Hockeytown USA

alumni · Post by **alumni** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:27 pm

An article in Sports Illustrated about St. Paul taking the reign as the new Hockeytown USA over Detroit. Here's a link to the full article, I just copied the St. Paul part.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/w ... index.html

In the pregame darkness of the sold-out arena, a child bathed in a spotlight's amber glow skates to center ice and plants a Minnesota Wild flag. This simple gesture guarantees the Wild a nightly goose-bump moment -- one that's a nod to the essence of hockey in the city that has become the game's epicenter. Unlike in, say, Philadelphia, hockey in St. Paul grows from the bottom up. When the child plants that Wild flag at the Xcel Energy Center, says Les Larson, director of development for college hockey's Hobey Baker Award, "it's about hockey moms driving to the rink, the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich a kid grabs before going to play, about the pickup games guys played. It strikes a chord."

The Wild has sold every ticket to every game since it entered the NHL as an expansion team in 2000, but it has never tried to bigfoot hockey in a city that was home to America's iconic coach, Herb Brooks; the No. 2 U.S.-born career NHL scorer, South St. Paul's Phil Housley; the only cartoonist to draw a Zamboni-driving bird, Charles Schulz; and the leading state high school tournament in the nation. This is the unwritten hockey schedule in the Twin Cities: boys' hockey Tuesday night, girls' hockey Thursday night, the University of Minnesota Friday and Saturday nights. Boys and girls also play on Saturday afternoon. It is no coincidence that the Wild often plays on Wednesday and Sunday. This is a franchise respectful of the game, aware of its niche and almost obsequious in its treatment of fans. Minnesota high school hockey jerseys ring the outer concourse of the arena. Pictures of season-ticket holders appear on game tickets. The Wild even employs a full-time hockey curator to protect and promote the state's hockey heritage.

"This reminds me of Calgary when I first went there," says G.M. Doug Risebrough, who played in the NHL for 13 years and was traded from Montreal to Calgary in 1982. "They'd just gotten the franchise [in '80], and there was the same sort of enthusiasm, a feeling of, let's grow up together."

The lingering question: How can any Hockeytown aspirant have lost an NHL team, as the Twin Cities, the 15th largest T.V. market in the U.S., did when owner Norm Green took the North Stars to Dallas in 1993? Those North Stars did, as Clarke suggested, have attendance problems -- but those were precipitated in large part by an ownership that alienated the fan base. The team played its games in Bloomington, and Green complained bitterly about not being able to play in downtown Minneapolis at the Target Center. Fans were also put off by a high profile sexual harassment suit that Green ended up settling out of court. Attendance shriveled to just 7,838 per game in 1990-91 and Green called it quits two seasons later, moving to the virgin territory of the southwest.

Now Minnesotans are buying what the Wild is selling. Season tickets are capped at 16,500; the waiting list is 7,500. There are 32 stations on the team's radio network, extending through the Dakotas, into Iowa and Wisconsin and even Thunder Bay, Ont. NHL hockey again appears entrenched, despite the many other options available.

"If you aren't happy with the pro team," says Wild assistant coach Mike Ramsey, who is from Minneapolis and played for the University of Minnesota, "you say, 'I'm going to a high school game. I'm going to see the [Minnesota] Gophers. I'm going to St. Cloud [State, a Division I program an hour from the Twin Cities].' "

What further sets a Buffalo-sized city apart from, say, Buffalo, is its growth potential. Mark Jorgensen, executive director of Minnesota Hockey, which oversees the game at the amateur level in the state, says girls' hockey, which accounted for 14.6% of youth players in 1998-99, is up to 21.5%.

"If you go to a rink now, there's a good chance there'll be girls on the ice," Risebrough says. "Years from now I think you'll find lots of mothers with their sons and daughters at our games because this is what they did."

Expect no less in St. Paul, America's new Hockeytown.

OGEE OGELTHORPE · Post by **OGEE OGELTHORPE** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:04 pm

Did anyone get permission from Warroad to change the title?

Some people on this bored might not be to happy with that decision.

