Hockey Stick Symbol of Town’s History

Eveleth Thrives on Hockey

Eveleth, Minnesota is a small town with a large hockey history.

Boasting multiple U.S. Olympic Hockey Team members, NHL players, college All-Americans and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame wasn’t enough, though.

So in 1995, Eveleth erected a 170 foot long tribute to the sport at the city’s heart.

The world’s largest free-standing hockey stick is still in the middle of Minnesota Iron Range town.

Standing testament to the proud history of John Mayasich, Mark Pavelich, Doug Palazzari, and countless other rink rats that learned the game on local ponds and inside the Eveleth Hippodrome.

The original stick was made of Aspen, but did not survive the elements, the current stick, is a replacement and constructed from pressure treated pine.

It’s not just the stick that’s new, though.

A memorial wall has been added to the display, documenting the history of hockey in Eveleth.

That history includes the first Minnesota State High School Hockey Championship Olympic gold medals in 1960 and 1980.

Eveleth’s place at the forefront of the hockey world has waned with the town’s decreased population and the expansion of hockey’s appeal.

However, the fervor and love of hockey in Eveleth has not decreased a bit.

The big stick stands for the history of hockey and Eveleth, but also to remind future generations of hockey players what they might one day achieve.