Hockey Day Minnesota 2014

[MNhockey29]

Has anyone heard any rumors on where it will be next year?

[Bigcat99]

DODGE???

[almostashappy]

Has anyone heard any rumors on where it will be next year?

The folks in GR did a fantastic, first-rate job as hosts. Any community thinking about making a pitch to host this event in the future should have had warmly-dressed scouts out there on Pokegama.

Word on the ice yesterday and on twitter is that Elk River has a good chance of hosting next year. They've even put their sales pitch on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WOga61ZAgw

I don't want to disparage any of the hard work that they've obviously put into the Elk River application, but you simply can't match playing these games on a lake. Incredible setting in Grand Rapids...sat on the hill after the Eagan game and tracked snowmobile headlights through the blowing snow as the GR fans drove their sleds past the fishing shacks and parked just out past the boards. Hard to even come close to that kind of ambiance with a pit...even if that pit is in the National Register of Historic Places.

And FSN should, as a matter of practice, give up trying to hold this event anywhere south of Moose Lake, so that there's a reasonable chance of playing the games outside on decent ice. Would have been a hard slog trying to bring any Metro area sheet back up to playable conditions after the warm weather on Thurs/Fri.

[Metrohockeyfan]

I heard today that the defending state champion (AA) is guaranteed an outdoor game on hockey day, starting with BSM this year. Anyone know if this is true?

[northwoods oldtimer]

Has anyone heard any rumors on where it will be next year?

The folks in GR did a fantastic, first-rate job as hosts. Any community thinking about making a pitch to host this event in the future should have had warmly-dressed scouts out there on Pokegama.

Word on the ice yesterday and on twitter is that Elk River has a good chance of hosting next year. They've even put their sales pitch on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WOga61ZAgw

I don't want to disparage any of the hard work that they've obviously put into the Elk River application, but you simply can't match playing these games on a lake. Incredible setting in Grand Rapids...sat on the hill after the Eagan game and tracked snowmobile headlights through the blowing snow as the GR fans drove their sleds past the fishing shacks and parked just out past the boards. Hard to even come close to that kind of ambiance with a pit...even if that pit is in the National Register of Historic Places.

And FSN should, as a matter of practice, give up trying to hold this event anywhere south of Moose Lake, so that there's a reasonable chance of playing the games outside on decent ice. Would have been a hard slog trying to bring any Metro area sheet back up to playable conditions after the warm weather on Thurs/Fri.

almostashappy, I want to tip my cap to the fine folks from Eagan. They thoroughly enjoyed the game and the atmosphere yesterday and were fun to watch take in a great day of hockey. Your community derserves to host one day soon assuming it swings back to metro area.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Bemidji State has a nice shed. The Oil Can in Duluth would be good too. High school games earlier, the Beavers or the Bull Dogs later. Or maybe the Little Ralph in Thief River Falls. Because unless your watching on your 1952 10" black and white or maybe huddling by the Victrola, it's time we put this bit of nostalgia behind us.

[north_bear]

Bemidji State has a nice shed. The Oil Can in Duluth would be good too. High school games earlier, the Beavers or the Bull Dogs later. Or maybe the Little Ralph in Thief River Falls. Because unless your watching on your 1952 10" black and white or maybe huddling by the Victrola, it's time we put this bit of nostalgia behind us.

Are you saying move the games inside? The whole point behind Hockey Day is showcasing the roots of where hockey started, on the pond. Not an arena.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Bemidji State has a nice shed. The Oil Can in Duluth would be good too. High school games earlier, the Beavers or the Bull Dogs later. Or maybe the Little Ralph in Thief River Falls. Because unless your watching on your 1952 10" black and white or maybe huddling by the Victrola, it's time we put this bit of nostalgia behind us.

Are you saying move the games inside? The whole point behind Hockey Day is showcasing the roots of where hockey started, on the pond. Not an arena.

Of course, half the time the pond is a puddle. It's a harmless lark as an exhibition, but to count them as real games is a farce.

If it's about promoting and celebrating hockey in Minnesota, there are several DI colleges around the state that live in the shadow of the Golden Rats. It would be a nice boost for those programs. But maybe it's as much about promoting FSN, so it has to feature the Gophs.

Maybe the kids could wear the olde tyme skates, the ones that strap to your shoes. Straight sticks, no curves. Sears catalogs for shin pads. No Zamboni either, shovels and a heavy two inch hose. Instead of a puck, use a ball like they did originally. Bring back the rover. Now that I'd find interesting. Let's go all the way back.

[north_bear]

Bemidji State has a nice shed. The Oil Can in Duluth would be good too. High school games earlier, the Beavers or the Bull Dogs later. Or maybe the Little Ralph in Thief River Falls. Because unless your watching on your 1952 10" black and white or maybe huddling by the Victrola, it's time we put this bit of nostalgia behind us.

Are you saying move the games inside? The whole point behind Hockey Day is showcasing the roots of where hockey started, on the pond. Not an arena.

Of course, half the time the pond is a puddle. It's a harmless lark as an exhibition, but to count them as real games is a farce.

If it's about promoting and celebrating hockey in Minnesota, there are several DI colleges around the state that live in the shadow of the Golden Rats. It would be a nice boost for those programs. But maybe it's as much about promoting FSN, so it has to feature the Gophs.

