SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Okay. I don’t know what my deal is, but I have some wild dreams when I eat ice cream before I go to bed. The latest one was on Monday night. I (the former PeeWee C Hockey player) had a dream that I was playing hockey for the Crookston Pirates, and we beat East Grand Forks Green Wave at the state hockey tournament. I scored two Pirate goals and was unstoppable in the third period. I got interviewed by Kevin Falness and yes, I was 48 years old playing against high school kids. Parker Kelly was outstanding in the net.
I have no idea what that means. I think my ice cream was spiked with drugs or something. Hopefully, it is a premonition of things to come this winter. So….yeah…..besides that, it has been a normal week!
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All Crookston Boys Soccer Alumni, you are cordially invited to participate in a CHS Alumni Soccer match at the new KROX Stadium on August 16, 10:00 am. Any inquiries, please contact Coach Boike at lonboike@isd593.org.
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The American Legion D2 Northwest Sub-State North tournament begins today (Thursday) with the play-in games.
The standings ended like this –
North Pod
1. Warroad
2. Thief River Falls
3. Roseau
4. Red Lake Falls
5. Middle River
6. Stephen-Argyle
South Pod – (Twin Valley/UH was moved to the south substate for playoffs)
1. Crookston
2. Ada
3. Fosston
4. Fertile
5. Win-E-Mac
Play-in games (at high seed at 6:00 PM)
Middle River at Red Lake Falls – ON KROX at 5:30 PM
Stephen-Argyle at Roseau
Win-E-Mac at Fertile
First and second round games – Friday, July 18 at Fosston
11:00 – Roseau/Stephen-Argyle winner vs Ada – on KROX if Stephen-Argyle
1:30 PM – Fertile/Win-E-Mac winner vs Warroad – on KROX if Fertile
4:00 PM – Game 1 loser vs Game 2 loser (loser out)
6:30 PM – Game 1 winner vs Game 2 winner
First and second round games – Saturday, July 19 at Fosston
11:00 AM – Fosston vs Thief River Falls
1:30 PM – Crookston vs RLF/Middle River winner – on KROX 1:00 PM
4:00 PM – Game 1 loser vs Game 2 loser (loser out)
6:30 PM – Game 1 winner vs Game 2 winner
Finals – Sunday, July 20 at Fosston
11:00 AM – Loser out game
1:30 PM – Loser out game
4:00 PM – Third place game – both teams advance
6:30 PM – Championship game – both teams advance
The Northwest South Sub-state tournament will begin on Friday. All the teams will play one game on the first day. The schedule is below.
The Northwest Sub-State tournament will be held Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, July 27 at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
The state tournament will be held in Ely August 1-3.
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Warroad Girls Hockey Goalie Payton Rolli has committed to play hockey for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Payton Rolli led the state with 26 saves as a Junior this past season. She had a 1.15 goals against average (4th in the state) and a .943 save percentage (7th in the state).
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Congratulations to Stephen-Argyle Storm and current NDSU student-athlete Zach McGlynn on being named to the Academic All-American Track and Field second team!
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The University of Minnesota Crookston Men’s Basketball Program announced the signings of six newcomers for the 2025-26 season. The Golden Eagles added Donez Lindsey (Fr., G, Stockton, Calif.), Owen Chervestad (Fr., 6-1, G, Oklee), Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (6-8, Jr., F, Grand Island, Neb.), J.D. Roberts (6-8, So., F, Parkville, Mo.), Alijah Washington (6-3, Jr., G, San Jose, Calif.) and Quincy Everson (6-2, Fr., Tacoma, Wash.). The six signees join two November signees in Spencer Swenson (F, St. Cloud) and Brady Westphal (G, West Fargo, N.D.). The Golden Eagle roster is currently at 15.
Donez Lindsey (Fr., G, Stockton, Calif., / Lincoln High School)
Lindsey makes his way to Minnesota Crookston after a standout prep career at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif. Lindsey was a team captain on his state championship team, the first championship in program history…Lindsey has been named to numerous all-tournament teams and was named to the first-team all-defense three separate times…He had multiple collegiate offers, but ultimately chose Minnesota Crookston.
Donez is the son of Tonya and Don Lindsey of Stockton, Calif…Lindsey is undecided on his major at Minnesota Crookston…He comes from a long line of standout basketball players…His mom, Tonya, played basketball at Morgan State and his brother, Donjae, played at East Los Angeles Community College, while his cousin, Wayman Tisdale, played basketball in the Big 12 at the University of Oklahoma.
