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Northland Community Wellness Day 2020 Returning to EDHC March 26th from 10am-2pm

Come to our free, family-friendly event and visit over 80 exhibits featuring Health & Wellness, Financial Literacy, Public Safety, and Sustainability. Also, participate in our scavenger hunt, sponsored by Duluth Huskies for the chance to win tickets to a Duluth Huskies Baseball game!

FREE DEMONSTRATIONS & WORKSHOPS
10:30am – 11:00am – St. Louis County Master Gardeners: Vegetable Gardening – Tips for Beginners to Advanced

11:15am – 11:45am – Jamie Harvie, Executive Director of the Institute for a Sustainable Future: Regenerating the Earth – What You Can Do

12:00pm – 12:30 pm – Yoga North International SomaYoga Institute: Chair Yoga demonstration and participation

12:45pm – 1:15pm – Dr. Jonathan Otten, Board Certified Naturopathic Physician: Developments in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses

1:30pm – 2:00pm – Duluth Police Department: K-9 Unit demonstration

Visit https://northlandcwd.org for more information. See you there!!

Northland Community Wellness Day (NCWD) is committed to providing a free and inclusive community event that highlights local wellness resources and services through interactive exhibits, workshops, and family friendly activities. The mission of Northland Community Wellness Day is to promote healthy families and communities through education and awareness on health & wellness, public safety, sustainability and financial literacy.

SPONSORED BY: St. Luke's, Essentia Health, Duluth Heritage Center, Duluth News Tribune, Corktown Deli & Brews, Zeitgeist Center for Arts & Community, Whole Foods Co-op, US Bank, UMD, Duluth Sign, Stewart-Taylor Printing, Maurices, Minnesota Power, KUMD- Duluth Public Radio, Wells Fargo

THE REBOUND

09-27-21

The 2020-21 season was another tough one for the Duluth East Greyhounds. East finished the season at 6-8-2 during the shortened season due to covid. Although the record was not the greatest the team did have strong efforts throughout the season. The Greyhounds will have a different look on the Bench. Steve Pitoscia will be taking over coaching duties, and he will be looking to get East back to their winning ways.

NEXT STEPS

Duluth Denfeld Hunters had yet another season to remember, with a final record of 10-6-1.  Just four years ago the Hunters finished a season with just 4 wins. The team has put in some serious training hours and it is paying off. The 2020-2021 season ended after a loss to a very talented Hermantown team in the section championship. The Hunters look to build on this success and take the next step. 

1,500 PERKIN'S FRENZY FANS WATCH TWO GREAT HOCKEY GAMES


Duluth Denfeld & Superior Spartan teams present the flag before the start of their game in the Perkin's Frenzy

12-22-17
There's no doubt that area hockey fans got their money's worth of entertainment during the 7th Annual Perkin's Frenzy as both games were decided by 3-2 scores.
     1,500 fans chose to see live action over the comfort of home and the My9 telecast , when they crowded into the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center (EDHC) to watch the Superior Spartans held off a determined Denfeld Hunter team 3-2. The Spartans got off to a 3-0 lead before the Hunters came back with the final two goals.
    In the nightcap, Duluth East scored first with an early goal during the first two minutes of play, with Duluth Marshall responding in the second period with two goals of their own, with the second goal coming with no time remaining.
      East tied the score with the only goal during the third period, taking the game into overtime to earn the win.

EDHC CELEBRATES EARLY THANKSGIVING

Herb & Barbara Fritch, sporting Nashville Predators jerseys, taking their seats among the crowd in Nashville's Bridgestone Arena

Herb & Barbara Fritch, sporting Nashville Predators jerseys, taking their seats among the crowd in Nashville's Bridgestone Arena

Nov. 16, 2017 (Media Release)

