In Minnesota, they are called the “Team of 18,000” who are lauded all of the time by the organization who originally coined the phrase shortly after retiring the #1 jersey and hoisting it to the rafters bearing “Wild Fans” as it namesake. While some may accuse me of being biased or being a homer, it is pretty tough to slam on that moniker since the organization has soldout every home game (of any kind) in franchise history. So its pretty safe to say the fans are pretty loyal right? Of course, but mediocre seasons combined with a lagging and very slow economic recovery means a lot of fans are not only frustrated by the lack of success but facing financial hardship. In a recent teleconference, posted on wild.com, where team majority owner Craig Leipold, Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and season ticket sales representative Jamie Spencer answered questions from season ticket holders which ranged from issues over the quality of the food offered by the concession stands at Xcel Energy Center, a season ticket price increase as well as inquiries as to what we can expect in terms of acquiring talent to fill holes in the lineup over this summer. The questions were not just softball stuff from what you’d expect from some propaganda pitch. One fan commented how they felt disappointed in the product on the ice and said it was harder justifying to his family renew when he felt the team seemed content to be mediocre. Another who noted how her and husband just recently were laid off still wanted to renew but was wondering if the team could work with them so they could be there for what will be the organization’s 10th season. So why would the team increase prices by about 13% to most season ticket holders at a time where the economy is still struggling?
The reasons Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and Jamie Spencer gave were two basic points. One, the team is spending to the cap ceiling or very close to it and that makes it tough to make much money or as they worded it “business sense” to the Wild. Two, according to the Wild the organization has tried hard to keep prices down and to that end they announced that any fan who saw their season ticket prices go up can expect to see that price frozen for 2011-12. During the teleconference, one fan asked why have ticket prices gone up 60% since the lockout since most people’s incomes certainly have not gone up by that same margin. It was a good question for which the organization sort of sidestepped and began talking about how the team responded to demands of the fans that this team spend the money necessary to put a quality team on the ice. I have many friends who are Wild season ticket holders, some from the very beginning and many of them are really finding themselves pondering whether its worthwhile to keep their tickets. For more than a few its due to changes in their employment and as we all know, when it comes to paying your bills or buying hockey tickets which way most people are going to go. It doesn’t make them undedicated, its just the reality of the situation. Many of these same season ticket holders split their season ticket packages one or two ways just to be able to afford them. So while a freeze is nice for next year it does little to address the immediate problem of having to pony up more money for their tickets by the May 27th renewal deadline. The fact the team decided to address this via a teleconference is no doubt in response to the high amount of non-renewals. For an organization who used to openly brag about having 10,000 people in its “Warming House” waiting to buy season tickets certainly seems like a long time ago now. Another caller during the teleconference noted the team’s uses of giveaways and big price reductions in attempt to keep the sellout streak which currently stands at 409 games.
Does this mean that sellout streak is in jeopardy? Yes I’d say it certainly is. Many fans have questioned if the sellout streak is really intact as there we a few games where there was a noticeable amount of people dressed as seats, not quite Florida Panthers or Atlanta Thrashers bad but noticeable for a team that was used to packing the building each night. It should always be noted that attendance figures account for the amount of tickets sold as opposed to a count of who was actually there. Is it all because of tougher economic times or because of mediocre play on the ice is difficult to say. Nonetheless for an organization that loves to parade the sellout streak statistic around as much as the Wild does it will be an interesting drama to see unfold, especially if the 2010-11 season goes much the same way 2009-10 did.
Kris Foucault delivers for Hitmen in Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup, one of the most watched events in Canada pits the champion teams of the 3 major junior leagues; the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League as well as the tournament host against each other in a round robin format. For the Western League champion Calgary Hitmen, one of their brightest performers of the post-season and now the Memorial Cup Tournament has been Wild prospect Kris Foucault. Foucault, selected in the 4th round (103rd overall) last summer has played a big role in two of the Hitmen’s 2 victories in round robin play. The Calgary-native scored the game-tying goal in an incredible 4-goal 3rd period comeback as the Hitmen shocked the Quebec Major Junior League Champion Moncton Wildcats, 5-4. Foucault wasn’t done there as he chipped in an assist in a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the tournament favorite and reigning Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires. The 6’1″ 202lbs winger had a monstrous 4-point night with 2 goals and 2 assists as the Hitmen cruised to a 5-1 victory over the host Wheat Kings. He has been using his speed and good hands and he will again be looked to provide offense as the Hitmen enter the championship round facing Brandon tonight at 7:00PM Central Standard Time on the NHL Network. The winner of tonight’s tilt will play against Windsor who is undefeated in the tournament thus far.
Wild signs former Eden Prairie star Chad Rau to two-year deal
The Minnesota Wild added a bit more depth at forward when they signed smallish centerman Chad Rau to a two-year contract. Rau, had a nominally solid first professional season after a 4-year career at Colorado College sporting 19 goals and 38 points in 79 games with the Wild’s American Hockey League affiliate the Houston Aeros. Rau’s prodction started out strong but tailed off towards the second half of the season. Originally drafted in the 7th round (228th Overall) by Toronto in 2005, Rau found the Maple Leafs uninterested in signing him despite being one of the better scorers in the WCHA during his 4 years with the Tigers. When you coincide the move with the contracts to Jean-Michel Daoust and University of Miami (OH) star Jared Palmer the Houston Aeros are already getting a booster shot of talent. This was no doubt a reaction to the team’s failure to qualify for the post-season. In the games I saw Houston play, Chad Rau’s play was inconsistent and at times he could look real good and you could see the skill and at other times he seemed hesitant and played small.
Since we’re talking about prospects, the team also has more or less leaked that it has no intention of signing Finnish-born prospects Harri Ilvonen (170th Overall in 2007), forward Eero Elo (145th in 2008) and massive 6’7″ goaltender Niko Hovinen (132nd in 2006). While unproductive Finnish defenseman Harri Ilvonen being passed on is not a real big shocker, the fact the team did not sign Elo who some fans felt had lots of potential scoring 7 goals, 3 assists in 19 games for Lukko Rauma. The Wild has also stated it intends to sign Kris Foucault and Red Deer Rebels’ goaltender Darcy Kuemper to go along with their earlier signing of Plymouth (OHL) netminder Matthew Hackett. The failures of Elo, Ilvonen, and Hovinen prove to be a fitting epitaph for outgoing Assistant General Manager Tommy Thompson who was a miserable failure at drafting Europeans, having not drafted a quality European to stick with the organization since the selection of Mikko Koivu in 2001.
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