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In Loving Memory Of  Sgt. Bryan Opskar
 

In memory of former Princeton hockey player, 2006 Princeton High School Honorary Hall of Fame inductee and Marine Corps Sgt. Bryan Opskar, who was killed in action on July 23rd, 2005 while on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

 Princeton Hockey is honoring Bryan by having an annual award appropriately called the “Unsung Hero Award”.  This award will be given each year to the player on the Boys Hockey Team who leads by example without glorifying himself.  Quiet but willing to do his job without question and will do what is needed without hesitation for his teammates and coaches.

 Honoring Bryan is Girls Head Hockey Coach, Butch Finstrom-a long time friend who has coached along side with Bryan’s father Erling for many years.  Steve Johnson-another long time friend of Erling and Betty Opskar, who also coached with Erling in the youth hockey association here in Princeton, and Boys Assistant Hockey Coach, Curt Wilson-a long time friend who grew up playing hockey and football with Bryan and who in 2003, served with Bryan and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in the war in Iraq.

 Bryan grew up playing hockey and football in Princeton where he graduated in 1991.  He played Junior hockey in the Twin Cities and college hockey at Concordia College in Moorhead.  In 1998 he joined the Marine Corps and on July 23rd, 2005, he was killed by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations west of Baghdad.  According to Bryan’s wife Leandra, “He would not have been anywhere else on July 23rd”.  Bryan was a tank commander for his unit, the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, who unselfishly sacrificed his own life so that the rest of his crew could live.  He is a true Hero who quietly did his duty for our Country and never expected anything in return.

 Presenting the “Unsung Hero Award” commemorative plaques to Erling and Betty Opskar and to Bryan’s wife-Leandra is the Boys Head Hockey Coach Todd Frederick.

 Along with the plaques, Princeton High School Captains presented to the Opskar Family, in honor of Bryan, a case displaying Bryan’s high school jersey, American Flag and pictures of Bryan.  This case will be proudly displayed in the front lobby entrance of the arena.