Former Gustie hockey players Chris Middlebrook '79 (on left) and Chris Halden '78 (on right) were a part of the first class inducted into the USA Bandy Hall of Fame this week. Photos courtesy of USA Bandy.
St. Peter, Minn. – Former Gustavus Adolphus men’s hockey players Chris Middlebrook ’79 and Chris Halden ’78 have been inducted into the United States Bandy Hall of Fame. As part of USA Bandy Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, Middlebrook and Halden were two of six individuals inducted at a ceremony held Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Aster Café in Minneapolis. The USA Bandy Hall of Fame will be housed at the Guidant John Rose OVAL in Roseville, training site for the U.S. bandy team.
Middlebrook, who played in 81 games (1977-79) and registered 24 points off six goals and 18 assists under legendary head coach Don Roberts in the late-1970s, serves as President of USA Bandy. A founding father of bandy in Minnesota, Middlebrook was one of the hockey players at the Richfield Ice Arena in December of 1980 when the sport was introduced. Over the past 34 years, Chris has been an ideal representative for bandy as a player, coach, and administrator.
See below for Chris Middlebrook’s complete USA Bandy Hall of Fame Biography
http://www.usabandy.com/news_article/show/426756?referrer_id=595067
Chris Halden played one season (1977-78) and recorded 14 points (7G, 7A) for the Gusties during his time on the hill. Now the USA Bandy League Commissioner, Chris enters the hall considered USA Bandy’s biggest ambassador over the past three decades. As a player, coach, manager and bandy ambassador, his efforts have provided hundreds of players over the last 30 years the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of playing overseas and playing for their country.
See below for Chris Halden’s complete USA Bandy Hall of Fame Biography
http://www.usabandy.com/news_article/show/426747?referrer_id=595067-news
The United States Bandy Hall of Fame was dedicated in 2014 to be America’s bandy showplace to honor the legends of the game who helped build bandy in America through their efforts on the ice, “behind the bench”, or promoting the game.
The USA Bandy Hall of Fame website can be found here.
Bandy is played on an ice surface the size of a soccer field. It is best described as field hockey on skates. Each team is made up of 11 players including a goalkeeper.
The aim of Bandy is to score goals by hitting an orange or pink ball the approximate size of a tennis ball into the opposing team’s net with a curved stick four feet in length. Depending on how the player strikes the ball with the stick, he or she can put a spin on the ball, making it curve, knuckle or dive. The ball has a cork center and a hard rubber cover.
For further information on the sport of bandy and the American Bandy Association, go to http://www.usabandy.com/
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Michael Rand, Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/sports/280007142.html