         Duluth Heritage Sports Center Foundation (Foundation) Chair Patrick Francisco announced today that the Foundation recently received a very generous gift of stock from the Herbert A. Fritch Family Foundation, having a value of $1.6 million dollars.  This gift came close on the heels of a $1 million dollar gift from an anonymous donor and these two gifts combined enabled the Foundation to acquire the remaining Duluth Heritage Sports Center (Center) construction debt from Alerus Bank.
     Throughout the years, the Foundation has used the contributions received to acquire portions of the Center’s construction debt from the conventional lenders who held it, gradually gaining the major portion of that debt.  With this recent acquisition, the Foundation will now be the sole holder of the Center’s construction debt.
     This change in mortgage holders doesn’t mean at the Center is “debt free”. There’s still the debt held by the Foundation that needs to be serviced. “It’s the Foundation’s plan to offer very favorable debt-service terms to the Center.” Francisco stated. “But we will be receiving some return in the form of interest payments so as to enable us to continue to provide assistance for youth from financially-challenged families to enable them to participate in sports and/or to further their education at the college level.”
     According to the Center’s President/CEO, Jerry DeMeo, the terms arranged with the Foundation are quite favorable. “This is truly a great time for the Center and for our entire community.” DeMeo said. “The interest schedule from the Foundation will not unduly burden our budget. We’re able to meet this obligation while still preserving capital to meet our future planned facility and equipment needs”.
     DeMeo also said that he and other members of the Center’s team are extremely grateful for this support. “We’re both honored and humbled by the trust shown in our ability to tend to the Center’s needs and to meet the expectations of our customers. To have so many caring, generous people like Herb and Barbara Fritch and the hundreds of others who came before them to turn the dreams of a great facility like the Center into reality is truly, truly amazing.”


The 1962 Longview Midget team takes its rightful place on the Heritage Wall Of Champions. The team almost had a national championship to its credit, finishing second in the national midget tournament

SCHOOL SKATING BECOMES A GREAT CHOICE FOR PHYSICAL EXERCISE (12/22/16)


Youth from North Star Academy enjoy the ice in Sill Arena

     Recently, it seems as though ice skating has become a popular choice for both physical exercise and classroom diversion for elementary school students. 
     On November 23, the 1st grade class from Piedmont Elementary got the chance to don skates and burn off some energy. On December 19, approximately 300 youth from North Star Academy's grades K thru 2  took to the ice, many of them for the first time, followed on December 20 by the 3rd grade classes from Lester Park Elementary. 
     According to EDHC's Administrative Assistant Shari Olson, it's been a win-win situation for both the kids and the EDHC. The ice availability during the school day affords an economical opportunity for the kids, while enabling the schools to supplement their needs to provide more physical activities to their daily regimen. Ice skates  for those not having them are made available through cooperation with the City of Duluth Parks & Recreation Department. 
     For more information on how to schedule skating opportunities for elementary school children, contact Ken at 218-464-1711, ext. 104 or by e-mail at Kkolquist@essentiaduluthheritagecenter.com

UMD ATHLETES INTERACT WITH KIDS/FAMILIES


A "First Timer" gets a skating assist from one of the 60 UMD athletes on hand for the party

       On Tuesday, December 6, over 150 youth & their familes from Laura MacArthur school and their K.E.Y Zone program gathered in Seitz Arena to interact with 60 men & women athletes from UMD, including UMD's mascot, Champ,  for a skating/pizza party.
        Volunteers from UMD's various athletic programs helped the kids lace up their skates and then aided the "first timers" to make their way around the ice. After skating, the entire group traveled over to the Clyde Iron Restaurant for pizza & refreshment. 
         The skating party was made possible through a collaboration of the City of Duluth Parks & Recreational Department, who provided the skates, and the Duluth Heritage Sports Center Foundation, who made the ice available. 
        Judging from the smiles on the faces of the youth, the adults and the athletes, it was a memorable event for all. 

