HIstory
The Pine Valley Ice Arena and Cloquet Area Recreation Center is located at 1102 Olympic Drive 55720. This is the home of the Cloquet Boys and Girls Lumberjacks hockey programs and the Cloquet youth hockey association. The Pine Valley arena was built in the late 1960's by 100% local volunteer labor, and was funded by door-to-door solicitation by the hockey program. The arena project was spearheaded by then head coach, Bill Kennedy. The Pine Valley arena opened for skating in 1970 featuring seating for 900 spectators, and had natural ice. Volunteer parents, and players pitched in to help flood the rink on cold Cloquet nights. Eventually, in 1978 artificial ice was added to the arena. The original Cloquet rink is namely called "The Barn" since it uniquely looks like an old barn from the outside and just "reaks" of hockey tradition and the smell of old wood on the interior. The Pine Valley Arena served as the primary rink, with an adjacent outside natural rink until 1997 when the Cloquet Recreation Center was erected. The Recreation Center is todays home of the Lumberjacks High School team and has seating for over 2,000 people. Local players in Cloquet claim the "Ice in the Barn is still better than the newer rink". Possibly proving they just don't build things the way they used to! Many Division 1 and NHL hockey players have donned the purple and gold colors of the Lumberjacks in the Pine Valley Arena, including Corey Millen, Derek Plante, and Jamie Langenbrunner. Derek and Jamie both returned to Cloquet for a ceremony after they captured the Stanley Cup together with the 1999 Dallas Stars, when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the finals.
Special thanks to Sherrie from the Cloquet Recreation Center for information on Pine Valley Arena
Founding and Purpose:
CAHA was established to teach the game of hockey to youth while also instilling values like fair play, teamwork, dedication, hard work, and goal setting.
History of CAHA:
The Cloquet Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) was founded to provide a place for kids to learn hockey while also emphasizing life lessons like teamwork and dedication. The organization built the "Barn" in 1972, which was designed to stand the test of time. CAHA also has a C.E.L.L.Y. program that encourages academic achievement among its young hockey players.
Early Days and Community Involvement:
The Pine Valley arena, which opened in 1970, was initially a natural ice rink, with volunteer parents and players helping to maintain it during cold Cloquet winters. Artificial ice was later added in 1978.
Lumberjacks Hockey:
Cloquet has a strong high school hockey tradition, with the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks representing the area in high school hockey.
NHL
Team USA
NCAA
Girls
CEC High School
Mr Hockey Finalists
1993 - Rick Mrozik
2005 - Mitch Ryan
2007 - Tyler Johnson
2008 - Justin Jokinen
Ms Hockey Finalist
2004 - Liz Palkie
2006 - Michelle Maunu
Girls High School Goalie of the Year
2005 - Johanna Ellison
Minnesota AP Player of the Year
Boys AP player of the year
1982 -- Corey Millen
1993 -- Jamie Langenbrunner
Girls AP player of the year
2005 -- Johanna Ellison
Frank Brimsek HS Goalie of the Year
1999 - Adam Laaksonen
2002 - Josh Johnson
2007 - Reid Ellingson
MN High School Girls Herb Brooks Award
2020 - Taylor Nelson
Boys All-State
1982
Corey Millen - 1st Team
1983
Jim Plankers - 1st Team
Jim Sprenger - 1st Team
1989
Derek Plante - 2nd Team
1992
Jesse Bertogliat - 2nd Team
1993
Jamie Langenbrunner - 1st Team
Rick Mrozik - 1st Team
2000
Ryan Langenbrunner - 2nd Team
2001
Clay Wilson - 2nd Team
Josh Johnson - 2nd Team
2002
Josh Johnson - 1st Team
Matt Maunu - 2nd Team
2007
Reid Ellingson - 1st Team
Tyler Johnson - 2nd Team
Girls All-State
2004
Johanna Ellison - 1st Team
Michelle Maunu - Honorable Mention
Liz Palkie - Honorable Mention
2005
Michelle Maunu - 1st Team
Johanna Ellison - 1st Team
Kristie Hakala - Honorable Mention
2006
Michelle Maunu - 1st Team
2007
Paige Thunder - 1st Team
Montana Vichorek - Honorable Mention
Sadie Lundquist - Honorable Mention
2008
Montana Vichorek - 1st Team
Sadie Lundquist - Honorable Mention
2009
Jesse Ryan - Honorable Mention
Sadie Lundquist - Honorable Mention
2011
Jesse Ryan - Honorable Mention
2013
Carley Esse - Honorable Mention
2020
Taylor Nelson - 1st Team
Boys State Tournaments
1982 - Consolation Champs
1992 - 4th Place
All Tournament Team
Dutch Barrett
Brad Chartier
1993 - Consolation Champs
All Tournament Team
Rick Mrozik
Aaron Novak
Jamie Langenbrunner
Sergei Petrov
2002 - Participant
2008 - Participant
Girls State Tournaments
2002 - Consolation Champs
All Tournament Team:
Liz Palkie
Johanna Ellison
2003 - Runner Up
All Tournament Team
Johanna Ellison
Liz Palkie
Michelle Maunu
2005 - Runner Up
All Tournament Team
Johanna Ellison
Kristi Hakala
Michelle Maunu
2006 - 3rd Place
All Tournament Team
Michelle Maunu
Paige Thunder
2009 - Participant
2020 - Runner Up
All Tournament Team
Taylor Nelson
Araya Kiminski
Tenley Stewert