Maybe the kids could wear the olde tyme skates, the ones that strap to your shoes. Straight sticks, no curves. Sears catalogs for shin pads. No Zamboni either, shovels and a heavy two inch hose. Instead of a puck, use a ball like they did originally. Bring back the rover. Now that I'd find interesting. Let's go all the way back.

Well FSN is the primary outlet to watch Gopher hockey and they air the high school games on Hockey Day so I don't know why they would air someone besides the Gophs.

The NHL and NCAA have games outside that count as "real" games. Maybe you're just a disgruntled BSM fan?

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

The NCAA and NHL games are played on artificial sheets. My recollection is fuzzy, but the only HDM game on artificial ice was Johnson hosting John Marshall.

[SWPrez]

While Minneapolis has some great lakes that it could be held at...Harriet, Isles, Calhoun, and Nokomis...I would actually like to see hockey day on Loring Lake in the center of Loring Park downtown. Would be a very cool urban atmosphere plus easy location to get a zamboni on loan from Parade or the Target Center. Minneapolis can be hard because the park board doesn't cooperate with the city, and the park board usually isn't too concerned about youth athletic associations. I'll check into and maybe we can host in 2015 or 2016 if we can work through the bureaucracy.

[Slap Shot]

Bemidji State has a nice shed. The Oil Can in Duluth would be good too. High school games earlier, the Beavers or the Bull Dogs later. Or maybe the Little Ralph in Thief River Falls. Because unless your watching on your 1952 10" black and white or maybe huddling by the Victrola, it's time we put this bit of nostalgia behind us.

Are you saying move the games inside? The whole point behind Hockey Day is showcasing the roots of where hockey started, on the pond. Not an arena.

Of course, half the time the pond is a puddle. It's a harmless lark as an exhibition, but to count them as real games is a farce.

If it's about promoting and celebrating hockey in Minnesota, there are several DI colleges around the state that live in the shadow of the Golden Rats.

Everyone knows UM has conspired to keep the little man down, what with insisting on keeping all 4 Div I teams on their schedule and agreeing to the all-Minnesota tournament. And surely they only agreed to be the flagship program of FSN and its predecessors in anticipation of being the only MN school to play on the day of an event that wouldn't even be conceived for dozens of years. Of course they could change around their entire schedule year in and year out and play another MN school on HDM because such scheduling exists entire in a bubble.

Clearly you're viewing the concept and logistics with an open mind.

[hockeydad]

Keep in mind next year the main TV outlet for Gopher hockey will likely be the Big 10 Network. I think that was one of the reasons for forming the conference, was to give more original programming for BTN.

[F14]

For Heaven's Sake, put it in Mankato or Rochester as southern Minnesota could use the help or even Luverne and you would get a big pull into Sioux Falls and Sioux City and grow the sport.

It doesn't always have to be up north -- Hockey is already and always will be king up there.

Give hockey some help in the south.

[clutterbuck22]

For Heaven's Sake, put it in Mankato or Rochester as southern Minnesota could use the help or even Luverne and you would get a big pull into Sioux Falls and Sioux City and grow the sport.

It doesn't always have to be up north -- Hockey is already and always will be king up there.

Give hockey some help in the south.

Up until this year, Rochester has had their own hockey day outside between the public schools. They were able to get a lot of people to attend. I had heard they were interested in hosting the main thing.

[SEMNHOCKEYFAN]

For Heaven's Sake, put it in Mankato or Rochester as southern Minnesota could use the help or even Luverne and you would get a big pull into Sioux Falls and Sioux City and grow the sport.

It doesn't always have to be up north -- Hockey is already and always will be king up there.

Give hockey some help in the south.

Up until this year, Rochester has had their own hockey day outside between the public schools. They were able to get a lot of people to attend. I had heard they were interested in hosting the main thing.

It would be interesting for Rochester to get it.....But do you know the reason why they didnt hold it this year?? Granted they still had a crosstown game with mayo and jm

[BodyShots]

Host it at the Oval in Roseville. At least they could guarantee good ice regardless of the weather.

[BBB]

For Heaven's Sake, put it in Mankato or Rochester as southern Minnesota could use the help or even Luverne and you would get a big pull into Sioux Falls and Sioux City and grow the sport.

Why would hockey day in Minnesota look for a pull from Sioux Falls, SD or or Sewer City, IA?
There is still varsity hockey south of Lakeville?

[hockeyhockeyhockey]

Bemidji State has a nice shed. The Oil Can in Duluth would be good too. High school games earlier, the Beavers or the Bull Dogs later. Or maybe the Little Ralph in Thief River Falls. Because unless your watching on your 1952 10" black and white or maybe huddling by the Victrola, it's time we put this bit of nostalgia behind us.

Are you saying move the games inside? The whole point behind Hockey Day is showcasing the roots of where hockey started, on the pond. Not an arena.

r u Nutz???

[northwoods oldtimer]

Bemidji State has a nice shed. The Oil Can in Duluth would be good too. High school games earlier, the Beavers or the Bull Dogs later. Or maybe the Little Ralph in Thief River Falls. Because unless your watching on your 1952 10" black and white or maybe huddling by the Victrola, it's time we put this bit of nostalgia behind us.

Geez enough already! We get that fact you are NOT a fan of the outdoor venue.

[alcloseshaver]

It will be in Elk River in 2014. Teams other than ER TBD by FSN