The River Falls Renegades was a Tier III junior ice hockey team that played first in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL) and then the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team was not listed among the USPHL membership in 2017–18.
40-773: The team was founded in 2007 as part of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL) as the Hudson Crusaders in Hudson, Wisconsin . Their highest achievement was advancing to the 2011 USA Hockey National Tournament where they defeated the Seattle Totems of the Northern Pacific Hockey League becoming the only team to win a game at Nationals with a losing regular season record (the unusual circumstance stemming from
80-527: A 35-acre (14 ha) lake. The Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children was built in 1886. The school took in orphans from around the state and taught them "the value of drill, discipline, and labor." The children who died in the institution were interred in the Children's Cemetery behind the school. In 1945, the orphanage closed and in 1947 the State Public School
120-553: A Republican. District 24 includes portions of Steele, Rice and Waseca and Dodge counties in the southeastern part of the state. Owatonna is in House District 24A, represented by State Representative John Petersburg , a Republican, since 2012. Owatonna is in Minnesota's 1st congressional district , represented by Brad Finstad , a Republican. Public education is provided by Independent School District No. 761 In Owatonna
160-445: A household in the city was $ 45,660, and the median income for a family was $ 54,883. Males had a median income of $ 37,691 versus $ 25,511 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,513. About 4.3% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.9% of those under 18 and 6.9% of those 65 or over. Owatonna is an economic center of Southern Minnesota, with diverse industries. Federated Insurance
200-722: A new Midwest Division. To go along with the change in leagues, the Crusaders also changed their name to the St. Croix Valley (SCV) Magicians to reflect their direct relationship with their higher level NAHL team. During the 2015–16 season, the team relocated from Hudson, Wisconsin , to the Vadnais Sports Center in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota . Prior to the 2016–17 season, the USPHL Midwest was divided between
240-568: A pharmacy, Owatonna quickly prospered and grew to 1,500 inhabitants in five years. Kaplan wrote about the Owatonna area in letters donated to the Minnesota Historical Society. In them, he described often seeing the indigenous people with "tough constitutions...brown skin and good dispositions", adding: "When you read about battles between whites and Indians, it is the whites who are to blame." In 1866, Kaplan helped organize
280-408: A result, the school district received $ 77.9 million to repair all buildings, replace out-of-date equipment, update security in all seven public school buildings, switch the use for two school buildings, and reconfigure grades from K-5, 6, 7-8, 9-12 to K-5, 6-8, 9-12. All facility changes and projects were completed by September 2018. On November 5, 2019, Owatonna voters approved a referendum, allowing
320-630: A senior activity center, the Owatonna Arts Center, two nonprofit daycare centers, a chemical dependency halfway house, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, among others. In July 2008, a Raytheon Hawker 800 corporate jet crashed near Owatonna, resulting in eight deaths. On November 3, 2015, the Owatonna Public School District passed a bond referendum to fund school facilities improvements focusing on deferred maintenance, safety, and Elementary school crowding. As
360-608: A similar name and logo, this team is unrelated to the former Southern Minnesota Express , which relocated to Michigan to become the Motor City Machine . The Express began play in the 2008-2009 season, and completed its final season in March 2011. Owatonna is governed by a mayor and city council. City Council of Owatonna, MN City council The city is in Minnesota's 24th Senate District, represented by John Jasinski ,
400-487: A town on August 9, 1858, and as a city on February 23, 1865. In 1856, Josef Karel Kaplan emigrated from the village of Dlouhá Třebová, southeast of Prague, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), and selected a quarter section [160 acres (65 ha)] of land near the town of Owatonna. Kaplan described Owatonna as having just 50 small homes, but predicted 100 within a year, along with a railroad. With just four stores and
440-675: Is a city and the county seat of Steele County , Minnesota , United States. The population was 26,420 at the 2020 census . Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair in August. Interstate 35 and U.S. Highways 14 and 218 are three of the main routes in the city. Owatonna was first settled in 1853 around the Straight River . The community
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#1732790705510480-566: Is a national landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and functions as a branch of Wells Fargo Bank. The State School Museum is at West Hills on the grounds of the former Minnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected Children . The Steele County Blades is a junior hockey team that plays at Four Seasons Center and is a member of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League. Although having
520-548: Is the largest employer, with 1,521 employees, followed by an expanding Viracon, which has 1,434 employees. Both have their corporate headquarters in Owatonna. Other large employers in the community are Bosch , Jostens , Gopher Sport, Brunswick Corporation ( Cybex International ), Daikin Industries , Climate by Design (CDI), AmesburyTruth, ISD 761, Wenger Corporation, Owatonna Clinic - Mayo Health System , and Owatonna Hospital - Allina Hospitals & Clinics . In 1974,
