MOORHEAD — A parade of around 75 Spuds past and present poured out from the Zamboni doors on the east end of the Moorhead Sports Center Tuesday night.
The members of the 2024-25 Moorhead state championship team made their way towards the west end of the arena first, followed by at least one member from each Spuds boys hockey team from the past 60 years.
The evening celebrated the Spuds’ title with the raising of the state championship banner.
“It just shows what Moorhead’s all about,” said former Moorhead standout Mason Kraft, who won the Mr. Hockey Award last season. “To see everyone coming back to see the championship banner get raised, it was super special.”
As the alumni settled into a neat row that spanned nearly the entire length of the ice, longtime rink manager and youth hockey coach Dennis Bushy toted the championship trophy towards the ceremony table on the west end.
“The trophy isn’t the Stanley Cup, but it’s the next best thing,” said Bushy, who hoisted the Stanley Cup in Moorhead in 2006. “It gave me chills doing that.”
The orange championship banner was unveiled and was carried across the ice by Sam Beedy, Cooper Czichotzki, Mary Tobalt, Kim Tobalt Gilbert, and the source of inspiration for the state championship, Ethan Monshaugen’s parents Jenna Askvig and Cory Monshaugen.
Ethan, who was one of the team managers for the Spuds, died from a spontaneous aortic dissection at age 16 in March 2024. His jersey was
at every game during the championship season.
Former Moorhead Spuds players pass the banner during ceremonies on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at the Moorhead Sports Center.
David Samson / The Forum
Longtime Moorhead youth hockey rink manager Dennis Bushy carries the title trophy during banner ceremonies on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at the Moorhead Sports Center.
David Samson / The Forum
As the banner made its way down the line of alumni, ceremony emcee Rob Gramer provided a brief history of each of the last six decades of Moorhead hockey. In total, 21 state tournament appearances, eight runner-up finishes and one championship.
The banner slowly found the hands of each of the four coaches that led the Spuds to the state tournament including Terry Cullen, Dave Morinville, Pete Cullen and Jon Ammerman.
Gramer then recognized each player, manager and coach of the championship season.
“It makes it seem a little more real when you see (the banner) go up,” said former Spuds standout Matt Cullen, who graduated from Moorhead in 1995 and was an assistant coach for the state title team. “They kind of cemented their legacy. It was a really cool deal to see that for this place.”
The banner was slowly lifted into the rafters above the goal on the west end of the arena as the Moorhead High fight song “Onward Moorhead” echoed throughout the arena.
The championship banner is passed along to coaches during ceremonies on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at the Moorhead Sports Center.
David Samson / The Forum
Festivities continued until puck drop.
Minnesota Wild national anthem singer John deCausmeaker, a 1993 graduate of Moorhead High, delivered a powerful rendition of ”
” He said he hardly needed convincing when the opportunity was presented.
“It’s the same energy I see at Grand Casino Arena,” deCausmeaker said.
Former Spud and current Minnesota Wild national athem singer John deCausmeaker performs after banner ceremonies on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at the Moorhead Sports Center.
David Samson / The Forum
He has been performing the national anthem for the Wild since 2017. When he is unable to perform, deCaumeaker has enlisted help from his wife, Monica, and 16-year-old son, Julian, to sing in his absence.
“I love my country, I love the sport, I love music,” deCausmeaker said, “and in that 90 seconds or so, that all comes together in that nice little stew.”
As the Spuds game against Sartell drew closer, the festivities concluded with 2025 captain Brooks Cullen and 1965 captain Dave Brunsvold delivering the ceremonial puck drop.
“It’s an honor to be a part of such a great program,” said Brunsvold.
1965 Spuds team captain Dave Brunsvold talks about his playing days during banner ceremonies on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at the Moorhead Sports Center.
David Samson / The Forum
Brunsvold noted he wished his former coach Chuck Watson could have been in attendance. Watson, Moorhead High’s first hockey coach, died at 93 in April 2021.
“Great man, wonderful man,” Brunsvold said. “I’m sure he’s smiling down on us.”
As the new orange banner hangs to honor the Spuds first state championship, the program will continue like it has the last 60 years to add another, and maybe a few more.
“It’s going to be the same program it always has been,” Kraft said.
Current and former Moorhead Spuds players from the 2024-2025 championship team watch as the title banner is raised during ceremonies on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at the Moorhead Sports Center.
David Samson / The Forum
Spuds state hockey tournament coaches Pete Cullen, Dave Morinville, Terry Cullen and Jon Ammerman are introduced during banner ceremonies on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at the Moorhead Sports Center.
David Samson / The Forum
After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com