Photo courtesy of Scott Mellenthin Members of the Mellenthin family pose for a photo. Front Row (L to R): Lincoln Mellenthin, Talan Plante, Tate Mellenthin, Chase Mellenthin, Piper Mellenthin and Chevi Atwell. Back Row (L to R): Kaleb Welvaert, Mason Plante, Taylor Mellenthin, Jes Mellenthin, Harold Mellenthin, Scott Mellenthin, Cody Mellenthin and Brady Mellenthin.

MARSHALL – In the town of Marshall, there are few names more synonymous with the sport of hockey than that of the Mellenthin family.

Dating all the way back to the late 1980s, the Mellenthin family has played an active role in helping to grow the sport in the community of Marshall. From coaching the youth and high school ranks – to suiting up and skating for the Tigers – the Mellenthins have been an integral part of transforming the program into what it is today.

Perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than in the case of Scott Mellenthin, who recently began his 15th season behind the bench as an assistant coach of the Marshall boys hockey team. With a front-row seat for countless seasons of on-ice action here in Marshall, seeing the program evolve over the years has been a rewarding experience for Mellenthin.

“It’s so much fun to see the program grow,” said Mellenthin. “When you’ve been around as long as I have, you might not know every young man who gets to the high school level, but you know something about him or his family. This program is still small enough that we all feel connected. Almost every player has had a relative or two who’ve come through the system, just like they are doing.”

Like many, Mellethin’s love for the game started as a child with inspiration coming from his mother, who loved the Minnesota North Stars and University of Minnesota Golden Gopher hockey teams. Before long, a young Scott was glued to the radio listening to his favorite teams skate.

“I grew up listening to every game on the radio,” said Mellenthin. “My parents loved Minnesota sports and they passed that love down to me. Hockey was always the most exciting sport to me. It combines the best parts of every game, in my opinion.”

Years later, that love and passion for the sport spread to the younger generations and culminated in an astounding total of nine members of the family actively involved in the sport at the family’s second home, the Red Baron Arena and Expo.

Among the long list of Mellenthin family members making their mark in Marshall hockey are two captains of the Tiger boys hockey team in senior forward Mason Plante and junior defenseman Kaleb Welvaert. Aspiring young Tigers looking to follow in the footsteps of their varsity relatives are Lincoln Mellenthin and Talan Plante, who are both participating at the Bantam level. Joining the two in the Marshall Area Hockey Association ranks are Chase and Tate Mellenthin at the Pee Wee level and Squirt level, respectively, and Piper Mellenthin on the girls 12U team. Last but not least, Cody Mellenthin is the arena’s long-tenured manager.

Providing the inspiration for the entire group is Scott’s dad, 93-year-old Harold Mellenthin who, according to Scott, has served as the group’s biggest supporter and most consistent fan through the years.

“He’s always been here, for all of us,” said Mellenthin. “He rarely misses a game. You can’t talk very long to him without talking about one of the kid’s games. He inspires all of us to keep playing and giving our best efforts.”

Naturally, the whole family has embraced the same level of passion for the sport.

“It basically just runs in our blood, to tell you the truth,” said Mellenthin. “It is the main hobby or pastime or sport in our family that gets the most attention. When you are born into this family, you will most likely get a very small jersey as your first present.”

Putting their love of the game to good use, the Mellenthins began to establish their Marshall hockey roots in the late 1980s, beginning with Scott’s brother Jon and his wife Pat getting involved with the program.

“My brother Jon and his wife Pat were the first to commit fully to the program, in the late 1980s and 90s,” said Mellenthin. “Their sons Jes and Cody were the first to play. Their daughter Tara (Plante) was a cheerleader, and now all of their children are players.”

Around that same time, Scott made the decision to begin coaching.

“My first coaching jobs were about 1990,” said Mellenthin. “I actually coached a couple years before my own sons (Taylor and Brady) began playing. Once they were involved, coaching their levels was a natural progression. Some assumed I’d stop coaching once my boys graduated, but the love for it has never left me. It’s so easy to get emotionally attached to these young men who come through the program. They are awesome kids who just want someone to care about them and teach them the game. I love every minute of it, and I am eternally grateful to my fellow coaches and the parents of these players, who’ve allow me to stay involved.”

Since taking that first dive into the coaching ranks nearly two decades ago, hockey in Marshall has seen some monumental changes – namely with the step up in competition to the Minnesota State High School League coming in 1997. On the bench coaching for 15 of those 22 seasons, Mellenthin has witnessed the growth of hockey in this region firsthand with numerous highly talented players donning the black and orange sweater over the years.

“We’ve come a long ways in this part of the state,” said Mellenthin. “Respect and recognition isn’t easily given in the sport. The game has grown and flourished in areas that were once unheard of. Even from the earliest days of hockey here in Marshall, we’ve always had at least a couple kids who could play with anyone. Our goal since Day One has been to increase the number of those that can play at the highest level, and it’s working.”

Scott points to the building of the Red Baron Arena as an integral part of that increase in number of players.

“The new arena has been very helpful in increasing our visibility and growing our numbers,” said Mellenthin. “It’s a beautiful place to play the game, and it’s something we are very proud of.”

Recently, the Red Baron Arena played host to many of those same players in the annual alumni game that took place on Sunday. Its an event that Mellenthin sets up and looks forward to each and every year.

“It has become one of my favorite days each season, honestly,” said Mellenthin. “It takes a lot of juggling to make it work, but it’s worth it. We just want them all to feel welcomed back here, always. This program would not be alive without all the hard work and dedication put in by the early hockey-loving families in Marshall so many years ago. Some no longer have ties, some do, but they all are welcome back and should know that we appreciate all they did to ensure that this game is available to the youth of today. We don’t take their hard work for granted.”

On hand for the event were members of the program’s lone state tournament run in 2013. Looking ahead, Mellenthin is hoping to relive that same thrill with the current Marshall hockey team that has been on fire as of late – winning eight straight games and entering Saturday’s Schwan’s Cup Open Tournament with a 9-1 record.

It will take everything they have to get there, notes Mellenthin, but remains their seasonal goal year in and year out.

“Anyone who experienced the thrill of reaching our first state tournament in 2013 will tell you how great that was,” said Mellenthin. “It’s our goal every year, and this one is no exception. But it will take everything we have and then some, to accomplish. This section has turned out some very good teams lately, and that will not change. It’s up to us to do what it takes to make it happen.”