PIEDMONT FIRST GRADERS GET A "TASTE" OF SKATING ON ICE (11/25)

    On Wednesday, Nov. 23, youth from the Piedmont Elementary Schools 1st grade got a break from the classroom for a new phy ed experience...ice skating.
    For many of the kids, this was their first time on ice skates. They got this chance thanks to the efforts of both teachers and parents who wanted to put a new spin on keeping kids physically active.  The activity also included a surprise visit from UMD's mascot Champ who participated in the skating while affording many photo-ops. 
     Skates were furnished for those who didn't have them courtesy of the City of Duluth Parks & Recreation Department. The EDHC also chipped in, offering the ice free of charge.
     The kids thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity and it is expected that other schools may soon follow.

Sertie Scores Again!

 Duluth's most notable hockey player recently added another "trophy" to his collection...this time it's a world record!
     Mark Sertich, at the age of 93 years, 11 months and 27 days was recently acknowledged as the oldest hockey player ever  to play competitive hockey. Just 3 days prior to celebrating is 94th birthday, Sertie skated regular shifts with the Continental 75's,  a team that participated in the Snoopy's Senior World Hockey Tournament and by doing so, carved a niche in hockey history that may only be exceeded by Mark himself.
     Sertie appeared on national television during the outdoor hockey game between the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks. As a guest of the Wild, he was interviewed between periods by former Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick, who asked Mark why he wasn't playing golf like others many other senior former athletes. Sertie's response was that he had never played golf but "always intended to take up the sport when he was done playing hockey. He just hasn't got there yet!"
     Mark Sertich can usually be found 2 or 3 days a week participating in the 8 o'clock skate with those much younger than him. But, as the date for the 2016 Snoopy's tournament nears (July 17), he'll likely add a day or two to that schedule. 
     He wants to be in top skating form as he gets set to raise the age bar for hockey as a "life sport" even higher!

DHSC WINS "BEST AMBASSADOR" TITLE IN 2014 HOCKEY HOTDISH TOURNAMENT (09/15/14)

In a four bracket tournament that closely resembled the NCAA basketball March Madness, the Duluth Heritage Sports Center rose from the 14th seed in the ”Best Barn” arena bracket to win the top spot in the 2014 Hockey Hotdish Tournament. The DHSC was voted by the readers of Let’s Play Hockey as the best ambassador for hockey in Minnesota, defeating legendary coach Herb Brooks in the championship match with 67 percent of the final vote. The other brackets were the “Beauty (players) , the “Bench Boss” (coaches) and the “Big Head” (mascots).
     
The DHSC used strong support from the Duluth media to claim the Barn Bracket championship, earning the title as the Minnesota arena that best represents the State of Hockey. During competition in that bracket, the No. 14 seed DHSC defeated No. 3 Hibbing Memorial Arena (64 percent to 36 percent), No. 6 Mariucci Arena (53-47), No. 10 IRA Civic Center (61-39) and No. 4 Roseau Memorial Arena (70-30). The six-year-old facility then downed Big Head Bracket (mascots) champion Bucky Beaver in the tournament semifinals (77-23).
     
Overall No. 1 seed Herb Brooks won the Bench Boss Bracket with wins over No. 16 Dave Peterson (72-28), No. 9 Lorne Grosso (84-16), No. 12 Bob Johnson (84-16) and No. 10 Dave Palmquist (64-36). Brooks then defeated Beauty Bracket (players) champion Neal Broten in the semifinals (71-29).
     
The Hockey Hotdish Tournament is an annual competition from Let's Play Hockey to determine what Minnesota player, coach, arena and mascot best represent the State of Hockey. The tournament began with the selection and seeding of 64 entries in four brackets. Beginning June 9, voting in each round took place on a weekly basis on www.letsplayhockey.com and continued throughout the summer.

DHSC TAKES FIRST ROUND IN HOCKEY HOTDISH TOURNAMENT

The Duluth Heritage Sports Center (DHSC) remains in contention for the title of being the Minnesota ice arena that best represents the State of Hockey. Thanks to outstanding response from our supporters during  the first round of the Hockey Hotdish Tournament’s “Barn” division”, the 14th seed DHSC outpolled #3 seed Hibbing’s Memorial Arena by a 64%  to 36%  margin and now moves on to compete against the Mariucci Arena in the second round.
           
