Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

Long time Maroon and Gold Arena manager Darrell Nelson decided to retire in Dec. after 21 years of running the arena. Nelson came back in Feb as the school district needed time to look for his replacement.

The search is over and Mark Goodrich will take charge July 1.

ìTo have the opportunity to come back and hopefully spend the rest of my career giving back to the community that gave so much to me is great,î Goodrich said.

Goodrich is a Forest Lake native who not only attended Forest Lake High School, but as his memory serves him he thinks he scored the Rangers very first goal in their first game against Blaine.

After graduating from FLHS Goodrich and his wife relocated to New Richmond, WI, where he had a job outside of the ice arena industry.

When Goodrich got to New Richmond they were just forming their hockey program so he got involved.

I happened to be a Minnesota hockey player in Wisconsin at the time,î Goodrich said.

As the hockey association formed, so did an arena and Goodrich was involved in every aspect of its construction as were the other residents of New Richmond.

ìIím really mechanically oriented so I helped out,î Goodrich said. ìEveryone in town helped similar to the way they did when the Maroon and Gold was built.

Nelson noted that everyone was willing to help with the Maroon and Gold up to the point where the refrigeration system needed to be installed.

After helping the hockey association start up in New Richmond and helping with the construction of the arena, Goodrich became the high schoolís first hockey coach. While in New Richmond, outside of helping with the construction of it, Goodrich had nothing to do with the arena.

ìAfter about eight years as the high school coach I felt that I needed to make a change in my job so my wife and I decided to move back to the Scandia area,î Goodrich said. ìI then came in the Maroon and Gold one afternoon to check it out and started talking to Darrell. I just wanted to see the rink and he offered me a job and thatís how I got into the ice arena business.î

While working at the Maroon and Gold Goodrich said he witnessed everything that makes up the arena business, calling it an awakening and a learning experience.

ìThe first couple of years that I worked with Darrell, those were the years that molded and stamped meî Goodrich said. ìThey were my first impressions and Iíve modeled my career after Darrellís.î

Goodrich worked with Nelson for two seasons then moved on to a new job at the Minnesota State Fair Coliseum where he has been working for the past 19 years.

While working at the Coliseum he did a little bit of everything from maintaining the compressors to event coordinating. When the Coliseum isnít playing host to hockey games itís used for many other things such as the state fair, horse shows and even gun shows.

ìMark is probably more experienced in hosting events than I am,î Nelson joked.

Goodrich may have more experience in event coordinating, but he also says heís got everything he wants in life.

ìI have everything in my life right now that I ever wanted,î Goodrich said. ìI have a great wife, a beautiful farm, nice cows and I also have the opportunity to work or do what I want. Iím a little embarrassed with how good things have been for me.î

For those who visit the Maroon and Gold Arena this year they shouldnít expect to notice much change in the operation of the arena. The current Maroon and Gold staff will remain under Goodrich and they too shouldnít notice much difference in management styles between Goodrich and Nelson.

ìMy integrity is who I am and I expect no less from my employees,î Goodrich said.

Just because Goodrich is taking over as arena manager and Nelson is retiring, doesnít mean the hockey community has seen the last of Nelson.

ìUnless I die Iím not going to disappear,î Nelson said. ìI know this place down to every little sensor and Iíll be there to help with things when needed.î

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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