If you’re a sports fan in the Twin Ports, your Saturday mornings likely start with coffee and The Fan 106.5 FM. That’s where Brian Prudhomme and Dave Cook host Northland Sports Page, a program nearing its eighth year that’s become a fixture for local sports followers.
Prudhomme and Cook cover everything from the Vikings and Timberwolves to UMD hockey and high school rivalries. They mix sharp analysis with personal anecdotes, appealing to longtime fans and younger listeners alike. It’s a rare blend that keeps people tuned in from start to finish.
The show continues a tradition of authentic local sports talk once filled by “The Average Guys,” a homegrown PACT-TV favorite that also drew a loyal following. Both programs thrive on local flavor, inside jokes and genuine community ties.
A regular voice on the Saturday broadcast is Dave Hoops of Hoops Brewing. This week, Hoops joined the show ahead of his brewery’s eighth anniversary celebration, dubbed “Hoopla 8.” Roughly half of Hoops Brewing’s staff has been there since day one — a testament to its tight-knit culture.
“It’s been an amazing ride,” Hoops told listeners. “We’ve had incredible support. Sure, we make good beer, but we’ve always focused on being a welcoming, community place.”
Asked what he’s learned over eight years, Hoops pointed to trusting employees.
“Don’t micromanage. Hire smart, support everyone, be honest and transparent,” he said.
Saturday’s show also featured outgoing Duluth East activities director Shawn Roed. Prudhomme, a former student of Roed’s, helped steer the discussion through Roed’s long tenure overseeing more than three dozen programs.
“It’s a demanding job, mentally and physically,” Roed said, noting the average tenure for an AD in the state is just four years. “I wanted to look in the mirror at the end of the day and know I did right by kids.”
Roed, East’s longest-serving activities director, plans to return to teaching and coach youth sports.
Throughout, Prudhomme and Cook asked informed, thoughtful questions — the kind that give guests space to share more than just surface-level answers.
Of course, local sports fans get plenty of weekday coverage, too. Bruce Ciskie hosts a daily show on KDAL 610 AM and 103.9 FM at 10 a.m., blending analysis, interviews and updates on everything from Vikings football to UMD Bulldogs hockey. Ciskie’s program adds a timely weekday pulse that pairs well with the broader weekend dives of Northland Sports Page.
Together, these shows anchor the region’s sports conversation. They do more than recap scores. They introduce local voices, share behind-the-scenes stories and explain why sports continue to matter so deeply across the Northland.
If you haven’t tuned in lately, consider making it part of your routine. Catch Northland Sports Page on Saturday mornings, then Ciskie during the week. You’ll come away more informed, more connected — and reminded just how rich the local sports scene still is.
— Howie is the publisher of HowieHanson.com – the region’s first and only full-time blogger – and a lifelong Duluthian who cares deeply about the stories that shape his community.