560-548: The Central Division prior to the 2014–15 season. The league also expanded into southern Minnesota for 2012–13. Steele County Blades , based in Owatonna , were approved by the league board and play out of Four Seasons Centre. The United States Premier Hockey League announced on December 18, 2014, the formation of a Midwest Division to begin in the 2015–16 season by adding the entire Central Division of
600-721: The 1990s. In 2012, the MnJHL expanded outside of the Minnesota and Wisconsin areas adding teams from the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League . The GLJHL switched from USA Hockey to the Amateur Athletic Union and eight of its teams refused to go with it. The eight Great Lakes Division teams formed their own division in the MnJHL while the original teams compete in the Minnesota Division . The Great Lakes Division would be renamed
640-804: The 2015–16 season. In June, the Wooster Oilers would drop out of the USPHL and only field a team in the NA3HL using the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks franchise it had purchased on February 12, 2015. Prior to starting their first season in the USPHL, the Ironwood Fighting Yoopers and Minnesota Owls announced they would go dormant for the 2015–16 season due to lack of players, the Crystal Lake Rampage were replaced with
680-708: The Catholic cemetery, and a year later, the Bohemian National Cemetery of Owatonna. Kaplan's Woods is part of the land originally owned by Josef Kaplan, and later Victor and Anna Kaplan. The State of Minnesota created Kaplan's Wood State Park, which was later transferred to the City of Owatonna. The Kaplan's Woods Parkway contains over 6 miles (10 km) of hiking and cross country skiing trails, and nearly 2 miles (3 km) of hard-surfaced, handicapped-accessible trail. The parkway includes Lake Kohlmier,
720-984: The Chicago Cougars, the Fort Wayne Federals were replaced with the Indiana Attack but ceased operations prior to their first season, the Hudson Crusaders were renamed the SCV Magicians , the St. Louis Frontenacs were renamed the St. Louis Storm but ceased operations prior to their first season, and the Maple Grove Energy were relocated to become the Blaine Energy . Owatonna, Minnesota Owatonna ( / ˌ oʊ w ə ˈ t ɒ n ə / OH -wə- TON -ə )
760-453: The City of Owatonna purchased the campus of the former Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children , which had been in operation from 1886 until 1945. The site was renamed West Hills, and now serves as an administrative center for the City of Owatonna, as well as housing several nonprofit organizations in the various historic buildings, including the Owatonna Arts Center. Little Theatre of Owatonna has called Merrill Hall in
800-426: The Crusaders winning the bronze medal game, the MnJHL runners-up Rochester Ice Hawks automatically qualified as they were hosting the tournament). Prior to the 2012–13 season, the team nearly folded one week before the season was to begin when the team president and board of directors resigned. A local group quickly acquired and reorganized the team and staff to save the franchise. In 2013, the new group also acquired
840-498: The MnJHL developed players 20 years old and younger for over 40 years. Many MnJHL players, coaches and officials alumni have moved on to college hockey and professional hockey leagues. Since the inaugural season, the MnJHL had expanded up to 17 teams in the 2014–15 season with teams in Minnesota , Wisconsin , Illinois , Indiana , Michigan , Missouri and Ohio . The league has a history of USA Hockey national championship teams. League members won national championships six times in
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#1732790705510880-734: The MnJHL. By the end of the season most of the remaining teams in the MnJHL (all teams other than the Rochester Ice Hawks and the dormant Twin Cities Northern Lights ) had announced their intentions to join the USPHL Midwest. On April 29, 2015, it was announced that the league had disbanded for the 2015–16 season. On May 21, 2015, the Rochester Ice Hawks were approved to join the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) to begin playing in
920-825: The USPHL's Elite and USP3 Divisions with the Magicians going to the Elite Division. On July 28, 2016, the Magicians announced that they had relocated once again to become the River Falls Renegades and play out of the River Falls Youth Hockey Rink in River Falls, Wisconsin . The Crusaders/Magicians/Renegades produced a few alumni that played in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division I , Division III , and ACHA college programs as well as professional hockey. During
960-725: The West hills their home since 1966 The ongoing practical joke Pesky Pants took place in Owatonna between 1965 and 1989 In the middle of Owatonna's downtown is the National Farmer's Bank , widely recognized as one of the premier examples of the Prairie School of architecture in America. Designed by Louis Sullivan , the building was finished in 1908 and features gold leaf arches, stained-glass windows, and nouveau Baroque art designs, all still in pristine condition. It
1000-428: The age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age in
1040-557: The city was 37.2 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. As of the census of 2000, 22,434 people, 8,704 households, and 5,936 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,779.9 inhabitants per square mile (687.2/km ). There were 8,940 housing units at an average density of 709.3 per square mile (273.9/km ). The racial makeup of