I feel bad for Warroad 1st hockey sticks now hockey town, whats next?

gavin · Post by **gavin** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:24 pm

How much do you suppose St. Paul paid for the title?

I'd love to see this t-shirt...
SOUTH ST. PAUL
Hockeytown, U.S.A.

...on somebody walking out of the Gardens after the Warriors just set them back 10 years on the ice. Well, that might not have happened this year, but... you get the idea.

SiouxRecruit · Post by **SiouxRecruit** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:35 pm

Im not a HUGE warroad fan or that of any other town....but seriously.....EVEN if a team is declining you cant go changing the label "hockey town usa".....thats one of those things you cant just change every year to suit the needs of who ever it may be....I dont get it....

alumni · Post by **alumni** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:36 pm

you really have to read the article to see what they are getting at. in the article it compares metro cities like detroit, buffalo, philly, st. paul etc. all with PRO teams. if you read the st. paul portion you'll see what they are talking about. i think its a great tribute to the state of hockey. its a well written article. it has nothing to do with warroad or warroad declining at all...its about how well st. paul does with the Wild and how passionate minnesota is about ALL hockey. don't get all worked up about this. It was just to show how St. Paul is the new "metro" Hockeytown USA with a pro team over Detroit......

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:41 pm

SiouxRecruit wrote:Im not a HUGE warroad fan or that of any other town....but seriously.....EVEN if a team is declining you cant go changing the label "hockey town usa".....thats one of those things you cant just change every year to suit the needs of who ever it may be....I dont get it....

I am sure you boys are aware that Detroit is the town most people reference when someone says 'hockey town USA'.

realmnhockey07 · Post by **realmnhockey07** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:36 pm

i reference warroad as hockeytown usa only as the fact that it is a town of 2,000 people producing what they do. to me hockeytown usa should be a town meant for hockey not a busy city where hockey is a side interest

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:50 pm

realmnhockey07 wrote:i reference warroad as hockeytown usa only as the fact that it is a town of 2,000 people producing what they do. to me hockeytown usa should be a town meant for hockey not a busy city where hockey is a side interest

Yes, I am sure you do as do a lot of MN people.
But Hockey Town USA is Detroit.
Sorry, but that's what it is.

Now, if we're talking Hockey Town, Minnesota...
Well let's see...
you have
Hallock, Eveleth, International Falls, St. Paul, perhaps Edina or Duluth making an arugument for that title.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:51 pm

elliott70 wrote: Now, if we're talking Hockey Town, Minnesota...
Well let's see...
you have
Hallock, Eveleth, International Falls, St. Paul, perhaps Edina or Duluth making an arugument for that title.

Centennial!!!

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:56 pm

Neutron 14 wrote:
elliott70 wrote: Now, if we're talking Hockey Town, Minnesota...
Well let's see...
you have
Hallock, Eveleth, International Falls, St. Paul, perhaps Edina or Duluth making an arugument for that title.
Centennial!!!

I thought of them but could not quite put my finger on which water tower to use. (even though my cousin coached there)

gitter · Post by **gitter** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:36 pm

The reference is St Paul taking over Detroit as Hockeytown. It is not referencing St Paul taking over from Warroad, or any other Minnesota city.

WarroadWarrior · Post by **WarroadWarrior** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:48 pm

elliott70 wrote:
realmnhockey07 wrote:i reference warroad as hockeytown usa only as the fact that it is a town of 2,000 people producing what they do. to me hockeytown usa should be a town meant for hockey not a busy city where hockey is a side interest

Yes, I am sure you do as do a lot of MN people.
But Hockey Town USA is Detroit.
Sorry, but that's what it is.

Now, if we're talking Hockey Town, Minnesota...
Well let's see...
you have
Hallock, Eveleth, International Falls, St. Paul, perhaps Edina or Duluth making an arugument for that title.

HALLOCK?????????

I am more open to sharing the title hockeytown with the likes of st paul over detroit. to me its a wash as long as its in minnesota, and warroad can still use the name.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:59 pm

WarroadWarrior wrote:
elliott70 wrote:
realmnhockey07 wrote:i reference warroad as hockeytown usa only as the fact that it is a town of 2,000 people producing what they do. to me hockeytown usa should be a town meant for hockey not a busy city where hockey is a side interest

Yes, I am sure you do as do a lot of MN people.
But Hockey Town USA is Detroit.
Sorry, but that's what it is.

