Where the winters stretch long and the snow piles high, God gave man the game of hockey.

They say with every game played, every goal scored, and every bruise earned, a hockey player’s love for the game grows deeper.

Bill Sullivan and John Noah were two young men that hockey would do more for than just shape their futures—hockey would allow them to leave a legacy.

Discipline, grit, and sacrifice weren’t virtues learned on the ice for Sullivan and Noah. Discipline, grit, and sacrifice existed long before then. It’s how records get set and Olympic medals come home.

Two Good ‘Ol boys who served our country and came home safe to play some of the best hockey that has ever come out of Crookston.

It’s hard to say when the love for the game began, but it was evident from the very start that hockey would have a hold on these boys. Representing the Cathedral Blue Wave on the ice in the early 1940’s Sullivan and Noah were just beginning the journey of a lifetime. Little did they know the impact their futures were about to have on their small town in Minnesota.

Upon graduating from high school in 1944, Bill found himself in the United States Army Tour of Operations (ETO). He spent two years overseas until he was wounded in battle. Bill was discharged on July 7, 1946, and was honored with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for serving his country.

In 1947 Bill attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota where he continued to play hockey. Although miles from home he was greeted with the familiar faces of Don Norman, his high school hockey coach, and former teammate Jimmy Medved. While playing hockey for St. John’s, the team struck a 7 game winning streak which led them to the St. Paul Carnival Tournament in which they won, only after defeating both Eveleth and Saint Cloud. Bill ended his season that year as the team’s leading point holder.

John Noah, a new high school graduate himself, received a scholarship to also attend St. John’s University, but due to an illness in the family, John took a year off from school. During this time John played hockey close to home with States Dominion for the Crookston Pirates. The University of North Dakota later recruited him.

In 1948, Sullivan and Jimmy Medved were chosen by the U.S. Hockey Association’s Olympic selection team. This, being a big year for the Olympics, as they were canceled in 1940 and 1944 due to the war, only added to the excitement. Sullivan and Medved were chosen along with 54 other men to try out for the team. A 15-man squad would be selected from the group to participate in the games to be held in St. Moritz Switzerland in January of 1948. Of the 54 men trying out,19 were from Minnesota. Sullivan and Jimmy may not have been chosen to compete that year, but both would go on to leave their mark in remarkable ways.

Meanwhile, Coach Don Norman accepted a position coaching for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux—taking with him none other than his former players, Jimmy Medved and Bill Sullivan.

Once again John Noah, Jimmy Medved, and Bill Sullivan were playing hockey together.

Coach Don Norman became the youngest coach in the country at just 26 years old. That same year, UND entered Division 1, making him the youngest coach at the highest collegiate level.

The team was made up of players from 3 states, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The first win of the Inaugural Division 1 season happened on December 12, 1947, against the Grand Forks Amerks with an 8-0 shutout. The game was played at the Barn—which would be home to Sioux hockey for decades.

On January 10, 1948 UND defeated Michigan 6-5, with Noah, Medved, and Gordon Christian each scoring twice. Noah netted the game-winning goal with 46 seconds left on the clock in the third period. Michigan would go on to win the first NCAA Division 1 Tournament later that same year.

While the Sioux were in Colorado, the sports editor of the Colorado Springs Post-Gazette described UND as “the best hockey team to show here.” Considering teams like Harvard, Saskatchewan, and Michigan Tech had played there, this was high praise for UND—and it wasn’t unwarranted. That weekend, UND ended Colorado’s 13-game winning streak.

UND had two players record double hat tricks in their first Division 1 season. Proudly representing Crookston, the first came from Medved in a 13-5 win over Wichita, and the second came from Sullivan, who scored 8 goals in a single game—a record that still stands today.

Sullivan ended his season with 18 goals and 6 assists. Medved followed close behind in total points with 14 goals and 9 assists. Noah, a defenseman wrapped up his season with 13 goals.

Ending the season with an 11-5-0 record, including three wins out of four against Michigan Tech and series splits with Colorado College, Michigan, and Minnesota, UND proved they could compete with some of the strongest teams in collegiate hockey.

Coach Norman was quick to disclaim any credit for the team’s success, simply put, he said “I just had a darn good bunch of hockey players.” Norman proved that “His boys could beat some of the nation’s best.” Norman was praised heavily as a coach, his style and his patience were often mentioned when speaking of him.

Norman would go on to coach one more year for UND and then handed the reigns over to Fido Purpur.

As the seasons went on, John Noah was pursued by the NHL, with the Red Wings hoping to sign him. However, John chose to continue his education instead. In his later years, John once said, “Remember one thing, you can’t eat your hockey jersey.” This simple yet wise advice is still shared by those who knew him. John became the first 4-year letter winner at UND—playing every position except for goalie. Often playing close to 60 minutes per game. John finished his collegiate career with 29 goals and 44 assists for 73 points in 67 games. Bill Sullivan became a 3 year letter winner, the record holder of most goals in one game, and ended his days at UND having played 59 games, scoring 25 goals and 16 assists.

1951 brought big things for both Noah and Sullivan. Together they joined the Senior Pirates Amateur Hockey team and won the National Amateur Hockey League Championship. The team photo is displayed in Saint Paul at the Excel Energy Center and the Crookston Sports Center. Noah was named a 1st Team All-American—the first All-American in UND hockey history, but 1952 would bring bigger news for Noah. After two tryouts, John Noah would go on to play defense at the XV Olympic Games in Oslo, Norway. The American team won the Silver Medal, losing to Sweden, and tying with Canada who received Gold.

John and Bill went on to do great things after hockey.

Both men married, John naturally meeting his wife at a hockey game.

Bill started teaching in Hallock, and as you might have guessed, became a coach.

Loyal to hockey and its roots, Bill and John coached young hockey players, passing down the lessons they learned from Coach Norman years before.

Bill moved back to Crookston in 1955. Up until 1975 Bill taught at his alma mater, Crookston Cathedral High School, where he also coached hockey, football, and became the Athletic Director.

John wore many hats in his career, including becoming Chief Federal Probation Officer for North Dakota. Through the years, John was said to have built the hockey program in Fargo, North Dakota. One of John’s missions in life was to teach kids through sports—to keep them out of trouble. He established the first youth traveling hockey team in Fargo, the Fargo Scheels team. John and his brother Fr. Timothy Noah started the Varsity hockey program at Fargo Shanley High School in the early 1960’s. Later on, he would be known as the Godfather of Hockey in Fargo. A title he earned indeed.

In 1976 John was inducted into the UND Hall Of Fame, and the North Dakota Hall of Fame (also having nominations for the US Hockey Hall of Fame). Brad Berry, UND hockey coach and class of 1951 said of John, “He started the program in its infancy, built it from the ground up, and paved the way for the program to be what it is today.” Of all the titles and popularity John gained, his favorites always remained the same; Husband, Father, and Grampie. During retirement, it was said of John that he was “The best limo driver in town.”

In 2002 the UND Men’s Hockey team season 1948-49, was inducted into the UND Athletic Hall of Fame. An honor most deserving.

Bill Sullivan passed away at the age of 78 on March 9th, 2004. Bill’s sons, Paterick and Bill will remember him fondly as a man who never gave up, a man who gave back.

John Noah passed away on September 3rd, 2015, at the age of 87. John left behind 8 children, Matthew, Lisa, David, Paul, Mark, Thomas, Christopher, Andrew, and his wife Mary.

So, here’s to the memories of Bill Sullivan and John Noah—two men whose passion for hockey left a legacy that will never be forgotten.