertime attraction will be on the far north end of the field.

There will be groupings of igloos, a skate path, and a snow hill, lots of space to warm up around the fire or inside a massive entertainment tent with bands, food, beverages and merchandise.

Two large screens will provide a view of the action behind the VIP tent where food trucks, coffee and cocoa huts and the village beer garden will be set up.

This will be a celebration of hockey in Minnesota and in Warroad, but really so much more.  This event is about the the camaraderie and culture, the Native American heritage, and the many hockey legends that have built Hockeytown USA.

What is the schedule?

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25
5:30 pm Waseca vs. Thief River Falls – Boy’s
7:30 pm Lake of the Woods vs. Kittson County Central – Boy’s

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26
Village Opens at 2 pm

5:30 pm Concordia vs. St. Olaf – MIAC DIII Men’s
8:00 pm Warroad vs. Roseau Alumni Game

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
Hockey Day
Village Opens at 8 am

9:30 am Warroad vs. Lakeville – Girls Warroad Athletic Complex Yes
1 pm Moorhead vs. Wayzata – Boys Warroad Athletic Complex Yes
4:30 pm Warroad vs. Roseau – Boys Warroad Athletic Complex Yes
8 pm Minnesota Wild vs. Anaheim Ducks St. Paul, Local Watch Parties Yes

Where can I stay?

The hospitality team will help you with accommodations! They are taking creative approaches by partnering with area resorts for fishing packages, establishing areas to park wheelhouses, and designing bus trips originating from the region to accommodate day-trippers and the Twin Cities. It’s important for you to know that they’ve got all area hotels reserved for participating teams, village set-up suppliers, and VIPs. Let them know your package preferences and groups size by filling out the form below and someone will get in touch with you!

Stay and Fish!

$700 per person + one (1), three-day HDM pass

Resort lodging 3 nights
Guided ice fishing 1 day
Transportation to and from HDM events Saturday (resort will be 25 – 30 miles from Warroad)
Sales & Lodging taxes included
Based on availability
Additional HDM tickets may be purchased separately

Wheel House Village

With Electric (30 spaces available):
Price: $425 + two (2), three-day passes included

Weekend package (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
Plowed and maintained space
Electric hookups
Heated bathrooms and showers nearby
Garbage
Dump station
Transportation to and from HDM events (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
Includes two 3 day passes
Without Electric (45 spaces available):
Price $325 + two (2), three-day passes

Weekend package (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
Plowed and maintained space
Electric hookups
Heated bathrooms and showers nearby
Garbage
Dump station
Transportation to and from HDM events (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
Includes two 3 day passes

Contact for Package Details including transportation

Will there be transportation to Warroad and within Warroad?

The answer is YES.  Bus trips have been designed originating from the region to accommodate day-trippers and the Twin Cities.  Inquire here for details.

Get Tickets Here

Hockey, it is a tradition in Minnesota.  There is no mistake Minnesota is the state of hockey.  After this year’s Hockey Day MN 2024, there will likely be no doubt what area of the state is the community of hockey.  All are welcome.  Come up to Warroad the end of January and make some memories!

Hockey Day MN 2024 

Hospitality for Hockey Day MN 2024

Lodging around Lake of the Woods

Sadly, many of our brothers and sisters who served and fought for our country during World War II have departed the earth for greener pastures.  This past week on Lake of the Woods, however, two brothers who are 98 and 95 took part in the 10th Annual Pay It Forward veterans event.  “I thought this event was absolutely unbelievable,” said Fritz Kruschel, a 95 year old veteran from the Twin Cities area who attended this weeks event.

Over 80 veterans took part in this annual event.  The purpose of Pay It Forward is to honor, recognize and celebrate all veterans.  This week did exactly that.

“Every year there is magic, and this year was no different,” explained Joe Henry, Executive Director of Lake of the Woods Tourism, a founding member, organizer and emcee of the Pay It Forward event.  “This year, we had a nice variety of veterans including men and women, young and old, and all branches of the military, with the exception of the Space Force.  Veterans came from as far as New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, the Dakotas, Wisconsin and of course, Minnesota,” explained Henry.

Fritz’s older brother is the 98 year old, Bill Kruschel, was also very impressed.  “There is nothing that can compare to this in my life.  Never in 98 years have I ever experienced anything like this.  It was the greatest group of people I have been with that makes it even better.”  Both Fritz and his brother Bill are Navy veterans.