Minnesota’s oldest hockey newspaper, Let’s Play Hockey, is hosting this event which offers 4 brackets…Beauty (players), Bench Boss (Coaches), Barn (Arenas) and Big Head (Mascots).  Duluth East’s coach Mike Randolph was among the Bench Bosses, losing out in the first round to Bloomington Jefferson’s long-time coach, Tom Saterdalen.  In the Big Head (mascot) division, the Duluth East Greyhound will compete against the White Bear lake Bear. Voting for the Big Head division is now activated and will end on Sunday, July 6th.
           
In addition to the DHSC, five of the remaining 8 arenas in the Barn division are from northern Minnesota. Still in the running are the no. 1 seed Eveleth Hippodrome, the Roseau Memorial Arena (#4), the Warroad Gardens (#5), Thief River Falls Ralph Englestad Arena (#9) and the IRA Civic Center, Grand Rapids (#10).
​            
Voting in the Barn division will continue later in July, with the exact dates to be announced soon. Voting will again be online at www.letsplayhockey.com.  Click on the “Hockey Hotdish Tournament” and follow the prompts to the “Barn Bracket Round”. 

GOING FOR THE WIN. (8/14/14)

     After outpolling the IRA Civic Center with 61% of the vote, the 14th ranked Duluth Heritage Sports Center (DHSC) finds itself up against 4th ranked Roseau’s Memorial Arena in the final round of Let’s Play Hockey’s online Hockey Hotdish Tournament‘s “Barn Division”. The winner of this round will own the bragging rights to the title of being Minnesota’s ice arena that best represents the State of Hockey.
     Roseau made the division’s final bracket by a receiving 52% of the vote over the Eveleth Hippodrome, which was ranked #1 overall.  Jerry DeMeo, the DHSC’s president/CEO said that the DHSC is extremely pleased to have advanced this far contest. “There are truly some storied arenas in Minnesota.” DeMeo said. “For us, a six year old facility, to advance this far is a real honor. It speaks well for our founders who planned the DHSC to be ‘historical’ in its presentation.”  DeMeo also said that after coming this far against some very tough competition, the DHSC “would like to win to it all!”
     
Minnesota’s oldest hockey newspaper, Let’s Play Hockey, hosts the event which offers 4 brackets…Beauty (players), Bench Boss (Coaches), Barn (Arenas) and Big Head (Mascots). 
     
In the “Beauty” bracket, John Mayasich outpolled fellow Eveleth native Frank Brimsek, while Roseau’s Neal Broten received 73% of the vote against Warroad’s Dave Christian.  Mayasich & Broten will face off in the finals.
     
Minnesota hockey icon Herb Brooks prevailed over “Badger” Bob Johnson in the “Bench Boss” bracket, while Dave Palmquist, a noted pioneer in girl’s high school hockey garnered 53% of the vote over Bloomington Jefferson’s highly successful coach, Tom Saterdalen. The finals pit Brooks against Palmquist
     
In the “Big Head” bracket, UMD’s Bulldog Mascot “Champ” earned 61% of the vote over the Grand Rapids “Thunderhawk”.  Champ will now face “Bucky Beaver” from Bemidji State University, winner over the Minnesota Wild’s “Nordy”  in the final round.
     
Voting for the finalists in all rounds is now underway and will continue through this week. To cast your ballot, go online at www.letsplayhockey.com.  Click on the “Hockey Hotdish Tournament” and then click on “Quarterfinals/Bracket Finals”. The DHSC “Barn Bracket” selection is found at number 3. 

ON TO THE FINAL FOUR!

     The Duluth Heritage Sports Center (DHSC) outpolled Mariucci Arena, gaining 53% of the popular vote during the second round of the online “Hockey Hotdish Tournament ‘s Barn Division. With this win, the DHSC becomes one of the final four arenas still in contention for the title of being the Minnesota ice arena that best represents the State of Hockey.
     
