Jay Richards

Another action packed weekend. Sunday was gorgeous. A great day to be on the trails. Managed to sneak a quick ski in before heading up to a last minute add on game in Moorhead. Even though we played their #2 team, it still felt good to beat the spuds 9-2 on their ice. I had a potato hid in my pocket for the player of the game which was Andrew who notched a hat trick after a roughing penalty and he didn't quite know what to think at first. If you went to DL in the 80's and before,... the hockey rivarly was intense, always spuds thrown on the ice and minnows, dead fish and even a northern I saw once. Arena would be packed solid. Fights in the parking lots..... Saw Bobby Caulfield who is coaching at Moorhead now. His kid was playing on the Moorhead team. He was one of the first players drafted out of DL. Couldn't quite grasp the big M on his coat. I wonder if Scott Olson knows. Anyways, things got funky today with the weather which there is nothing we can do about. Once Mother Nature finishes dealing the cards, we take the hand and play it.




Saturday morning got the grooming cranking at 4am so I could be done to finish up some other chores then take Jon, Coach Disse and four other of Jon's team mates to Crosby Ironton. Passing through CI, noticed a ice fishing derby going on. Had to take a picture for the friends in Mexico. You tell them you walk on the ice, they think you are nuts. You tell them you can drive on the lake and they think you are crazy. Show them a picture like above and they just can't figure it out. Park Rapids had 2500 for their derby last weekend I saw.

Some serious packing of the hockey bags. After one hour of driving, the kids just get goofy. Found out which player has pimples on his butt, who's girlfriend has three zits what else did I learn......Yikes! The CIA club put up a good game. Got back to the rink and watched part of Bantam A tourney w/Hopkins and Blaine game. Was in between the parents of both teams. Wow. Intense. Asked them if they knew Jack Hinkens and they did. DL Varsity was playing in other rink vs Little Falls. Watched Ben Hanowski notch 4 assits in first period alone and he ended up with 7 points. Good player. He will probably break the all time scoring record for the state in a few games. Got home took care of some stuff and then went out for a beautiful moonlight ski until midnight. Up at 5am to watch that same moon set and then sun rise with trees flocked with frost. Perfect morning.



Saturday's warm temps slid the snow off the cathouse. Waited about 20 minutes than groomed it up. Compacted base 3-4 feet now.
Not good when the PB has to hit the driveway. The guest leaving today all made it out. Just one car stuck. Road was like a ice rink. Jon skated on it this morning then I made four passes to break things up and make it passable. Hope it holds through the night.

No school today for the kids with the ice in the morning and roads just brutal so Jens came along.


Snow sliding off the south end of the lodge this afternoon but too much to go up with groomer and pack out.


The warmer weather got Jens itching to ride. He was riding on the road before grooming. I don't know how he kept it upright. Jake and I were shaking our heads.
Jack having fun on some spring feed ice. Water tables super high so springs seep water and ice is forming here. Might go over our driveway.


Jon and Jens skating on the rink this afternoon with puddles on top. Hopefully the water freezes down before any new snow. Guess rather have the snow and deal with rink later. Family moonlight skate last night. It was awesome. Jon and I closed things down late. Hard to get off at 30 degrees and cozy feeling outside and full moon shining nicely.
Skiing was just fine this afternoon. Jake and I skied light to check things out and was good springlike. Felt like the end of March.