The two brothers sat on the back of a charter boat in the middle of Lake of the Woods reflecting on the event.  With the cooler full of walleyes, saugers and perch, younger brother Fritz was a bit sentimental as he held on to his brothers arm.  “You know, and I think back, it might be Bill’s and I last time fishing, and if it is, we just had one great time.”  He continued, “You couldn’t explain it any better.  It’s going to be hard to tell our friends back home what a great time we had.”

Joining the Kruschel brothers on the charter boat was Tom Kramine, Chairman of the Minnesota Elks Veterans Services.  “Whenever you can get 88 brothers and sisters together for a few days of healing, I will take it any day and this is a great area to do it.”  Kramine was recently chosen as the Elks Veterans Service Volunteer of the Year and will be representing the Elks Veterans on the Elks float in the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, CA  on New Year’s Day.  Kramine is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard.

This year’s event started out on Monday evening at Sportsman’s Lodge.  After a prayer and pledge of allegiance, the veterans enjoyed a delicious chicken dinner (compliments of US Foods).  Guest speaker and veteran, Phil Krabbe from the Wounded Warrior Project shared his story of hitting rock bottom and how he fought back.  Krabbe wasn’t what you might think of as a speaker, but that isn’t what the group needed.  Krabbe is a warrior who went through some very challenging times and situations and is thankful to be where he is today.

Tuesday, veterans eat breakfast at the resort they are staying.  Just before 8am, they board their assigned charter boat for a day of walleye fishing on the Walleye Capital of the World.  Good numbers of fish were caught.  Some had limits, others had a good start to limits.

That evening, the group met at River Bend Resort for a walleye fish fry.  The group was set up on the patio overlooking the Rainy River.  The night was perfect, with a few geese starting to move around and a million dollar view.

Tom Goodrich, the leader of Fishing For Life was the keynote speaker this evening.  Goodrich was a strong leader in the military and has carried that skill forward to civilian life assisting others navigate life.

A longtime partner with Lake of the Woods Tourism on the Pay It Forward event since the beginning is Fishing For Life.  The organization serves youth, families, veterans and communities through fishing and outdoor programs.

The group also heard from a member of the Eagle’s Healing Nest out of Sauk Centre, MN.  He discussed the Nest and what it does for vets.

Tom Kramine of the Elks Veterans Services also shared briefly more about how Elks assists veterans and how veterans can get involved.

Wednesday also started out with a good breakfast followed by a second day of walleye fishing.  There is a bit of competition for the top three largest walleyes and largest pike with some nice prizes that go along with them.  This year, the top walleye was 28.5 inches and the top pike, 34 inches.

Aaron Ojard was a medic in the Navy with more than 20 years of service.  He shared with the group some of the extremely challenging experiences he faced while treating and saving the lives of soldiers along with Afghan locals, from kids to adults, over in Kandahar, Afghanistan.  Memories he experienced don’t just go away and he shared how he deals with the memories and how he faces life.

The event was filled with much comradery amongst the variety of veterans.  The connections that were formed and grew throughout the few days was strong and meaningful.

Thursday morning, veterans wake up, have a nice breakfast, say their goodbyes and depart.

The Pay It Forward event is possible through the generous donations of many Lake of the Woods resorts, various businesses and organizations.  The event, in some cases, saves lives.  In most cases, it changes lives for the better.  It is hard to explain the magic that happens each year, but there is definitely magic.  As one veteran put it, “Something about this event is just special compared to anything I have ever experienced.  I am so thankful to have attended.”

If you know of a veteran, perhaps yourself, that would benefit from a Pay It Forward veterans fishing trip on Lake of the Woods, download an application at the Pay It Forward website, www.PayItForwardLOW.org or email Joe Henry at joe.henry@LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.

Pay It Forward website

Lake of the Woods Tourism

Lodging and fishing guides, charters and fish houses

Ladies!—Are you planning your Ice Fishing Trip yet? Don’t just send the guys out on that lifetime adventure of fishing the waters of Lake of the Woods. Plan your trip now for the Ladies adventure through one of 50+ resorts to choose from at this fine destination.