The DHSC will next take on Grand Rapids’ IRA Civic Center, while in the other bracket, voters will choose from the Eveleth Hippodrome and Roseau’s Memorial Arena.  The Hippodrome advanced  by receiving 63% of the vote over Thief River Fall’s Ralph Englestad Arena, while voters selected Roseau over the Warroad Gardens by a 68%-32% margin.

            Minnesota’s oldest hockey newspaper, Let’s Play Hockey, is hosting this event which offers 4 brackets…Beauty (players), Bench Boss (Coaches), Barn (Arenas) and Big Head (Mascots).  Voting in the Big Head (mascot) division is currently underway, with Duluth East’s Greyhound competing against Nordy, the Minnesota Wild mascot.
     
Voting in the Barn division will continue during the month of August, with the exact dates to be announced soon. Voting will again be online at www.letsplayhockey.com.  Click on the “Hockey Hotdish Tournament” and follow the prompts to the “Barn Bracket Round”. 

DHSC VOTED “BEST” ARENA REPRESENTATIVE IN THE STATE OF HOCKEY

After receiving great voting support from community and statewide supporters, the Duluth Heritage Sports Center (DHSC) has earned the bragging rights as the Minnesota arena that best represents the State of Hockey by out-polling the Roseau Memorial Arena by a margin of 69% -31%.
     
The DHSC was one of 16 arenas chosen by Let’s Play Hockey, Minnesota’s oldest hockey newspaper, using conventional tournament brackets to make this selection.  The arenas were classified in the “Barn” bracket, while other brackets were used to select a player (Beauty), coach (Bench Boss), and team mascot (Big Head).  In advancing from its 14th seeded slot to claim the title, the DHSC outpolled other noted icons such as #3 ranked Hibbing Memorial Arena, # 6 Mariucci Arena, #10 seed IRA Civic Center (Grand Rapids) and, finally the #4 seed Roseau Memorial Arena.
     
The Tournament voting continues this week in a semi-final round, pitting player against coach and arena against mascot. The winners of this round will face each other next week in the finals.
     
According to the DHSC’s president, Jerry DeMeo, voting for the DHSC came from a number of sources. “Thanks to great conventional and social media coverage, we had the support from almost the entire community and, indeed, from the entire state.” said DeMeo. “While we’re proud to be known as the “best” arena representing the State of Hockey, we’re even more proud and humbled to know that our supporters share the  DHSC pride and took the time to punch their computer keys to let the entire state know that they think we’re the best!”
     
Pat Francisco, Chair of the Duluth Heritage Sports Center Foundation and one of the first pioneers in the DHSC project said that when this facility was first planned, it was intended to be representative of Duluth’s storied hockey history. “We wanted those who were either participants or just visitors to be able to ‘feel’ the sports history, just like they do when the visit some of the other historical arenas in Minnesota. The support we got throughout the “Barn” bracket voting against those arenas indicates we’ve captured the spirit!”
     
In other voting, Roseau’s Neal Broten outpolled Eveleth native John Mayasich in the “Beauty” bracket, while Minnesota hockey iconic coach Herb Brooks prevailed over Dave Palmquist, a noted pioneer in girl’s high school hockey. Broten & Brooks will face off in the semifinals.
     
 In the “Big Head” bracket, UMD’s Bulldog Mascot “Champ” lost a close contest by 1 percentage point against “Bucky Beaver” from Bemidji State University. Bucky now faces the DHSC in the semi-final bracket.
     
 DeMeo said he was unsure why the tournament continues now that the winner in each of the four brackets has been selected. “You’ll have to contact Let’s Play Hockey” for the answer to that question.” he commented. “We’re happy with the “Barn” bracket outcome.
     Voting for the semi-finalists is now underway and will continue through this week. To cast your ballot, go online at www.letsplayhockey.com.
 Click on the “Hockey Hotdish Tournament” and then click on “Semifinals Bracket”.

DHSCF SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED (5/18/15)

      Patrick D. Francisco, Duluth Heritage Sports Center Foundation (DHSCF) Chair, recently announced the 2015 recipients of the Ray Peterson Fund and the Thomas & Katherine Gibson Fund scholarships. They are:

Peterson Fund Scholarships:  Austin Burley (Denfeld); Jared Williams, (East).

