1954 Hockey Team

The 1954 Prowler Hockey team won the hearts of Thief River Falls by winning the state championship in remarkable fashion.  In the tournament they beat Minneapolis South 6-1, perennial power South St. Paul 8-1 and finally Eveleth 4-1.

Head Coach Dennis Rolle compiled a career record of 109 wins to just 19 losses over 7 years. His teams went to the state tournament 5 of the 7 years he was the head coach.

The captains on the team were:  Marvin Jorde and Jack Hoppe.  Both were All-Staters.  Center Marvin “Sig” Jorde. He was a SMOOTH skater and led the team with 32 points.

Goaltender Jack “Shutout” Hoppe.  Only gave up 1 goal per game in the tournament. But also tallied 2 assists on the year…a rare feet for a goaltender.

Prowlers had two other All-Staters:

Center Joey “Darling” Poole. He played at UND and on the first National Championship Team at UND.

Defensemen Mike the “Immortal Brush” McMahon. He was a college sized defenseman that no one wanted to contend with.

Other members of the team:

Loren “Sid” Vraa. Who often split the defensemen

Lyle Guttu. Who worked hard AND got lots of penalties

Robert Helgeland. Had a hatrick at the state tournament

Darryl Durgin. Also had a hatrick in the state tournament.  And went on to play for UND

Rodney Collins.  Goaltender behind all stater Jack Hoppe but also a great net minder

Jack Quesnell.  The utility man, he could be used anywhere

James Zavoral.  Was known for his poke checking move

Lester Sabo.  He was too big and too fast for the competition.

and student manager Neil Aase.  A friend to everyone on the team.

The team went undefeated that year, going 20 and 0, had 6 shutouts, and outscored their opponents 120 to 21.

Many of the team members moved on from Thief River Falls to exceptional careers both in hockey and in life.  Five of them have already been individually inducted in to the Prowler Hall of Fame, including Coach and Athletic Director, Dennis Rolle.  However, no individual accomplishment can compare to what these 13 young men accomplished in 1954.