Even with six Minnesota Viking alumni, Team USA couldn’t pull off a win against Canada during the International Tug of War contest Saturday.

The annual event, which coincided with the International Day of Peace theme, featured a 1,200-foot long rope strung between the Pat Roche Memorial Access in International Falls and the Sorting Gap Marina in Fort Frances. This year’s event marked the fourth tug of war between the nations battling for a traveling trophy. The U.S. won last year.

In previous years, a team of 50 community members on each side faced off for the trophy. This year, however, an added team of 20 celebrities took their turn at the rope. Team USA consisted of former Minnesota Vikings, two state senators, a Ranier author and other local and state celebrities.

Viking alumnus Matt Blair took the reins as team captain.

“This is one of those things that comes once in a lifetime,” Blair said of the event. “This is great, this is outstanding.”

Despite Blair’s motivation and strategy, both the celebrity and community teams were out-pulled by their Canadian counterparts.

While several spectators question the validity of the celebrity tug, which had the rope being pulled away before all Team USA member’s hands were on it, organizer Robin Bjorkquist says it was a simple miscommunication from across the river.

“We might have lost the tug of war, but we won the battle of star power with the great group we had on celebrity Team USA,” Bjorkquist said. “It’s not every day you get to see six Minnesota Vikings, three generations of Yousos, an award winning author, professional musician, TV news anchor and our state and national government officials all in the same place.”

U.S. Sen. Al Franken had different views.

“I think they (Canada) cheated,” he said with a laugh.

Franken said he was honored to be part of the event and added that he had no strategy going into the competition.

“I was just trying to avoid being pulled into the water,” he said.

Falls native Jake Youso, who plays hockey for Holy Cross College, also served on the celebrity team. He said the event celebrated a good cause and was “a lot of fun.”

Youso tugged along with his brother, Matt, who plays hockey for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, his father, Brian, Koochiching County sheriff, and grandfather, Frank, a former Minnesota Viking.

Aside from losing, several celebrity and community pullers agreed the weather couldn’t have been better.

“Let’s hear it for the weather,” cheered Rod Otterness, International Falls city administrator.

“What a beautiful day,” said Viking alumnus John Swain. “I’m having a blast. This community is so warm and welcoming and it is nice to give back.”

Bjorkquist concluded that the day was a success win or lose.

“I had a lot of positive comments from our celebrity guests about our area and the people. They were surprised by International Falls and many said they’d like to return,” she said. “It’s exciting to be able to bring celebrities here, which was part of the goal — expose the hidden gem that we are. I’m disappointed we lost, but we’ll be back with a vengeance next year.”