Home sweet home for Hockey Day Minnesota 2014

It is one of my favorite days of the year.  In fact, it was Hockey Day Minnesota that inspired the design for the logo that we have here at The State of Hockey News.  The hockey sticks at notable 'hockeytowns' throughout Minnesota as well as the image of kids playing pond hockey which is an homage to the game's roots.  The annual celebration of the game that I love and its place as a major portion of the culture in the place that calls itself the State of Hockey.  I remember watching, and reporting about the first Hockey Day Minnesota back in 2007 which started rather modestly compared to what its become.  The first one was held on Baudette Bay right along the U.S. / Canadian border and it looked like a blast as teams from Lake of the Woods and St. Paul Johnson played one another in an outdoor game to celebrate the game's roots.   As I watched the game I became fixated on one question.  Will a Hockey Day Minnesota ever come to my hometown of Elk River?  As Hockey Day Minnesota was a huge hit, and each event has been bigger and better than the last.  The city of Elk River and the Elk River Area School District (ISD 728) began actively lobbying Fox Sports Net North and the Minnesota Wild to become the hosts of Hockey Day Minnesota.  Elk River seemed to be a logical choice; it had the passion for the game, the history, and the perfect setting for an outdoor game.  In fact, I would argue it might be the most perfect outdoor setting in Hockey Day Minnesota's 7-year history as the games will be played on the Historic Handke "Pit" which is the same place myself and just about all Elk River hockey players, boys and girls, first learned to skate and play the game.  Then came the news that it was finally going to happen and I've had the date circled on my calendar ever since.  

You see, unlike many of the other venues that hosted Hockey Day Minnesota where communities constructed an outdoor rink for the purpose of the event the Handke "Pit" is where the game has always been played.  Glaciers naturally formed the bowl that made it a stadium and kids have been playing hockey there since the 1920's.  It has a warming house built around 1940 that is about as 'old time hockey' as you can get, stone and mortar, musty with a wood stove where players can make themselves a cup of cocoa before going out on the ice.  You step out of the warming house and in a scene sort of similar to the movie Mystery, Alaska you skate a path before getting out to the huge frozen sheet that surrounds the boards set aside for hockey.  Here, kids played hockey after school and well into the evening and pick up games were always on.  I will be returning home to attend the festivities but I will do my best to cover the day's events.  So what is there to look forward to?  

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1.  Great hockey!  Let's face it, hockey is what this day is all about.  There is 16 hours of coverage that Fox Sports North is providing for Hockey Day Minnesota here is a preview of all of the game action.  All the times listed are in Central Standard Time and are listed as they would be broadcast on Fox Sports-North.  

Rochester Lourdes Eagles (Boys) vs. Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks ~ It all starts at 10:15AM with some Boys High School hockey with Class A, Rochester Lourdes playing Class AA, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton.  Lourdes has represented Section 1 for years at the State Tournament and while this season has been a bit more difficult for the Eagles they'll be amped to play a traditional Northern school power in Cloquet-Esko-Carlton.  The Lumberjacks have also had some adversity of its own so it should make for hard fought game by two clubs really needing a victory.  (Game Time: 10:15AM)

Elk River / Zimmerman Elks (Boys) vs. Stillwater Ponies ~ The next match up will feature host Elk River against Stillwater.  Elk River has its name amongst the best teams in Class AA, having earned wins over ranked foes like Edina, Blaine and Duluth East.  Look for Elk River to have a big game from Chase Springman and Ryan Jaremko.  Stillwater has had respectable games against some high quality opponents like Wayzata, Cretin-Durham Hall and Centennial as well as earning a victory over Minnetonka so it should be another quality high school matchup.  The Ponies will hope to counter Elk River's powerful attack with John Heddle and Mitch Reinke.  (Game Time: 1:00PM)

Hockey City Classic – Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes ~ The day's next game moves to TCF Bank Stadium for the Golden Gophers' hosting its first outdoor game in almost 100 years.  It is sort of interesting to note that Ohio State seems to have been selected as an opponent for quite a few of these outdoor games playing in the original Frozen Tundary classic back in 2003 against Wisconsin played at Lambeau Field.  The #1 ranked Golden Gophers will play an up and coming Ohio State squad that has one of the nation's most dangerous forwards in Ottawa Senators' prospect Ryan Dzingel (13G 14A).  Minnesota has more of a balanced attack, led by a talented group of freshman that features Justin Kloos and Hudson Fasching.  TCF Bank Stadium will likely be packed for this game and it should make for a spirited game.  (Game Time: 5:00PM) 

Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars ~ The next game is often considered the marquee event of the bunch as the Wild play fellow Central Division foe and natural rival Dallas.  The team formerly known as the North Stars have struggled as of late, but they still have the players to be rather dangerous in young studs Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.  Meanwhile the Wild's injury woes have forced them to embrace a new hero each night and its prospect depth has managed to keep its playoff hopes afloat.  So which young player(s) will have an impact for the Wild on Saturday night?  I sure hope former North Stars great Neal Broten pulls off his North Stars sweater for a Wild sweater like he did back in 2000!  (Game Time: 8:00PM)

Elk River / Zimmerman Elks (Girls) vs. Anoka Tornadoes ~ The last match up (at least on TV) is between two arch rivals, Elk River and Anoka.  If this universe is like the show the Simpsons; Elk River is Springfield, Anoka has been our Shelbyville for as long as I can remember.  Just 10 miles down the road, the rivalry is intense and will no doubt continue with this game.  Elk River is steadily building itself back to prominence and will look to Abby Canton and Breanna Simon to lead the way, while the Tornadoes who are also in a state of rebuilding will hope Blair Parent will be enough to keep it close.  Either way, the fact there should be a good mix of Anoka and Elk River fans antagonizing one another all game long might make for some interesting viewing.  (Game Time: 11PM-ish as tape delayed from the 4:00PM real game time)

2.  A storied hockey heritage.  Our town will really have a chance to celebrate its proud hockey heritage.  It has had tremendous success in its youth and high school hockey programs for both boys and girls.  I certainly would say hockey is Elk River's sport per se, and that's saying a lot in a community that really loves its athletic programs as a whole.   Its a town that has had many of its players (men and women) go on to play college hockey at both the Division III and Division I level as well as a few that opted the Canadian Major Junior route instead.  It has produced four NHL players in Joel Otto, Dan Hinote, Paul Martin and current Wild defenseman Nate Prosser.  Two of those players have had the good fortune of having their name engraved on the Stanley Cup as Joel Otto won with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and Dan Hinote with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001.  Elk River can also boast that two of its players have gone onto compete in the Winter Olympics as Otto played for the U.S. at Nagano games in 1998 and Paul Martin will compete for the U.S. later this winter in Sochi.  One person who I also want to see mentioned and featured even though it may be 'controversial' is legendary high school hockey coach Tony Sarsland.  Sarsland is really the man who put Elk River hockey on the map and no matter what he deserves a fair portion of the credit for making it what it is today.  I have no doubt the broadcast will include many other hockey stories from all over the State of Hockey but Elk River itself has more than a few of its own to share.  Here is Dan Hinote talking about his time playing in the Handke Pit.  

3.  A historic setting.  I'll let the YouTube video speak for itself.  

I will do what I can to cover the day's events as best as I can from the perspective of being at the event instead of just covering them from watching TV as I have done in the past.  I have little doubt that this will be a Hockey Day that I'll never forget.  What is your favorite memory from Hockey Day Minnesota's past and present?  Please share your experiences in the comments below!