Hockey Day Minnesota 2014

This deserves a post all it's own. So this weekend it's Hockey Day Minnesota and what does that all entail? A heck of a lot of things going on my friends. Here's a breakdown;

US Pond Hockey Championships

       Not far from the Minneapolis International Airport and the Mall of America on Lake Nokomis the US Pond Hockey Tournament will be held this weekend. Thursday night the activities will open with Youth Night from 6 pm until 8:30pm and the warming tent will close around 9 pm. The big play begins Friday and runs through Sunday, the finals for the championships. The open play level is some of the most competitive pond hockey in the country and some teams feature former NHL and College Division 1 players. There will also be a family skating rink open to the public, Famous Dave's food, a beer garden and not to mention some of the best pond hockey you can witness. Dress warmly, the tent is just the place to warm up, not to stay in!

from the 2011  US Pond Hockey Tournament

The Hockey Games

       Of course the day wouldn't be complete without the hockey games going on around the state. See the below schedule. Now I'd definitely be pushing you to go personally and watch some of these, but maybe you're too cold from Lake Nokomis and need to warm up a bit but at the very least for out to a local sports bar and catch some of the action. If you're really going to be a hermit you can watch all 16 hours of action at home as for the first time ever, the entire day will be televised nationally on Fox Sports North beginning at 9:00 am. 

Handke Pit Games

        The Handke Pit games in Elk River look especially interesting. The historic pit was created by glaciers and the pond became a natural surface for playing the game. In the 1920's the pond was drained after too many kids fell through the ice and since it's been used both for football and for ice skating. In the 1930's the warming house was erected, built entirely of stone. The games played here this weekend will have quite a historic backdrop. The VIP tickets are sold out but there are still tickets for regular seating for $25 in advance and $30 day of and you can buy them here. Bundle up warm, this is outside hockey after all.

The Hockey Day Minnesota 2014 schedule is as follows:

10:00 a.m. -- Rochester Lourdes vs. Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (boys) at Handke Pit, Elk River

1:30 p.m. -- Elk River vs. Stillwater (boys) at Handke Pit, Elk River

5:00 p.m. -- Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Ohio State at Mariucci Arena

8:00 p.m. -- Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars at Xcel Energy Center (FSNorth/PLUS only)

11:00 p.m. -- Elk River vs. Anoka (girls) at Handke Pit, Elk River (delayed broadcast) live the game is at 4:00 p.m.

    Special note: All games at Handke Pit are outdoors.

Hockey City Classic

     I didn't include The Hockey City Classic originally as it's not technically on Hockey Day, but my Mother-in-Law is right- it's Minnesotan! The Lady Gophers are taking on Minnesota State at 4:30 and then the Men's are taking on Ohio State outdoors at 8pm at TCF Bank Stadium. TCF Bank so that means outdoors and the warming house onsite will be open from 2-8 pm outside Mariucci where food and drink (non-alcoholic) will be on sale and the Women's game on TV's.