Yes, anglers come in all genders, ages, shapes and sizes to Lake of the Woods. This renown fishery is located at the top of Minnesota at Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods is the largest freshwater lake next to the great lakes showcasing 317,000 acres in Minnesota. It is international as it shares its waters with both the United States and Canada. Lake of the Woods has 65,000 miles of shoreline and 14,552 islands.

Lake of the Woods is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™. These waters are famous for their fishing, hunting, wildlife and recreational opportunities. Open water fishing remains the favorite for most people, however, hard water (ice fishing) has become a main event of the winter season featuring thousands of fish houses and wheelhouses taking up residence on the frozen waters. It’s a sight to behold as you approach the landscape of an actual fishing village.

So…ladies….why not gather your friends and have yourself a great vacation being a lady angler. There are professional women’s fishing groups that have been formed and it’s no longer a novelty for ladies to enjoy this fine sport. One of our local resorts here hosts a Girls Gone Fishing group each year. The event draws from many localities and be sure to know that the ladies have a great time fishing and also gathering for other activities.

As a matter of fact, many anglers bring their young girls with them as they teach them the skills of fishing for walleye and other species of fish on both open and hard water. Young ladies feel the thrill of catching their first small or trophy fish and it gets imbedded in their memories as one of the greatest experiences ever. Remember, this doesn’t have to be a once in a lifetime experience. Why not make it an annual event or better yet summer and winter season experiences.

Bachelorette parties are becoming more and more popular during the winter season.  Whether ladies are staying in nice sleeper fish houses or ice fishing during the day in a day house and actually staying in a hotel or cabins on shore, there are lots of memories made.

There is not a lack of fun things to do in the area.  In addition to ice fishing, shopping, cute coffee shops and a wide variety of bars and taverns, some with live music.

Don’t forget about the two bars located out on the frozen Lake of the Woods.  The Igloo Bar is out of Zippel Bay Resort and the Angry Walleye is out of Cyrus Resort.

Now ladies…. Ice fishing these days has taken on a new look. Most outfitters are seeing that ladies are taking to the sport more and more so they have equipped their ice “shacks” to accommodate whatever a lady needs.

1. Bathrooms on the Ice.  Most ladies want the availability of a bathroom. Check √! Fish houses now have restrooms available.  Some are built right into the “shack”, others have porta-potties on the ice near your fish house.  The point is, there are some nice options.  Check ahead with your resort or outfitter to see what your options are.
2. Cooking Facilities.  Many women want some cooking facilities. Check √! Most houses have either a full size or apartment size range that runs on propane complete with over and even some cook ware. No need for refrigerators out there but the house usually has ample supply of paper towels and toilet paper.
3. A nice clean environment.  Most ladies want cleanliness…even while fishing. Check √! Our outfitters have been very careful to maintain a clean environment to come into. All houses have been sanitized after each use and any refuse disposed of.  Normally when you arrive to your heated fish house, things have been spruced up for your arrival.
4. Keep me Warm!  Ladies want to know they’ll be warm. Check √! Each shack is heated by propane furnaces and the heat is turned on so the fish house is warm upon your arrival.  You control the thermostat during your stay and whether you are in a sleeper fish house, hotel room or cabin, you can keep the temp as warm as you would like.
5. Safe Ice.  For anyone who hasn’t ice fished much, man or woman, people need to know the ice is safe.  Check √! Our guides are incredible at keeping their guests safe. They stake and groom ice roads and trails from the formation of ice.  Each and every day, they do ice checks prior to visitors traveling out.  Depending upon the resort or outfitter, you either drive out to your fish house on a plowed and marked ice road, or, the resort will transport you to your fish house.  Safety is #1.

Ladies, do you want to rough it out when ice fishing on Lake of the Woods. Most of our resorts also have sleeper fish houses available. They are larger houses and can often sleep up to eight people. Bunk beds are built in and ready for the bedding that you bring with you.

Some ladies would like to return to a lodge and dine there eating their catch of the day. Fish Fry! Spend the day on the ice fishing and then take your catch in for a great meal of fish? Yes, our resorts do a wonderful job as guides bring your catch in, clean them and then deliver them to the kitchen and prepare an incredible meal using your fine catch of the day.Evening entertainment is available often.

There are a nice variety of lodging and fish houses.  Shop our resorts and their amenities at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging and check out all their facilities as well as what kind of ice houses they have.

