Township, businesses brace for Hockey Day Minnesota crowd

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

Hockey Day Minnesota 2023 won’t just be a four-day marathon of hockey fun for White Bear Township and the surrounding communities Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 26-29.

It will also be a prime time for the township and area businesses to show what they’re made of.

When White Bear Township first got the OK to host the annual hockey shindig, Administrator Pat Christopherson said the community knew it’d be a big public relations opportunity to show off Polar Lakes Park and the hockey culture of the area.

The event will also illuminate the township’s business community, which Christopherson noted doesn’t enjoy the limelight often since it doesn't have a central downtown area.

“The economic part of it is that this is going to show everybody what we got here and what a thriving environment and community we have for the business side of things,” Christopherson said.

“Massive PR. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Corey Roberts, who’s on the Hockey Day Minnesota 2023 volunteer committee, agreed with that sentiment.

“From Day One, one of our values as a committee was to really showcase the entire area and all of the unique businesses and natural resources,” Roberts said.

Carbone’s Pizzeria & Pub, located at 1350 Highway 96 E., Suite No. 7, is eager to get in on the Hockey Day action.

Besides serving food and drinks at the Treasure Island Warming

Housing that will be set up at Polar Lakes Park, the restaurant is providing a free shuttle service Saturday in coordination with Jimmy’s Food & Drink and Manitou Bar & Kitchen.

Carbone’s will also have a heated tent for extra seating outside its site on Highway 96 to accommodate the larger-than-normal influx of visitors to town over the four days.

“My husband and I are super excited for this,” said Carbone’s co-owner Liz Boleen, referring to the restaurant’s other co-owner, Steve.

“We're not only bringing people into town here but for people to see us who may not know about us, who maybe live in the area and just don't get out, don't realize how big we really are and the things we have to offer,” Liz said.

Besides sausage, pepperoni and cheese pizzas at the Treasure Island Warming House, Carbone’s will serve breakfast pizzas Saturday and Sunday morning.

Carbone’s will maintain normal hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday but will have extended kitchen hours Saturday and Sunday. The hours Saturday will be 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., while Sunday they’ll be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Lunds & Byerlys at 4630 Centerville Road, which borders the township and is a few minutes south of Polar Lakes Park, is also getting into the Hockey Day spirit.

“We’re looking forward to all the excitement in the area. It’s going to bring a lot of traffic and excitement to the area, which is going to be fun to see,” store manager Al Gartner said.

All of the Hockey Day games will be televised in the store’s Mezz bar and dining area. Beer and wine specials will be available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday there. Additionally, there will be food available in the store’s hot food bars.

Singer and grocery worker Jordan Krolak, who performs as Jordan Michael, will also provide live entertainment from 5-6:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday in the Mezz.

Furthermore, hockey jerseys have been hung up in the middle of the store. Employees such as cashiers and baggers will wear jerseys, too, while working the front end of the store during Hockey Day.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, a “Puck Walk” will be held in the store every hour using laminated pucks placed around the building.

Gartner said it will function like a cakewalk game, with prizes up for grabs for winners.

Gartner also pointed out the irony in the fact that he graduated from Hill-Murray High School, as did about half his employees at the store. A highly anticipated Hockey Day game between the Hill-Murray boys hockey team and the White Bear Lake boys team is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Kind of a twist there,” Gartner said with a chuckle. “But of course, we’re going to support the store and the community.”

Bill Foussard, owner of the White Bear Country Inn, said his hotel will be full of guests staying in town for Hockey Day Minnesota.

He added that the weekend will be “exciting for the whole town.”

“A lot of effort has gone in, and it's going to be good for downtown White Bear,” Foussard said. “It's great for the whole area, the township. It’s exciting. We're such a hockey town; it just complements what we are.”

Bosch to retire; district begins search for unified high school principal

Don Bosch, principal at WBLAHS-South Campus, has announced he will retire after the 2023-24 school year. He had been selected to be principal of the unified high school beginning in fall 2024 when the new campus opens.

Bosch began his career in the district in 2009 as principal at North Campus, and moved to South Campus in 2017.

“Thank you to Mr. Bosch for more than 13 years of service to the students, families and staff at both campuses of White Bear Lake Area High School. His efforts and focus on helping students lead their learning have positioned our students to be courageous, passionate learners and leaders,” said Dr. Wayne Kazmierczak, superintendent. “His calm and steady leadership have also served the district well, with his continued dedication to professional growth throughout his career making him a role model amongst his team and his peers.”

The search for a principal of the new unified high school has begun, and the district hopes to name a principal later this spring.

Recognize an exceptional teacher

Nominations from community members, parents, students and colleagues are sought for the White Bear Lake Educators' Teacher of the Year program. The deadline to nominate a teacher for the honor is Feb. 10 by 4 p.m. Find more information and the nomination form at isd624.org. Six finalists will be chosen and a winner announced in May.

Student News

The following local students were named to the dean’s list or received academic honors at a college or university for the 2022 fall semester:

Brescia University: Noah McClain of White Bear Lake.

Marquette University: Madison Carroll of White Bear Lake.

Minnesota State University-Moorhead: Daisy Vaching of Vadnais Heights.

North Dakota State College of Science: Nicholas Distad of White Bear Lake.

St. Cloud State University: Angelina Donahue-Borgen of Mahtomedi, Zac Chapman of White Bear Township and Quinlan McCollow of Willernie.

University of Wisconsin-Madison: John Diffley, Will Garry, Katherine Swanson, Anna Ardito and Olivia Decker, all of Mahtomedi; Claire Odmark, Eric Schmidt and TJ Turinske, all of White Bear Lake.

University of Wisconsin-Superior: Kaitlyn Stender of White Bear Lake.