148th Reclaims Minnesota Air Guard Trophy

By Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka, 148th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published April 14, 2011

A hockey player from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. (red uniform) tries to stick handle around the goaltender for the 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn. during the 2011 Minnesota National Guard hockey tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)
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A hockey player from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. (red uniform) tries to stick handle around the goaltender for the 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn. during the 2011 Minnesota National Guard hockey tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)

Players from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. (red uniforms) and 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn. (blue uniforms) shake hands at the conclusion of their hockey game. The two teams were participating in the 2011 Minnesota National Guard hockey tournament held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)
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Players from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. (red uniforms) and 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn. (blue uniforms) shake hands at the conclusion of their hockey game. The two teams were participating in the 2011 Minnesota National Guard hockey tournament held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)

Players from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. (red uniforms) and 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn. (blue uniforms) go after a loose puck during the 2011 Minnesota National Guard hockey tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)
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Players from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. (red uniforms) and 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn. (blue uniforms) go after a loose puck during the 2011 Minnesota National Guard hockey tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)

Col. Steven Wabrowetz,148th Fighter Wing, Maintenance Group Commander drops the ceremonial puck to signify the start of the Minnesota National Guard hockey tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)
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Col. Steven Wabrowetz,148th Fighter Wing, Maintenance Group Commander drops the ceremonial puck to signify the start of the Minnesota National Guard hockey tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)

1st Lt. Jodi Kiminski of the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. sings the National Anthem before the start of the 2011 Minnesota National Guard Hockey Tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)
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1st Lt. Jodi Kiminski of the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. sings the National Anthem before the start of the 2011 Minnesota National Guard Hockey Tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)

Families from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. and the 133rd Airlift Wing out of St. Paul, Minn. take the time to enjoy open skating during the 2011 Minnesota National Guard Hockey Tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)
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Families from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. and the 133rd Airlift Wing out of St. Paul, Minn. take the time to enjoy open skating during the 2011 Minnesota National Guard Hockey Tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)

Minnesota National Guard families pose for a group picture with the Easter Bunny while attending the Minnesota National Guard Hockey Tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)
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Minnesota National Guard families pose for a group picture with the Easter Bunny while attending the Minnesota National Guard Hockey Tournament. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Duluth, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka)

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DULUTH, Minn. -- The 2011 Minnesota National Guard Hockey Tournament took place the weekend of the 9th and 10th of April. The tournament was held at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center located in Duluth, Minn.

The tournament field consisted of 2 teams from the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. and 2 teams from the 133rd Airlift Wing out of St. Paul, Minn. This year's tournament marked the 30th time that these two units competed against each other for Minnesota Air National Guard bragging rights.

Coming into this year the 148th Fighter Wing has won the Air Guard Tournament trophy on 15 different occasions while the 133rd Airlift Wing has been crowned champion 14 times. The 133rd Airlift Wing came into the tournament as the defending champion.

The weekend produced a lot of good play with highly competitive games, this made for some extremely entertaining hockey for those in attendance. When the dust finally settled on Sunday the 148th Fighter Wing was able to hold off the 133rd Airlift Wing's attempt to tie them in all time tournament championships and reclaim the Air Guard Tournament trophy for a 16th time.

This year's Guard Family Network Spring Party was held in conjunction with the 30th Annual Hockey Tournament. Families from the 148th Fighter Wing and 133rd Airlift Wing enjoyed crafts, lunch, open skating and a visit by the Easter Bunny!