In their quarter-century history, the Minnesota Wild have only played two outdoor games, winning a Stadium Series matchup with Chicago at the University of Minnesota in 2016 and falling to St. Louis in the 2022 Winter Classic at Target Field. For coach John Hynes and company, their official involvement in Hockey Day Minnesota is a pretty normal home game with a standard two NHL standings points on the line.
But for the coach and players who make their home in the State of Hockey, there is maybe a feeling that comes with that one special Saturday in January that lets them know this is a big deal from Baudette to Blue Earth and everywhere in between.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s a special thing in the State of Hockey, and I think on days like today, you recognize that,” Hynes said following the team’s morning skate at Xcel Energy Center. “It’s on TV, you have the games at the outdoor rinks, all of the rivalry games and all those things. It’s certainly exciting how it brings a buzz to the day.”
Wild captain Jared Spurgeon is originally from Edmonton, but as a Minnesota youth hockey dad now, he feels the excitement around an annual event like Hockey Day brings some extra fun to the NHL rink as well.
“Having kids in it, as well, it’s all pretty special to see the way everybody reacts to it and the excitement around the high school games, and all the host city does is pretty special as well,” said Spurgeon, who was experiencing his 10th Hockey Day Minnesota on Saturday.
Spurgeon added that the Twin Cities in the winter definitely have some favorable comparisons to his hometown of Edmonton.
“It’s pretty similar. Obviously, a lot of outdoor rinks, and it’s fun when you’re driving around to see the kids out there skating,” he said. “So, having today to celebrate the game we all love and to play it is pretty special.”
Having previously coached in New Jersey and Nashville, where hockey is part of the culture but certainly not to the extent that it seeps into parts of everyday winter life in Minnesota, Hynes — who is originally from hockey-crazy New England — said there is an appreciation for the game in this state that is rare.
“Being in a U.S. market where hockey is the number one sport in the state, today is another example of why it’s great to be here,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Wild brought a 14-3-1 record on Hockey Day Minnesota into Saturday’s game versus Calgary.
Next two HDM hosts set
Hockey Day Minnesota will stay in the Twin Cities’ outer ring suburbs a year from now, with the outdoor rink at the United Heroes League complex in Hastings hosting dozens of outdoor games over the course of a few days in January.
The full HDM schedule is normally announced after the NHL schedule for the coming season is released, as a Wild home game is traditionally the final contest of the night.
If the state of Minnesota was one giant rink, the 2027 Hockey Day Minnesota festivities would be played close to center ice, with Brainerd announced as the next host community in line. It will be a return to the northern half of the state for the event, which began in Baudette in 2007 and has been hosted “up north” by Duluth, Moorhead, Hermantown, Grand Rapids, Bemidji and Warroad.
“We are excited and honored about the opportunity to welcome Hockey Day Minnesota to our community,” Jack Freeman, Brainerd High School’s athletics director, said in a statement. “This will not just be a memorable experience for our students, but for everyone in the Brainerd Lakes Area. It’s a celebration of the game we love and an opportunity to showcase the remarkable people, hospitality, and pride that define our community.”
The 2027 outdoor rink will be set up at Brainerd International Raceway, and could potentially utilize the facility’s seating for around 20,000.
Briefly
The Minnesota Wild, in partnership with Minnesota Hockey and FanDuel Sports Network, today announced former St. Paul mayor and U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman as the 2024-25 State of Hockey Legacy Award winner.
ADVERTISEMENT
______________________________________________________
This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.
The Trust Project
