Our History
Watford City Oiler Hockey was started in 1985 by Dave Hansen and Arden Berg. Dave moved to Watford City, from Grand Forks a year earlier when he met Arden Berg, a life-long resident of the community and at the time a member of the Board; the two quickly became close friends. In the Fall of 1985, after encouragement from Lynette, Dave approached Arden with the idea of starting a hockey program in Watford City. The Park Board supported the idea and flyers were made to recruit kids of all ages to join the new program...Oiler Hockey was born!
An outdoor rink was constructed with funds provided by the Park Board. The first team was formed, consisting of twelve players, ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old. The inaugural home game was against Sidney, in February 1986, starting a rivalry that lives on to the game tonight. In the beginning, the ice was cleaned with a garden tractor and hockey parents armed with shovels. The first players-utilized household items as their equipment, like phonebooks and catalogs for shin pads.
In the beginning, the wins for the Oilers were few and far between however the program grew year-over-year and Oiler teams became more and more competitive. By the 1989-90 hockey season, Watford City had three teams (Mite/Squirt/Bantam) with forty total players. During this season, a hockey booster club was formed and the Oilers officially entered the amateur Hockey Association making the team eligible for tournaments and players insurance.
Weather permitting, the Oilers played hockey outdoors for seven years until the dream of indoor ice became a reality. The Multi-Purpose Building was constructed and commissioned, in 1994, with the help of countless players, parents, volunteers, and generous donations from the Watford City community.
Over the years ,the Oiler hockey program has grown and prospered under the leadership and support of Dave, Arden, and their families; coupled with the blood, sweat, and tears of loyal hockey parents. Past, present, and future Oiler hockey players will be forever indebted as the beneficiaries of this hard work, commitment, and dedication.
The Oiler hockey program now begins a new chapter with the building of the Roughrider Events Center, a state-of-the-art facility, complete with two sheets of ice. It is hard to imagine that Dave and Arden’s plan to start a hockey team 32 years ago would have led to the program we have today. The dedication, leadership, and love these men have shown to the program has left a lasting impression on Oiler alumni, many of whom are contributing as leaders in a thriving Watford City hockey program today and raising future generations who will forever identify themselves as “hockey players”.