1080-564: The city was 94.09% White , 1.56% African American , 0.13% Native American , 0.99% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 1.92% from other races , and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.31% of the population. There were 8,704 households, of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who
1120-479: The city. The population density was 1,761.8 inhabitants per square mile (680.2/km ). There were 10,724 housing units at an average density of 738.1 per square mile (285.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White , 3.8% African American , 0.3% Native American , 0.9% Asian , 2.2% from other races , and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.3% of the population. There were 10,068 households, of which 34.1% had children under
1160-528: The county's stories, and connects people with history in meaningful ways, for today and for tomorrow." Established in 1949 to preserve the history of Steele County, it has become one of the largest and most prestigious historical societies in the state. In 1962, the Society permanently leased part of the southeast section of the fairgrounds to begin a pioneer village, the Village of Yesteryear , which has grown in
1200-408: The eastern bank of the Straight River , extending towards the south from Maple Creek . The city has grown in all directions, and now lies on both sides of the river, as well as above the ridge north of Maple Creek. Significant growth in recent years has occurred to the northeast, where homes have been built along the ravine of Maple Creek as well as alongside Brooktree Golf Course, to the north, and to
1240-500: The ridge north of Maple Creek that marks the boundary between the oldest parts of the city and more recent developments. Record rainfall events from September 22 to 24, 2010, caused flooding of the Straight River and Maple Creek in and near Owatonna, with developments in the floodplains of both streams completely inundated. As of the census of 2010, there were 25,599 people, 10,068 households, and 6,737 families resided in
River Falls Renegades - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-561: The rights to a Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) franchise that they relocated to Richfield, Minnesota , and named the Minnesota Magicians . This created a direct link for advancement for their players to develop from Tier III to Tier II junior hockey. In 2015, the MnJHL was dissolved as many of the former members left to join the United States Premier Hockey League as part of
1320-481: The school district 104 million dollars in bond authority to build a new Owatonna High School . A smaller bond was also approved for the redevelopment of the old OHS site. The new high school, a 317,000 square foot building, located in south eastern Owatonna, broke ground on May 6, 2021, and opened to students on September 5, 2023. A public grand opening ceremony was held on September 23, 2023. The Steele County Historical Society "preserves Steele County's past, shares
1360-474: The southeast. Geographical landmarks of note include Kaplan's Woods, a hardwood nature preserve on the southern border of the city; Cinder Hill, a steep 60-foot hill on Linn Avenue overlooking downtown that local athletes use for training; the Straight River dam, originally used to power a mill and now reconstructed to include a fish ladder; and the Forest Hill Cemetery, an old wooded cemetery on
1400-550: The years 2007–2012 they advanced fifty players to a higher level. From 2013 to 2016, players for the Crusaders/Magicians were also called up to their Tier II affiliate, the Minnesota Magicians , since they played their home games about thirty minutes away. Minnesota Junior Hockey League The Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL) was a USA Hockey -sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league operated out of Minneapolis-Saint Paul . Established in 1974,
1440-479: The years since through the additional move of historic structures, as well as museum buildings built on site. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 14.62 square miles (37.87 km ); 14.53 square miles (37.63 km ) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km ) is water. The oldest part of the city (including the downtown area) is on a low-lying area on
1480-443: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.08. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males. The median income for
1520-551: Was named after the Straight River, which in the Dakota language is Wakpá Owóthaŋna . A popular, but apocryphal, story is that the town is named after "Princess Owatonna", the daughter of local Native American Chief Wabena who was supposedly healed by a nearby spring's magic waters, which were said to be rich in iron and sulfur. The earliest the Owatonna area was settled was in 1854. It was platted in September 1855, incorporated as
1560-476: Was officially abolished and all its lands, buildings, property, and funds were transferred to the newly established Owatonna State School, which provided academic and vocational training for the developmentally disabled. The Owatonna State School was closed June 30, 1970. In 1974, the City purchased the compound for its office space. Renamed "West Hills," it continues to serve as the City's administration complex and home to many nonprofit civic organizations including
1600-648: Was the Owatonna Art Education Project . Parts of the 1995 movie Angus were filmed in and around Owatonna, including Owatonna Senior High School , its football team, and marching band. Much of the 2014 silent film The Root of Evil was shot on location in Owatonna, most notably at the Owatonna Senior High School and the Gainey Center. Produced by a cast and crew of over 60 Owatonna High School students,
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