Staff
The coveted trophy from the International Tug-of-War, dubbed “Pulling for Peace,” returned to Fort Frances on Saturday after the Canadian community team beat out the squad from International Falls.
“It was awesome. We got them right off the hop,” enthused Mike Gurski, who had hand-picked the members of our community team.
Two “pulls” took place—a celebrity pull and the community one—but it was the community pull that was for the trophy.
The exhibition celebrity pull featured 20 invited guests on each side.
Fort Frances’ team included Mayor Roy Avis and council, former footballers Jack “The Hammer” Cameron and Bill “The Undertaker” Low, as well as our MP, John “Relentless” Rafferty and MPP, Howard “The Hitman” Hampton.
Former NHL’ers Mike “Red Dog” Allison and Dave “Big Red” Allison rounded out the squad.
International Falls, meanwhile, recruited six Minnesota Vikings’ alumni, with “The Motivator” Matt Blair being named as captain for Team U.S.A. in the exhibition match.
Team Canada won the celebrity pull, although there was some talk that Team U.S.A. had not been ready to start.
“Whether or not we won the celebrity pull was irrelevant,” noted Fort Frances Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft, citing the community pull was the one that really mattered.
The community pull, featuring 50 locals, followed the celebrity one and again it was Team Canada that was victorious.
“We really wanted to win that trophy back after having lost it last year,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft remarked.
International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason brought the trophy over by boat and presented it to Mayor Avis and Gurski in front of the cheering spectators at the Sorting Gap Marina.
Team Canada now has won three of the four International Tug-of Wars.