Gibson Fund Scholarships: Elizabeth Bergh (Denfeld); Kelly Punkyo (East).
     
     The four recipients qualified for the DHSCF scholarships by virtue of their nomination by their respective school’s faculty members for consideration for the Minnesota State High School League's (MSHSL) Triple AAA Award. The minimum requirements for both awards are similar. Nominees must have notable achievements academically, participated in interscholastic sports and fine arts within their schools and have demonstrated positive citizenship traits during their high school careers.
     While MSHSL’s Triple AAA Award is open to all Minnesota schools, the DHSCF’s fund scholarships are only available to ISD 709 high school students. “It’s great that there’s a state-wide program like that offered by the MSHSL.” commented Francisco. “But our focus is on the greatness that comes from our local schools. We’re very pleased and proud that we’re able to reward these fine young people for their excellent accomplishments in school, in sports and in our community.”
    
The $500 scholarships will continue to be awarded annually to ISD 709 seniors.

DULUTH FINANCIAL ADVISORS HELPS FUND HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS (12/6/14)

     During the 2014-15 high school hockey season, every time a Duluth High School Hockey team scores a power play goal, the cost of a college education for four (4) Duluth High School seniors becomes more affordable!
     Through a special arrangement with the Duluth Heritage Sports Center Foundation (DHSCF), Patrick D. Francisco & Associates, a financial advisory firm helping people create sound retirement strategies, will provide a financial donation with each power play goal during the regular season to help fund four $500 scholarships to be presented to both male & female student athletes from Duluth Denfeld & Duluth East high schools.
     Male athlete scholarships will be awarded through the Ray Peterson Fund.  The female scholarships will be awarded in the name of former Duluth school teachers Thomas & Katherine Gibson. The DHSCF administers both funds.
Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of citizenship, academic performance and athletic participation in any interscholastic sport, as determined by members of the school’s faculty.
     The scholarship program will be promoted during each high school home game as the “Power Play Payoff”, presented by Patrick D. Francisco & Associates. All proceeds, without exception, will benefit the scholarship funds. 

SERTICH PUTS DULUTH ON THE NATIONAL SCENE...AGAIN! (2/22)


Mark Sertich in action, taken on his 94th birthday, July 18, 2015

     Those who watched the TCF Bank outdoor hockey game between the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, Feb 21, may have been surprised when Duluth's own Mark Sertich appeared live on the broadcast during the second & third periods.
     "Sertie" was invited to the game as the guest of NBC. He was introduced by NBC analyst and former Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick as being the oldest hockey player in the U.S (and possibly the world) who still plays the sport competitively. When asked by Roenick if he also plays golf, Sertie responded that he always intended to take up the game when he got too old for hockey. He just hasn't got there yet. 
      Sertie still plays morning hockey at the DHSC three days a week and will again be a participant in the Snoopy's Senior Adult Tournament held in July, in Santa Rosa, CA. 

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IN MEMORY OF A VERY GREAT MAN & SUPPORTER

Duluth area businessman, and strong supporter of the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center Tom Wheeler, passed away in his Tucson, Arizona home last Friday June 26th. He was 74 Years old. Tom had a passion to support the Duluth community. Here at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center you will see Tom’s name and photo on our Sill Arena Mezzanine. The Thomas B. Wheeler Collegiate Athlete Wall is a huge presentation of hockey players that have played at the next level. The special part of the wall is all players on it grew up in the Duluth area. Thomas was a very generous supporter of the EDHC.

Tom grew up playing hockey and football at Duluth East High School. He later went on to play college hockey at Hamilton College in New York.  

WDIO - Seitz Arena Face Shield Project - Ecolibrium3/Frost River

Follow the WDIO link below for some great coverage on what is taking place in Seitz Arena! 

https://www.wdio.com/duluth-minnesota-news/pay-it-forward-campaign/5744226/?cat=10335

If your own business/organization wanted to get involved please visit www.ecolibrium3.org/