FARGO — It must have looked a little strange to people walking past The Forum that early fall morning — a tall blond man striding into the downtown Fargo newsroom with a hockey bag roughly the size of a Kia.
That man was Brian Lee — a Moorhead Spud and University of North Dakota standout who became a first-round NHL draft pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2005 who also later played with Tampa Bay.
Lee was joined by his longtime friend, Chris VandeVelde, also a top-tier Spud and UND alum who was a fourth-round NHL draft pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2005 who went on to play with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The two former pros weren’t here to skate, but rather help us score a little attention for “Onward Moorhead: An Illustrated History of MHS Spud Hockey 1965–2025,” and the accompanying documentary “First” which chronicles the Spud boys first state hockey championship earlier this year.
Lee (left) and VandeVelde, standing in the Forum lobby, started playing hockey together in Moorhead soon after they could walk, playing for the Spuds in the early 2000s and the University of North Dakota after that. Their latest adventure is appearing in a SportsCenter style video together.
Tracy Briggs/The Forum
Like the good sports they are, Lee and VandeVelde agreed to promote the book in an entirely unorthodox way: by starring in two social media videos — one inspired by a classic SportsCenter commercial and the other by one of the greatest hockey movies of all time.
With the books officially for sale at The Forum (101 5th Street North) and online preorders continuing to ship, we wanted to share the stories behind the videos that may have nudged you to make the purchase.
SportsCenter, Forum-style
The first idea came from my husband, Mark Jensen, a native Iowan who — shockingly — has never put on a pair of ice skates. However, like many middle-aged American men, he is deeply devoted to SportsCenter commercials.
You know the ones: athletes in full uniform wandering through ESPN offices as if they work there. One of his favorites features NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin playing a spy while digging through a file cabinet.
What if we flipped that same “fish-out-of-water” concept and dropped Lee and VandeVelde — in full gear — into our workplaces?
After six months of researching, interviewing and living in the world of Spud hockey, co-author Brian Cole, a Moorhead orchestra teacher, and I decided it was time for a role reversal — and a chance to see how the hockey guys handled a day in our world.
The best part? Lee and VandeVelde took to the script instantly, delivering their lines with a mix of perfectly deadpan timing and delightfully over-the-top energy that made the whole thing work. I even told them that if the hockey thing didn’t work out, they could be the next Clooney and Pitt, Damon and Affleck or De Niro and Pacino. I’m not sure they believed me.
Chris VandeVelde (left) and Brian Lee get ready for their first editorial meeting in The Forum newsroom with digital editor Kris Kerzman and social media manager Kate Almquist.
Tracy Briggs/The Forum
Watch closely as they attempt to type — in gloves — while editor Matt Von Pinnon pushes them to make the deadline. Huge thanks to Matt for being such a good sport on camera.
Some newsroom colleagues scattered at the mere mention of being filmed. Still, others jumped right in — including my fearless Gen Z coworkers Kate Almquist, Adria Peters and Stephanie Dickerson, along with (Gen Z in spirit) digital editor Kris Kerzman.
Kris and Kate had the pleasure of attending a newsroom meeting with the rookie reporters, with Kate even pulling off a pretty impressive Jim Halpert-style look to the camera.
And then there was the visit to Brian Cole’s orchestra room at Horizon Middle School, where Lee and VandeVelde strutted in carrying a cello upside down and asked, with straight faces, whether using a bow counted as high-sticking.
“Slap Shot,” Moorhead-style
The second video idea also came courtesy of my husband, who was stunned to learn that I had never seen the movie “Slap Shot,” the famous 1977 hockey classic starring Paul Newman.
Now that I’ve finally seen it (research!), the inspiration was obvious: a local remake of the legendary “Old Time Hockey” scene.
In the original, Newman’s fiery player/coach Reggie Dunlop tries to motivate the wildly unpredictable Hanson Brothers — the thick-glasses-wearing, foil-taping, childlike enforcers who play with toy cars in their hotel room before causing mayhem on the ice.
(Fun hockey trivia: The Hanson Brothers in “Slap Shot” were based on the real-life Carlson brothers from Virginia, Minnesota — Jack, Steve and Jeff. All three were supposed to play the movie roles themselves, but when Jack Carlson got called up to the pros, fellow player Dave Hanson stepped in to take his place. Hanson also inspired the separate Dave “Killer” Carlson character in the film, played by actor Jerry Houser. Confused yet? Same — it’s like taking a puck to the forehead.)
Chris VandeVelde, center, asks Horizon Middle School orchestra teacher Brian Cole if it’s high sticking if he uses a bow, while Brian Lee stands by holding a cello like a guitar.
Tracy Briggs/The Forum
In our version, Brian Cole — who usually conducts violins, not enforcers — channels his inner coach, barking orders at Lee and VandeVelde as the Hanson Brothers, complete with taped Buddy Holly glasses and manic energy.
Huge thanks to the Horizon administrators for clearing out a locker room for our makeshift set.
I had so much fun that day, in fact, that I still had an extra pair of glasses left over — making my Halloween costume an easy choice. I went as all three Hanson Brothers at once.
Brian Lee and Chris VandeVelde didn’t have to do this for us. It wasn’t a paid gig. But true to form, they showed up, leaned into the absurdity and helped us spread the word.
Our sincere thanks to them — and to the countless Spud players, parents, fans and alumni who helped make this book possible.
So if you come to our downtown Fargo office to pick up a book, you might happen to spot a couple of former NHL players carrying ginormous hockey bags. But there’s a decent chance they’re not heading to practice. They might just be catching the next bus to Hollywood.
Spud hockey book now available for purchase at The Forum (and online)
Pick up your copy in person at The Forum building, 101 Fifth Street NorthOrder online through
Online orders are currently being deliveredOrder soon to receive by ChristmasPurchase of the book gives you streaming access to “First” – the documentary about the 2025 Moorhead Boys Hockey Championship season.
A sneak peek of “First” – the 2025 Spud Boys Championship Documentary