Owen Chervestad (6’1, Fr., G, Oklee / Red Lake County Central High School)
The local product will join former rival Caiden Swenby as former Section 8 stars who is currently on the UMC team. Was a four-year starter at Red Lake County High School, as well as a four year all-conference performer…Chervestad has four school records and finished with 1,682 points and 865 assists…Was a two-year captain for the Rebels, who went to the Minnesota State Tournament for the first time in their co-op…Chervestad also played a big part on the Rebel baseball team, who just won their first state championship in baseball.
Owen is the son of Jill and Aaron Chervestad of Oklee…Plans to major in Ag Business while at Minnesota Crookston.
Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (6’8, Jr., F, Grand Island, Neb., / Central Community College)
In his sophomore season at Central Community College, Mukoma Jr., played in 29 games, averaging 17 points per game on 51.1 percent shooting from the floor and 38.1 percent from long range…Scored in double-digits in all but two games on the season, including nine games with 20 or more points…Shot 158 free throws on the year.
Kazadi is the son of Judy Sheeks and Kazadi Mukoma Sr., both of Grand Island, Neb…Kazadi plans to major in Business with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship while a student-athlete while at Minnesota Crookston.
J.D. Roberts (6-8, R-So., F, Parkville, Mo., / University of Central Arkansas)
J.D. comes to the University of Minnesota Crookston after spending a pair of seasons at the University of Central Arkansas…Played in seven total games in two seasons for the Bears, including six as a sophomore…Scored two points on the road at NCAA Tournament team Oklahoma…In high school at Park Hill South, he was named to the All-Conference first team twice and was named to the All-District team twice, as well…Averaged 14 points per game in high school…Is the second Division I transfer in the Beamish era, joining Reid Grant.
J.D. is the son of Sarah and Jason Roberts of Parkville, Mo…Is currently undecided on his major while a student-athlete at Minnesota Crookston.
Alijah Washington (6-3, Jr., G, San Jose, Calif. / Cal State-San Bernardino)
The second Californian in this class, Washington will join the Golden Eagles after a year at Cal State-San Bernardino…Prior to CSUSB, Washington was a standout at Foothill College, averaging 15 points per game in back-to-back seasons…He was named to the all-conference team twice and earned academic honors at Foothill College.
Alijah is the son of Dana Torrales and Lynn Washington and is planning to major in Psychology while being a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota Crookston…His dad, played for legendary head coach Bob Knight at the University of Indiana…He lived in Japan for a few years while his dad was playing professionally overseas.
Quincy Everson (6-2, Fr., Tacoma, Wash.)
Everson is originally from the great Northwest, Tacoma, Wash., but finished his prep career in Tempe, Ariz., and Millennium High School…Everson brings a number of accolades to Minnesota Crookston, including being named to the Varsity Freshman Honorable Mention back in 2022…Everson was named to the All-Conference First Team in back-to-back years…He helped his team to a Section 7 Championship in Arizona…Helped Millennium High School to 89 regular season wins over his four-year career…Everson was also a part of the Honor Roll in high school.
Everson is the son of Katy and Jerrell Everson of Tacoma…Plans to major in Business Administration while at the University of Minnesota Crookston…His dad, Jerrell, played basketball at Central Washington.
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USA Hockey has invited 42 players — including five goaltenders, 14 defensemen and 23 forwards – to participate in the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, set for July 25-Aug. 2 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.
The World Junior Summer Showcase, which will also include players from Canada, Finland and Sweden, serves as an evaluation for athletes seeking to make their respective national teams for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be held Dec. 26, 2025, through Jan. 5, 2026, in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The week-long World Junior Summer Showcase will include 11 international games and tickets to those contests are available by clicking here. For a complete WJSS schedule, click here.
Of the 42 players expected to attend, nine were part of the gold medal-winning 2025 U.S. National Junior Team including defensemen Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn./University of Wisconsin), Cole Hutson (North Barrington, Ill./Boston University), and Adam Kleber (Chaska, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth), along with forwards Trevor Connelly (Tustin, Calif./Henderson Silver Knights), Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass./Boston University), James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y./Boston College), Max Plante (Hermantown, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth), Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass./Boston College), and Brodie Ziemer(Hutchinson, Minn./University of Minnesota).
For the full U.S. roster, click here.
