After more than 40 seasons as the radio broadcast voice of Moorhead Spud athletics, Larry Knutson is hanging up his headset for the final time. Knutson has seen a countless amount of historic moments in Moorhead athletics history, including the Spud boys hockey team winning back-to-back state championships in 2025 and 2026. His final broadcast came on Saturday, March 7 when the Moorhead boys hockey team overcame a 4-1 deficit en route to walking-off Minnetonka 5-4 in 2OT to defend their state championship.
Over the past calendar year, Knutson saw the Moorhead High boys basketball, baseball, football, and boys hockey teams make appearances in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) state tournaments. In a conversation with WDAY Radio Sports Director, James McCarty, discussing Knutson’s career, boys hockey head coach, Jon Ammerman, spoke on Moorhead athletics’ success in recent history saying, “I’m glad in the last calendar year he was able to have some of those special calls”.
While talking on Larry Knuston’s impact on the Moorhead community with McCarty, Spud football head coach, Kevin Feeney said, “Everytime I hear Larry’s voice I know it’s something Moorhead athletics or maybe Cobber athletics.” Feeney continued by saying, “He’s been such a staple and the foundation for Moorhead high school.”
Knutson has been witness to many of the greatest moments in Spud athletics history over his time on the mic. All who listened from fans, family, administration, student-athletes, and many others had the chance to listen to Moorhead High athletics and had the chance to witness his love for local high school athletics in the community. “Growing up in Moorhead whether it was a football, or hockey, or boys basketball game. If you turned on the radio there was a good chance on a Tuesday or a Thursday night, that Larry was broadcasting one type of Spud athletics”, said Ammerman.
Continuing the conversation Feeney added, “Larry is such a professional, he gets to the facility super early. It was a comfort as a coach, when I’m doing the walk through and the next thing I know there’s Larry to do the pregame interview and you know all is right with the world when that happens.”
During the interview, Feeney joked, “that just means I gotta get you (Knutson) a headset… But I don’t know if I’m ready to let you (Knutson) start calling plays yet!” As the conversation progressed about Knutson’s impact on Spud football Feeney added, “In my mind our press box should just be Larry Knutson press box.”
Ammerman continued his appreciation of Knutson by saying, “He not only means a lot to me, but a lot of people in the community.” Ammerman added, “He’s a cornerstone of what Spud athletics is in our community.”
In closing Ammerman said, “a friendly voice on the radio, but a better person off it. I can’t imagine anybody is going to be able to fill the shoes. You have to be thankful for what he did contribute.”
“He should never have to show a press pass to ever walk into a stadium because that should be guaranteed wherever he goes,” Feeney mentioned.
There are many different people that watch, listen, and attend sporting events in the community… There are broadcasters, players, coaches, fans, etc. Many are easily spotted at a game or even on a broadcast, including Knutson, but how many play multiple roles while at an event/game? “He’s technically in the media, but he’s one of us”, said Feeney referring to Knutson as a crucial member of the greater moorhead community.
One thing is for sure, all who listened could feel the emotion from heartbreak to triumph and every other emotion in between when they tuned into a Moorhead athletics broadcast on WDAY Radio over the years with Larry Knutson on the mic.
