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Howie: Northstar Ford Arena opens January 3

For the broader community, Northstar Ford Arena is a gathering place — the kind that small towns understand better than anyone. Rinks aren’t just buildings here. They’re living rooms. Story banks. Time machines. They hold memories whether they’re supposed to or not.

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Hermantown Sports Notebook

Hermantown delivered a three-sport statement Friday night, with the Hawks’ boys hockey, boys basketball and girls basketball teams all turning in convincing wins. The Class A top-ranked Hawks hockey team knocked off host Maple Grove 7-4. Defenseman Gabe Swenson had five assists. Bryce Francisco stopped 25 shots in goal for

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Howie: Monsters to move to Amsoil
DECC Marketing Director Lucie Amundsen introduced Minnesota Monsters minority owner and general manager Steve Walters at a press event on Thursday at Amsoil Arena. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Howie: Monsters to move to Amsoil

Duluth has always supported teams that show up honestly and invest consistently. The formula hasn’t changed. Don’t overpromise. Don’t disappear when things get hard. Build something people can recognize as theirs. When that happens, this city responds — not with blind loyalty, but with earned trust.

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Howie: Hermantown blitzes Denfeld, 9-2
Hermantown senior assistant captain Ford Skytta. Guy Meeker / HermantownNews.com

Howie: Hermantown blitzes Denfeld, 9-2

Denfeld had seen this movie before. Hermantown coach Patrick Andrews reminded his team before the Lake Superior Conference game that the Heritage Center has been tricky for his team in recent years — ties, slow starts, even a three-goal hole a season ago. This time, there was no messing around.

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Red-hot Hermantown to visit Duluth Denfeld on Tuesday night

Four-time Minnesota Class A boys hockey state champion Hermantown closed a demanding stretch of its schedule with its most complete performance Saturday night, scoring four unanswered goals in the third period to pull away for a 7-3 victory over nonconference Rosemount at Hermantown Arena. The Hawks led 3-2 entering the

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Hawks Sports Events This Week

Monday, Dec. 15 Hermantown’s boys eighth-grade basketball team plays at Ordean East Middle School at 4:30 p.m. The girls C basketball team hosts Superior at Hermantown Middle School at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16 The Proctor/Hermantown boys varsity Nordic skiing team competes against Grand Rapids

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Howie: Will C.J. Ham retire after this season?
C.J. Ham and his wife Stephanie at a the 2024 Walter Peyton Man of the Year event, where he was a finalist. The Friendly West End native is a finalist again in 2025. C.J. Ham's Facebook page

Howie: Will C.J. Ham retire after this season?

Ham will show up somewhere that needs someone dependable, respected, and comfortable doing the hard work without applause. Which, if we’re being honest, means he’ll still fit right in around here.

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2026 Top-10 Not-Too-Early 50 Yard Football Rankings

1. Vegas Knight Hawks (IFL) 2. Albany Firebirds (AF1) 3. Green Bay Blizzard (IFL) 4. Nashville Kats (AF1) 5. Arizona Rattlers (IFL) 6. Minnesota Monsters (AF1) 7. Fishers Freight (IFL) 8. Orlando Pirates (IFL) 9. Quad City Steamwheelers (IFL) 10. Tulsa Oilers (IFL) "Vegas has to be considered the

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Howie: Hughes trade, DECC to host World Junior Championship exhibitions
Amsoil Arena. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Howie: Hughes trade, DECC to host World Junior Championship exhibitions

This is a bet that Hughes ages cleanly, that his body cooperates, that the cap continues to rise, and that the surrounding cast can be managed without suffocation. It’s a bet that Minnesota can finally pull off the superstar contract that doesn’t end in regret.

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Monsters release 2026 schedule
Monsters 2025 season. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Monsters release 2026 schedule

Minnesota’s home schedule begins in Week 7, when Nashville visits. Kentucky comes to Minnesota in Week 8.

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Hermantown Sports Notebook

Beau Christy and Ford Skytta each scored twice to lead Hermantown to a 7-2 victory over Mahtomedi on Friday night at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center. Hermantown scored three goals in both the second and third periods. Kole Lendzyk and Bode Madill each contributed a goal and an assist

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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.

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