NOTES: Players representing 13 different states have been invited to the World Junior Summer Showcase. Minnesota leads the way with 14 players, followed by California (5), Illinois (5), New York (4), Michigan (3), Massachusetts (2), Pennsylvania (2), Vermont (2), Alaska (1), Missouri (1), Ohio (1), Texas (1) and Wisconsin (1) … All but three of the 42 invited players have been drafted by NHL teams, including nine first-round picks, 13 second-round selections and four players chosen in the third round. A total of 23 different NHL teams are represented among the drafted players with the LA Kings and New York Islanders leading the way with four selections each … John Vanbiesbrouck (Detroit, Mich./USA Hockey) is the general manager of the U.S. National Junior Team for the eighth straight year while Bob Motzko (Austin, Minn./University of Minnesota) is back as head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team for the third time … The U.S. has won the last two gold medals in the World Juniors and has medaled in eight of the last 10 IIHF World Junior Championships, its best medal stretch ever.
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There were 17 Minnesotans selected in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft June 27-28 in Los Angeles.
There were a total of 52 Americans drafted, and Minnesota’s 17 accounted for 33% of all Americans drafted.
13 different community hockey associations were represented
12 played Minnesota High School Hockey
11 different high schools were represented
MN Leads the Way — 52 Total American Players Drafted:
Minnesota — 17 (33% of all Americans drafted)
New York — 5 (10%)
Illinois — 5 (10%)
California — 4 (8%)
Michigan — 3 (6%)
Massachusetts — 2 (4%)
Texas — 2 (4%)
Wisconsin — 2 (4%)
23% of American players that have been drafted since 2000 are from Minnesota. Minnesota’s success in the 2025 NHL Draft is the norm, not the exception.
Minnesotans selected in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft –
FIRST ROUND –
Logan Hensler (pick 23) to Ottawa (NTDP/Hill-Murray)
Mason West (#29) to Chicago (Edina)
Cullen Potter (#32) to Calgary (NTDP/Arizona State and from Minneapolis)
ROUND TWO –
Jacob Romback (#35) to Nashville (Lincoln-USHL/Spring Lake Park HS)
Conrad Fondrk (#50) to New Jersey (NTDP and from White Bear Lake)
ROUND THREE –
Cooper Simpson (#79) to Boston (Shakopee HS)
Maceo Phillips (#80) to Calgary (NTDP/Benilde St. Margaret’s and from Wayzata)
Mason Moe (#90) to New Jersey (Madison-USHL/Eden Prairie HS)
Blake Vanek (#93) to Ottawa (Stillwater HS)
ROUND FOUR
Brent Solomon (#109) to Detroit (Champlin Park)
ROUND FIVE
Will Belle (#137) to Toronto (NTDP/Shattuck St. Mary’s)
Sam Laurila (#138) to Islanders (Fargo-USHL from Moorhead)
ROUND SIX
Ashton Schulz (#167) to Buffalo (Chicago-USHL/Minnetonka HS)
ROUND SEVEN
Caleb Heil (#193) to Tampa Bay (Madison-USHL from Chaska)
Brendan Morrow (#196) to Los Angeles (Waterloo-USHL/NTDP/Benilde-St. Margaret’s HS)
Jacob Kvasnicka (#202) Islanders (NTDP/Wayzata HS)
Nolan Roed (#214) to Colorado (Tri-City-USHL/White Bear Lake HS)
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Minnesota Hockey is excited to announce that the position of Executive Director is officially open for applicants.
As the statewide governing body of amateur hockey, Minnesota Hockey plays a vital role in growing and supporting the game at all levels—from the youngest players lacing up skates for the first time to elite athletes chasing championships. The Executive Director will serve as the organization’s top administrator, providing strategic leadership, overseeing day-to-day operations, and helping guide Minnesota Hockey into its next chapter of growth and excellence.
This role is an opportunity to impact the future of the State of Hockey by working closely with our board, community associations, volunteers, and partners to advance player development, enhance programming, and foster a positive hockey culture across Minnesota.
Candidates should bring strong leadership experience, a passion for youth sports, and a commitment to the values of community, integrity, and excellence.
Applications will be accepted through July 15, 2025 . Full job details and instructions to apply are in the document below.
Join us in shaping the future of hockey in Minnesota. The ice is ready—are you?
