Proctor: A Small Town Building Something Special Why Proctor Hockey is on the Rise

There's something happening in Proctor, Minnesota, and it's getting harder to ignore.

A town of just over 3,000 people is developing a hockey program with a reach that extends well beyond its city limits. The Rails have players moving into junior and college hockey, a talented group coming through the high school program, and a community hockey environment that many larger towns would love to have.

The secret may be sitting right next to the indoor arena.

Proctor has a modern indoor facility, but two outdoor rinks located alongside it may be just as important to the community's hockey culture.

When the school day ends, those outdoor sheets become gathering places. Kids show up to skate, organize pickup games, work on their hands, and simply enjoy being around the game. They skate before practice and often return afterward.

Nobody needs to organize every minute. There are no complicated practice plans or coaches stopping play every few seconds. Kids learn by playing, competing, experimenting, and figuring things out for themselves.

That kind of unstructured ice time is becoming harder to find in an environment where so much of youth hockey is scheduled, supervised, and expensive.

Proctor still has room for kids to simply play hockey.

Younger players get to share the ice with older ones, friendships develop, and the game becomes part of everyday life. It's a grassroots environment that can build both better players and a stronger hockey community.

The program's influence is already visible in the careers of its alumni.

Carson Pavlowich has reached NCAA Division I hockey at the Air Force Academy. His path through junior hockey and into college provides a tangible example for young Proctor players who have ambitions beyond high school.

AJ Reyelts has made his mark with the Penticton Vees of the WHL and is committed to the University of Minnesota Duluth. Having a former Rails standout working toward a Division I opportunity close to home is another source of inspiration for the next generation.

Tanner Ross is continuing his development with the New Mexico Ice Wolves in the NAHL. His journey through junior hockey is another reminder that there isn't always one straight line from high school to the next level.

These aren't just names on an alumni list. They're examples that younger players can see and relate to. The opportunity to pursue junior and college hockey doesn't seem quite so distant when someone who once wore the same Proctor jersey is doing it.

The present group has its own collection of players attracting attention.

Jax Hardy is an especially intriguing young talent. Born in 2010, Hardy has attended USA Hockey national camps in consecutive years. He also produced 38 points in 27 games during his freshman season. That's an impressive start, and his potential makes him one of the players to watch as his career develops.

Drew Yost and Rafe Giswold give the Rails additional offensive options. Having multiple players capable of creating opportunities makes the group more difficult to defend and gives the coaching staff flexibility.

On the blue line, senior captain Wesley Paulson provides size, physicality, and leadership. He's a defenseman who brings a demanding presence to the back end and deserves more recognition among Northland players.

Xaiden Oliver adds puck-moving ability and another dimension to the defensive group. His skating and instincts give Proctor another option when transitioning from defense to offense.

In goal, Ashton Lee has earned attention of his own. His opportunity to skate with the NAHL's Minnesota Wilderness during the fall represents a valuable development experience and reflects the potential he has shown.

There is a nice mix of established leadership and younger talent throughout the roster. That combination gives Proctor something to build around.

Head coach Jeff Laspi has helped establish the direction and expectations for the Rails. Assistant coach Cory Ward brings additional experience and recognition, including two Minnesota High School Assistant Coach of the Year awards.

The coaching staff's job extends beyond preparing a team for its next opponent. Developing players, establishing accountability, and creating consistency from one season to the next are all part of building a sustainable program.

Proctor is beginning to see the results.

Last season, the Rails recorded a milestone victory over Hermantown, defeating one of Minnesota's traditional high school hockey powers for the first time in years. One game doesn't define a program, but wins like that can change how players view themselves and how opponents view them.

The youth program is contributing to that momentum as well, with strong teams making deep runs in regional and state competition. A healthy development pipeline gives the high school program something every coach wants: players arriving with experience, confidence, and an understanding of the community's expectations.

There are plenty of communities investing in hockey development. Proctor's approach is a reminder that the most important ingredients aren't always complicated.

A good indoor facility helps. Two outdoor rinks help even more. But the real value comes from creating an environment where kids want to spend their time, where younger players learn from older ones, and where hockey remains something people do because they love it.

The Rails have alumni reaching junior and college hockey, a promising current roster, committed coaches, and a community that continues to support the game.

For a town of just over 3,000 people, that's an impressive foundation.

Proctor hasn't finished building its hockey identity. The more interesting possibility is that the program is only beginning to show what it can become.

Small town. Big hockey culture. Proctor is a program worth watching.

Every Shift Is a Gift. Marty McDangle.