Lumberjacks Ready to Defend their Title [AUDIO]

SAUK RAPIDS - The Granite City Lumberjacks have been playing hockey in town since 2007, but some of you still may not know much about them.

Coach Brad Willner says they're basically the hockey version of the St. Cloud Rox.

Willner says they get about 500 fans for their home games, but would always like to have more.

The hockey team is a member of the Tier 3 junior A league.  Willner says the team is made-up of 17 to 20 year olds.

Willner says most of their players come from Minnesota and Wisconsin, but they do have players from across the country, as well as one Australian on the team.  They stay with host families from around the area during the eight-month long season.

The Lumberjacks are a non profit organization that was formed by Jon, Dan, and Loren Hall of Matthew Hall Lumber - which is where the name "Lumberjacks" comes from.

The Lumberjacks are the defending champions in their league.  They return seven players from that team, and they have 18 new players.  They'll drop the puck on this season this Friday and Saturday at Sports Arena East in Sauk Rapids.