Skip to content

Latest

Monsters hire special teams coordinator

The Minnesota Monsters have hired legendary veteran football executive and longtime coach Jaysen “Yogi” Howard-Smith as the team’s special teams coordinator. Howard-Smith arrives with a uniquely broad resume across the 50-yard game and the football industry, having served in roles ranging from player personnel manager and head coach to

Members Public
Obit: Judy Sandstrom

Obit: Judy Sandstrom

The HowieHanson.com publishes obituaries free of charge. For decades, obituary pages have served as a true community record, a place to honor lives, share stories and preserve local history. We are committed to keeping this tradition available to every family. Submit obituaries to: Duluth@aol.com.

Members Public

Monsters hire prized line coach

With Derrizett Croop coaching both offensive and defensive fronts, Minnesota also gains a unified voice — consistent technique standards, shared terminology and a system built around player development rather than roster churn.

Members Public
Obit: Peter Niss

Obit: Peter Niss

The HowieHanson.com publishes obituaries free of charge. For decades, obituary pages have served as a true community record, a place to honor lives, share stories and preserve local history. We are committed to keeping this tradition available to every family. Submit obituaries to: Duluth@aol.com.

Members Public

Obit: Dean Gagne

The HowieHanson.com publishes obituaries free of charge. For decades, obituary pages have served as a true community record, a place to honor lives, share stories and preserve local history. We are committed to keeping this tradition available to every family. Submit obituaries to: Duluth@aol.com.

Members Public

Monsters sign DL, release WR

The Minnesota Monsters AF1 team reshuffled its roster this week, signing a Division I defensive lineman and releasing a wide receiver. Minnesota signed Shaki Holines, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman from UMass, on Dec. 3. Holines played four seasons at UMass, working primarily along the defensive line and producing steadily

Members Public

Meet the Monsters: Javonte Haynes

Javonte Haynes, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back, returns to the Minnesota Monsters as one of the most productive defensive players from the former Harbor Monsters roster, bringing championship pedigree and a reputation as a ball hawk in the secondary. The former Indiana University of Pennsylvania standout earned co-MVP honors in

Members Public
Mountain Lion spotted in Duluth
Duluth Police Department. Submitted

Mountain Lion spotted in Duluth

"As with any wild animal, we want to remind the community that you should exercise caution in their presence and never approach them." -- Duluth Police Department

Members Public

Prep Hockey Notebook

Hermantown shook off a slow start and scored three unanswered goals in the third period to beat Rock Ridge 3-1 in boys high school hockey Tuesday night at Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia. Senior forward Bode Madill pulled the Hawks even early in the final period, and juniors

Members Public
Howie: Arena football battles history and perception as new and old leagues try to chart a stable future
Ja’Vonte Johnson is the Minnesota Monsters' returning starting quarterback, who led the former Duluth Harbor Monsters to back-to-back league championships. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Howie: Arena football battles history and perception as new and old leagues try to chart a stable future

Note: This is the second column in six-part series on the state of arena football — from the sport’s bruised past to its uncertain future — with a sharp focus on AF1, the upstart league the Duluth-based Minnesota Monsters will join when they relaunch in Spring 2026.

Members Public

Prep Report, Tuesday Scoreboard

Hermantown spotted Rock Ridge a lead in boys hockey Tuesday night in Virginia and then did what the Hawks usually do — finished the game on their terms. Down 1-0 entering the third, the Hermantown ripped off three straight and walked out with a 3-1 win. Bode Madill got them even,

Members Public

Monsters sign two defenders, release DB Mason

Arena Football One saw steady roster movement this week, as Minnesota continued reshaping its defense, Oregon added an SEC-tested defensive back and Beaumont released an offensive lineman. Minnesota signed linebacker/defensive lineman Robert Fuentes, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound product of Central Oklahoma, along with defensive back Jalen Hicks, a 5-9, 175-pound

Members Public
Obit: Teresa Niven
Teresa Niven. Submitted

Obit: Teresa Niven

The HowieHanson.com publishes obituaries free of charge. For decades, obituary pages have served as a true community record, a place to honor lives, share stories and preserve local history. We are committed to keeping this tradition available to every family. Submit obituaries to: Duluth@aol.com.

Members Public