EVELETH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – Lawmakers and the Iron Range community are holding a rally opposing the proposal to relocate the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame from Eveleth to the Twin Cities.
RELATED: New discussions to move U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame from Eveleth to St. Paul
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced their opposition, saying that while Minnesota is the state of hockey, the Hall of fame is a vital part of Iron Range history.
“For me, when I first heard it, I thought it was devastating,” said Daniel Horoshak, an Eveleth Resident helping organize the event.
“We have, what is it? 16 players in the Hall of Fame who are from Eveleth by itself, that’s why they had it up here, and then all the coaches that came from here moved away and made Minnesota what it is for hockey,” said Horoshak.
For Horoshak, his time spent growing up on the Range meant a lot of time on the rink.
“When I played for Eveleth, there was all these banners everywhere,” said Horoshak. “It wasn’t like ‘oh it’s a cool thing to do’, it’s like you had to for the love of the game.”
This community culture began in the 1920s but was recognized in 1967 when a group known as the Project H committee was charged with finding a home for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
According to the committee, after a lot of research and consideration, no other American town had the same proud history, love, and devotion to the game of hockey.
This is why Horoshak is joining the effort to keep the hall in the Northland.
“There’s democrats, there’s republicans, there’s everybody. It’s not a political issue, this is a Range issue and it’s very dear to our hearts,” said Horoshak.
State lawmakers, including Senator Grant Hauschild, plan to introduce an amendment that would restrict any state money from going to the hall unless it’s in Eveleth.
“History and culture is not based on foot traffic,” said Hauschild, comparing the Hockey Hall of Fame to Cooperstown and other professional hall of fame buildings. “It’s not based in the biggest city in the state, it’s based on where there’s the richest culture of the sport, and I think that’s what Eveleth is to hockey.”
Members of the Hall of Fame board of directors argue that the main goal to relocate the museum is to get more eyes on Minnesota hockey legends.
They said other sporting hall of fames see nearly 400,000 visitors a year, while the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame sees about 9,000.
But both Hauschild and Horoshak believe the foot traffic disparity could be fixed through promotion and investment.
“We are the hockey state. We are the hockey city of that state, even my water bill has, on the information thing, it has a symbol of the Hockey Hall of Fame on it. That’s what our town is and has always been,” said Horoshak.
“I think if we keep working on it and promoting it, it can really be a great place people will want to go out of their way to experience what is a rich hockey culture,” said Hauschild.
According to Hauschild, he expects the bills to be brought to the floor in the upcoming weeks.
The rally will be held Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame building.
Below is a list of people who plan to speak at the event, along with Horoshak.
Adam Roen – Mayor of Eveleth.
Cal Warwas- Minnesota House of Representatives.
Robert Farnsworth – Minnesota State Senate
Grant Hauschild -Minnesota State Senate, Assistant Majority Leader.
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