Now, if we're talking Hockey Town, Minnesota...
Well let's see...
you have
Hallock, Eveleth, International Falls, St. Paul, perhaps Edina or Duluth making an arugument for that title.
HALLOCK?????????

I am more open to sharing the title hockeytown with the likes of st paul over detroit. to me its a wash as long as its in minnesota, and warroad can still use the name.

Hallock is known as being one of the first (if no t the first) communities to play hockey in MN. Brought in by Canadian railroaders before the 20th century.

Of course, St. Paul is known to be a hot bed of hockey for a century.

The claim is that voyaguers and native ameicans played a form of hockey on the ice of Rainy Lake near Int'l. Falls at the beginning of the fur trade days 2 centuries ago.

In the beginning of high school hockey, Eveleth was king.

Arguments can be made for Duluth. Or Edina and Roseau as tenured kings of high school hockey.

And of course, Warroad has a claim to the title also.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:03 pm

But perhaps Hockey Town USA should go to the first USA community to win the Stanley Cup; which was...

anyone know?????

Mister Hockey · Post by **Mister Hockey** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:22 pm

I am pretty sure it was Seattle like about 1910 or something like that. SEATTLE HOCKEY TOWN USA!!! NOT!!! They used to have a western team from the Canadian League which Seattle played in take on a team from the eastern part of Canada before the NHL was formed.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:33 pm

Mister Hockey wrote:I am pretty sure it was Seattle like about 1910 or something like that. SEATTLE HOCKEY TOWN USA!!! NOT!!! They used to have a western team from the Canadian League which Seattle played in take on a team from the eastern part of Canada before the NHL was formed.

You are the winner!

And you are right.
Seattle - Not.

MNsGreatest#2 · Post by **MNsGreatest#2** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:02 pm

Neutron 14 wrote:
elliott70 wrote: Now, if we're talking Hockey Town, Minnesota...
Well let's see...
you have
Hallock, Eveleth, International Falls, St. Paul, perhaps Edina or Duluth making an arugument for that title.
Centennial!!!

I cant seem to find "Centennial" on a map. Must not be a town. Come on neutron, your a cougar fan.

Reviewer · Post by **Reviewer** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:28 pm

I nominate Roseau for "Hockey Village USA", has a nice ring to it.

Post by **east hockey** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:49 pm

MNsGreatest#2 wrote:
Neutron 14 wrote:
elliott70 wrote: Now, if we're talking Hockey Town, Minnesota...
Well let's see...
you have
Hallock, Eveleth, International Falls, St. Paul, perhaps Edina or Duluth making an arugument for that title.
Centennial!!!
I cant seem to find "Centennial" on a map. Must not be a town. Come on neutron, your a cougar fan.

Guess that lets Greenway out of the running, also.

Lee

SiouxRecruit · Post by **SiouxRecruit** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:04 pm

bump bump bump..interesting

Indians forever · Post by **Indians forever** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:39 pm

Has to Be Eveleth, You Ding Dongs!!! know your roots.

PASTRAPIDSFAN · Post by **PASTRAPIDSFAN** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:41 pm

Indians forever wrote:Has to Be Eveleth, You Ding Dongs!!! know your roots.

EVELETH

Indians forever · Post by **Indians forever** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:50 pm

PASTRAPIDSFAN wrote:
Indians forever wrote:Has to Be Eveleth, You Ding Dongs!!! know your roots.
EVELETH

yep!!!!

PuckRanger · Post by **PuckRanger** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:04 pm

Indians forever wrote:
PASTRAPIDSFAN wrote:
Indians forever wrote:Has to Be Eveleth, You Ding Dongs!!! know your roots.
EVELETH
yep!!!!

There really is a reason why the US Hockey Hall of Fame is in Eveleth!

defense · Post by **defense** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:09 pm

My vote is for Park Rapids...........................................