Are you ready ladies??? Check out availability now at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging-availability-request and call your friends and make your plans. Show the gentlemen that ladies are also experts at the sport of fishing.

Safety is always the key word at Lake of the Woods. Winter seems to have arrived early and the ground is covered with a few inches of snow. Ice skims are showing up on the bays in the area and that makes Enthused Ice Fishing Anglers Excited!!!

However, today is the time to speak of safety! Because the sport is so popular, people are always itching to get on the ice. We will CAUTION you though to not get ahead of Mother Nature. She has a mind of her own and dictates ice forming and temperatures.

Minnesota DNR puts out great guidelines of safety on the ice. Please check out their sight but here’s some info that you must adhere to.

For new, clear ice only

UNDER 4″ – STAY OFF
4″ – Ice fishing or other activities on foot
5″ – 7″ – Snowmobile or ATV
8″ – 12″ – Car or small pickup
12″ – 15″ – Medium truck

Don’t take chances!!  There is always someone who is the first one to walk out, take out an ATV or drive a vehicle.  Let the resorts who are trained, who are on the ice daily and have years of experience guide you in what can be used and what is too heavy for the ice conditions. Resort owners, guides, and those who build the ice roads are always ready to give information to keep everyone who visits this area safe.

Here’s another item to speak about regarding safety!!

White tail deer season is upon us and hunters are scouting the land looking for indications of deer travel and also getting all their gear together for the hunt. Consider Lake of the Woods for your fall hunting destination.

One of the most common way hunters get hurt is by falling from a tree stand.  Many of these falls happen getting in or out of a tree stand.  It is important to be connected to the tree at all times.  Take a few extra minutes this year to take that one extra step for safety!  Your life and well being may depend upon it.

Tree Stand Safety!
1. Always carry a cell phone and keep it on yourself. Don’t put it in a pack that you may take off and hang in the tree because if you fall you want your phone readily available to call for help.
2. Always install and maintain tree stands with at least one other person.
3. Check all your steps and straps and replace anything that is worn or weathered.
4. Always wear a full body harness when in a tree stand. Wear it properly.
5. Always use a rope to pull up your gun or bow.
6. Be aware of your surroundings and never shoot towards another hunter.

Gun safety:
1. Become familiar with your firearm. Know how to carry it, load it, unload it, and know what to expect when you pull the trigger.
2. Always assume every gun is loaded and always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Never point your gun at another person.
3. Never put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to shoot.
4. Your firearm has a safety. Keep it in the ‘On’ position until you intend to shoot.
5. Be sure of your target and what is behind it before pulling the trigger.

There are so many different ways for a hunter to get injured or worse during the deer season, but more injuries and deaths are caused by falls from tree stands during the deer season than any other type of accident.

Wear Blaze Orange for Safety!
The visible portion of a cap and outer clothing above the waist, excluding sleeves and gloves, must be blaze orange when hunting or trapping during any open season where deer may be taken by firearms (including special hunts, early antlerless, youth seasons and muzzleloader). Blaze orange includes a camouflage pattern of at least 50 percent blaze orange within each square foot.

Some safety tips for nonhunters:

• Wear bright clothing. Choose colors that stand out, like red, orange or green, and avoid white, blacks, browns, earth-toned greens and animal-colored clothing. Blaze orange vests and hats are advisable.
• Don’t forget to protect pets. Get an orange vest for an accompanying dog.
• Make noise. Whistle, sing or carry on a conversation when walking to alert hunters that someone is in the area. Sound carries well across woods and forests, and hunters should listen for any sounds of animal movement.
• Be courteous. Don’t make unnecessary noise to disturb wildlife. Avoid confrontations.
• Make presence known. If a nonhunter hears shooting, the person should raise their voice and let hunters know they’re in vicinity.
• Know the dates of hunting seasons. Learn about where and when hunting is taking place.
• If hunting makes a nonhunter uneasy, the nonhunter should choose a hike in a location where hunting is not allowed.

Lake of the Woods loves to have visitors come to the area whether fishing, riding ATVs, hunting or discovering the natural beauty of the area. However, it’s always about safety in all that you do. Enjoy your outdoor adventures!!

For more information see: www.lakeofthewooodsmn.com

For lodging see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodgingg

See our FaceBook page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn