Cal served in the marines during World War II, fighting on Saipan during the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign.

[2] Even in the midst of the war, Marvin was enamored with hockey and wanted his small hometown to have a rink of its own; he named the Warroad Arena Fund as the beneficiary of his $10,000 life insurance policy (roughly $145,000 in 2020).

After returning from the war, Marvin and Dick Roberts held several fundraisers for the community and by 1947 had raised enough money to build the city's first ice rink.

Marvin had also began attending the University of North Dakota in 1946 and with the help of Red Jarrett he brought back the varsity ice hockey team.

Over a dozen Lakers alumni played for the US National Team including Bill and Roger Christian, who won gold medals at the 1960 Winter Olympics.