Northern Star: Duluth Harbor Monsters

The Harbor Monsters host the Knoxville Bandits on Saturday.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Harbor Monsters are coming off a spectacular first season in the arena league.

Reaching the top of the mountain as they won the ArenaMania championship last season, defeating the Iowa Woo 46-to-44.

The Harbor Monster return key pieces from their championship roster.

Including quarterback Hassan Brockman, who is ready to hit the ground running in year two.

“To come here and feel the love that’s here, why wouldn’t you come back,” said Brockman. “Sticking to the script honestly, rolling with what we got, adding in new players. You know, the new dogs that we got to replace who we let go or the guys that moved up, and just keep it going.”

The Duluth Harbor Monster have continued their championship culture by adding new players to the team.

“More pros, more pros. We got away from the semi-pro type players. We went after players that have been used to playing at a high level. Know what it takes to build an organization, to represent an organization,” said head coach Tony O’Neil.

One of those pros the Harbor Monsters add to the squad is Wide Receiver Dan Williams III who has played at all levels of the game.

” I have been to four NFL teams. The Jets, Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks,” said Williams III. ” Steve gave me the opportunity and I took it and ran with it. The only thing you need is a chance in life to be great at your position you in, at your craft.”

In Williams short time with the Harbor Monsters. He has taken a leadership role within the team.

“It’s great to have somebody like that in the locker room. Somebody that can be a leader, somebody that’s been to the mountaintop that can explain to players how to be a pro. What pro teams are looking for. It’s better if it comes from a player versus a coach”, said O’Neil.

The Harbor Monsters hit the field for their first preseason game this weekend and the team is ready to get fans back in the building.

“Honestly being on the field and hearing the crowd. It warms us up, it makes us ignite, do the things we need to do to get a championship and get the games won,” said De’Ron Maxwell.

” We just ready to go. We ready to defend what we took last year and we just ready. I hope they coming because we definitely coming to protect what we got here,” said Brockman.