Roger Dier’s love of hockey made it no surprise that his first published book would center around the sport.

The former Falls resident’s recently released novel, “Scarlet Ice,” details the story of the 1995 Mankato High School hockey team during a community-wide meningitis outbreak.

“Sophomore John Janavaras inspired me to write the story,” Dier said of his inspiration.

Janavaras, who was known to his teammates as “JJ,” played for the Mankato West Scarlets during its 1994-95 hockey season. According to Dier, Janavaras was the smallest player on the team, but was probably the “most fearless player and also was a charismatic kid.” The Scarlets, Dier explained, that season were a young and weak team. The players had a hard time scoring goals, and they were shut out four times during the season and scored only one goal in seven of their games.

“There were internal tensions between the players and between the players and the coaching staff,” Dier said.

An outbreak of meningitis rocked Mankato West in late January 1995 and young Janavaras died from the disease on Feb. 3, 1995.

“That’s the pivotal event of the book,” Dier told The Journal. “After JJ’s death, we follow the Scarlets to the conclusion of their season, and they did an astonishing thing to honor their dead teammate in the playoffs. I’ve seen a lot of hockey in my life, but the Scarlets game against the No. 1 seed in their section playoff game is the most amazing thing I’ve seen in hockey.”

About the author

Dier was born in International Falls June 23, 1955. When his father, Dick Dier, began playing semi-pro hockey for the Green Bay Bobcats in the fall of 1958, the family moved away.

“One of my earliest recollections is sitting on suitcases in front of my grandparent’s Sixth Street home on the day we moved to Green Bay,” Dier recalled.

The author said in succeeding summers, the family spent vacations in the Borderland area, either visiting relatives or fishing on Turtle Lake near Mine Centre, Ontario.

Dier moved back to the Falls in the late summer of 1974 to attend Rainy River Community College. He played hockey for the Voyageurs during the 1974-75 season.

“That season, I played hockey with some great guys who came up through the Falls youth and high school system,” he said. “Carl Bowman, Tom Enzmann, Terry Murray, Tim Raboin, Mike Frank, Jerry Bolin and Rick “Gordo” McBride. Greg Tighe, a kid from the Fort, played for us. Tim Witherspoon came across the river to play for us that winter, too. Wayne Erickson of Ranier was our manager and he was fun to be around on and off the ice. A player from Baudette, Jim Holte, was one of the first friends I made on the team.”

Dier said his team was coached by George Schlieff and John Sirotiak. He admitted to not doing much as a player and Sirotiak told him more than once he would regret not giving more to that hockey team.

“He was absolutely right,” Dier claimed.

Hockey connections

Even when he wasn’t living in the Falls, Dier said his connection to the area’s hockey tradition was still strong. He remembers when his father’s career with the Bobcats ended, there were several Falls guys who played for Green Bay. Because they were from the Falls, Dier said his father instantly embraced them as brothers.

“My dad played against Eveleth greats like John Mayasich and Bruce Schutte while a Bronco, and he played with them in Green Bay,” Dier said. “Dick Dier’s friendship with the great John Mayasich was one of the cherished accomplishments of his life. All of these great hockey players and people passed in front of my life because I was the son of an International Falls Broncos hockey player. Bob Peters, a coaching legend at North Dakota and later Bemidji State, told me more than once how he used to change into his goalie equipment in my Grandma Dier’s living room.”

Writing about

his beloved sport

Dier admitted to being embarrassed that “Scarlet Ice” took him 16 years to write.

“I started interviewing for the book in 1996 and 1997, again in 2003 and decided in late 2009 to finish it,” he said. “To reach the finish line, it took a sprint that lasted 18 months.”

Although a drawn out journey, Dier is pleased with the finished outcome of his first-ever publication. He attributed his success to his support system of his wife, Michelina, family, and former Scarlets players: Jamie Como, Jim Grabianowski, Shayne Ratcliff, Tim DeSutter and Dan Sutch, who is the nephew of Tom Sutch, who lives in International Falls.

Dier said he gained valuable experience through the writing process, including what he refers to as the “meaning of bravery” from Janavaras’ parents, Basil and Linda Janavaras.

“They gave the doctors who worked to save their son’s life permission to talk to me,” Dier said, “and the chapter that describes John’s struggle to live was difficult to write and for me, continues to be emotionally draining to read.”

“Scarlet Ice” is available at www.scarletice.com and Dier hopes readers get a better understanding of the fragility of life.

“And I hope they learn how one hockey team coped with the loss of one of its most popular players, and what they did to honor him.”