While Willie Corrin is the latest in the line of 18 International Falls natives who have continued their hockey careers playing at the University of Minnesota Duluth, another player from the Falls who was part of the Bulldogs’ team 20 years ago had been recognized on the rink last weekend at AMSOIL Arena.
Marty Olson, who played for UMD from 1991-93 after transferring from Colorado College following his freshman season, was on hand for a reunion of Bulldog players who won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s regular season championship in 1992-93.
The players were introduced between the first and second periods of last Saturday’s home game against Wisconsin.
“There’s been a few guys I haven’t seen since college...,” Olson said. “A lot of these guys we grew up playing together since we’ve been kids — playing against each other anyway.
“(Being on the 1992-93 UMD team) was a special experience — a lot of fun playing with these guys. That year we ended up winning the WCHA, and we ended up making it to one game out of the Final Four — we lost to Lake (Superior) State to go to the Final Four. A tough loss, but a great group of guys and a great experience.”
The team ended the 1992-93 season 27-11-2 overall, 21-9-2 in WCHA play and 17-1 at home.
Olson said he doesn’t like the situation with the current WCHA being in its final year of existence because of the Big Ten teams deciding to form their own hockey conference next season.
“I wish the Big Ten wouldn’t have gone out on their own and tried to do their own deal,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a very good thing for college hockey that they did that.
“But I think at that point, when that happened, I think UMD and the other schools had to make a change. I think it was probably the best move that they could have made to go to the new (National Collegiate Hockey Conference in 2013-14)....
“I wish (the Big Ten schools) wouldn’t have changed anything, because it’s great to have Wisconsin and Minnesota and some of these teams come in here (to AMSOIL Arena) and go there and play.”
Olson, who played at both right and left wing, appeared in 58 games during his career with the Bulldogs and tallied nine goals and 13 assists.
The UMD accounting graduate, who noted he now coaches hockey and has two sons involved in the sport, lives in Hermantown and works in commercial banking in Duluth.
Olson said he still makes it up to the Falls to play in the annual Men’s Hockey Tournament held at Kerry Park in March.
“It’s a great experience growing up in the Falls,” he said. “We had a lot of great coaches growing up and a lot of great friends there.”
Olson said his fondest memory playing hockey for the Broncos was defeating Grand Rapids his senior season in the 1989 Section final to advance to the state tournament.
The Falls went 21-7 that season and placed fourth at state.
He also played football and baseball for the Broncos and had the opportunity his senior season to advance to the state tournament in football.
Though it is common today for hockey players after graduating from high school to play junior hockey before joining the collegiate ranks, Olson said that wasn’t the case when he graduated from the Falls more than 20 years ago.
“Back then most guys came right out of high school and went to college — a little bit different than it is today when most guys go the USHL first and then to college,” he said.
When asked about Corrin, who played two seasons with the USHL’s Fargo Force after high school before joining the Bulldogs, Olson said it’s great to see him play for UMD.
“I know (UMD head coach) Scott Sandelin is excited to get him here and excited that he chose to come to Duluth,” Olson said. “(Corrin is) a great player. Scott and I drove up a couple times to watch him up in the Falls.
“I didn’t get to see him play in junior hockey, but it looks like he’s going to be a good player here for the Dogs for the years to come.”
