Banquet Raises Money, Fires up Hockey Players

The Owatonna Blue Line Club and boys hockey team hosted the annual Windsor Chop dinner and auction Saturday. Owatonna High School athletic hall of fame member Mark Kristo spoke to the players about key elements of being a teammate.

Kristo played in the early days of Owatonna High School hockey. He still cherishes those memories and says one of his current best friends, Dan Boeke of Owatonna, was a teammate of his with the Indians and at Bemidji State. Kristo played for Dudley Otto, Owatonna's first coach, under much different conditions than current players enjoy and before the time of the Four Seasons Centre. Home games were played in Faribault in a building with a roof, but with open ends.

Kristo told players that a good work ethic beats talent many times. He told players that a team is made up of players who know and fill their role within the group. He said he is looking forward to the 50th-anniversary celebration of Owatonna high school hockey in 2018. He said that will be a time to connect the original players with today's skaters.

The fundraiser supports the boys' high school hockey program through a variety of silent and live auction items, in addition to raffle contests.

Varsity coach Josh Storm introduced the members of the 2017-18 team. OHS was coming off a strong performance on Friday in their season opener that ended with a 6-4 loss to Apple Valley. The Huskies will open their home schedule Thursday, December 7 against Albert Lea.