To apply, please send in resume and cover letter to: Careers@minnesotahockey.org
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The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team will host an ID Camp August 9 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field. The camp is for grades 9-college. The campers will be able to experience life as a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Participants in the ID Camp will be instructed by the Golden Eagle soccer staff and get a glimpse of campus. The campers will be led through drills and observed by soccer coaches at the U of M Crookston and nearby universities. The camp will include technical training, possession drills, small-sided and 11v11 games. Campers and families will get a tour of campus and have a Q&A session with Minnesota Crookston coaching staff.
Registration for the camp will commence at 9 a.m. A t-shirt is included in registration with an overall cost of $100. Campers should bring appropriate soccer attire, shin guards, socks, cleats, tennis shoes, a water bottle, and sunscreen.
For more information on the camp and to register visit https://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?sport=7&id=307710
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The Crookston High School Summer Strength and Conditioning program “Powered by Sanford Sports” will be June 2 through August 8. There will be no sessions June 30-July 4 due to the MSHSL blackout week.
For the registration and sign up info, click the following link – Crookston Weights Summer Sign Up — Signup Sheet | SignUp.com
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JOKES
One day, Uncle Joe got fired from his construction job. His nephew asked him what happened.
“You know what a foreman is?” he asked. “The one who stands around and watches the other men work?”
“What’s that got to do with it?” he asked.
“Well, he just got jealous of me,” Uncle Joe explained. “Everyone thought I was the foreman.”
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There were these two elderly people living in a Florida mobile home park. He was a widower and she a widow. They had known one another for a number of years. Now, one evening there was a community supper in the big activity center. These two were at the same table, across from one another. As the meal went on, he made a few admiring glances at her and finally gathered up his courage to ask her, “Will you marry me?”
After a dramatic pause and precisely six seconds of ‘careful consideration,’ she answered. “Yes. Yes, I will.”
The meal ended and with a few more pleasant exchanges and they went to their respective places.
Next morning, he was troubled. “Did she say ‘yes’ or did she say ‘no’?”
He couldn’t remember. Try as he would, he just could not recall. Not even a faint memory. With trepidation, he went to the telephone and called her.
First, he explained to her that he didn’t remember as well as he used to. Then he reviewed the lovely evening past. As he gained a little more courage, he then inquired of her, “When I asked if you would marry me, did you say ‘Yes’ or did you say ‘No’?”
He was delighted to hear her say, “Why, I said, ‘Yes, yes I will’ and I meant it with all my heart.”
Then she continued, “And I am so glad that you called, because I couldn’t remember who had asked me.”
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Paddy is smashing a few at the local until everything is forgotten. The bartender who is also a family friend continually tells him he’s had enough and to go home.
Finally after several last calls, Paddy declares “I’m going home”, promptly falls off his high bar stool and drags himself to the door.
He hails a cab while face down on the curb, manages to open the door and drag himself from his sprawled position into the backseat. The cabby drives him home with Paddy singing nonsensical music to himself the whole way. Paddy rolls out of the cab manages to drunkenly flop his way across the lawn, gets the front door half open and passes out.
The next day because the bartender is also a good friend he checks on paddy, and seeing him lying on his back in the doorway says, “Paddy, you were drunk last night weren’t you?”. Paddy replies, “Yes, but I didn’t think I was that drunk, how did you know?”
To which the bartender replies, “You left your wheelchair at the bar”.
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How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere?
****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST. Email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a freshman playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a freshman playing football at Minot State.
Isabelle Smith is a freshman playing Tennis at Concordia College.
Isaac Thomforde is a freshman playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Emilee Tate is a Sophomore playing Softball at Northland Community and Technical College.
Halle Bruggeman is a Sophomore on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Red-shirt Freshman on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Junior on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Sophomore playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Junior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Joslynn Leach is a Senior playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brooks Butt is a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Ty Hamre is redshirt Junior playing football at Bemidji State University.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Marley Melbye is an assistant girls golf coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ben Trostad is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ethan Magsam is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson is the head Little Falls Volleyball coach.
Tim Desrosier is an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfe is the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown.
Josh Edlund is the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Matt Harris is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of North Dakota.
Mike Hastings is the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football, volleyball, and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for Bison media relations.
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College.
Chris Myrold is the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California.
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Jaren Bailey is serving our country and is currently in the Marines’ Boot Camp.
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
Jarrett Butenhoff is serving our country with the U.S. Navy.
Joshua Butenhoff is serving our country on a Submarine with the Pacific Fleet with the US Navy.
Peter Cournia is a 2002 Crookston High School Graduate and a grad of West Point and currently serving in the U.S. Army.
Philip Kujawa class of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments, and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com.
