SB Nation User Blog: Hockey7

U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Hockey7 — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:41:36 -0000

Please tell me you've been to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Any Minnesotan or Wild fan should make a point to visit this hockey hot spot to gain a better appreciation for our much loved sport. Best of all, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Eveleth, Minnesota, just 2 miles from my hometown!

Eveleth is a little town, about 3,500, and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame selected this little city for its headquarters due to Eveleth's early prominence in the sport. It's only a 3 hour drive from Minneapolis/St. Paul and 55 minutes from Duluth.

Also, Eveleth has a massive hockey stick on display. It weighs in at a whopping 3 tons and 107 feet. What more could you ask for?

While you're in Eveleth, I'd recommend checking out local attractions like Mineview in the Sky (massive mining trucks and iron ore displays), cliff diving into a real mine pit in nearby Gilbert, checking out the big curling club right in Eveleth, and eating at The Whistling Bird, a Jamaican restaurant known for coconut encrusted shrimp and other mouth watering specialties.

With gas prices so high, a quick day or two day trip up north is the perfect solution to budget and time concerns. Enjoy!

Colton Gillies

Hockey7 — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:21:41 -0000

If I was a betting girl, I'd put my money on Colton Gillies making the Minnesota Wild. Recent reports coming out of the Canadian World Junior Development Camp show that Gillies is "bigger and faster than last season" and that Gillies is really trying to make a good impression.

Colton Gillies measures 6'4" and weighs just 195. In the NFL, I could see the coaches encouraging him to add some more muscle to his frame to be a strong contender. At only 19 years old, he has plenty of time to work on developing that strength.

Fast fact: Colton Gillies' uncle, Clark Gillies, made his way into the Hockey Hall of Fame for his offensive line prowess. Apparently hockey is in the Gillies family blood!

Ice hockey is a form of disorderly conduct in which the score is kept. ~Doug Larson

Hockey7 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:58:43 -0000

Ice hockey is a form of disorderly conduct in which the score is kept. ~Doug Larson

http://www.quotegarden.com/hockey.html

2008-2009 Season

Hockey7 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:40:29 -0000

Some people love this August weather, but I can't wait til the snow flies and temperatures plummet. Only then will our Minnesota Wild be back in action. Until then, I'll count the days and think about my favorite upcoming match-ups.

November 6 is my birthday, and what better way to spend it than watching the Minnesota Wild take on archrivals, the Colorado Avalanche? True, I won't be flying to Denver to catch the game from Pepsi Center, but I'll definitely make it over to my favorite sports bar to catch the game from some big screens. If I could somehow get over to Colorado (in my dreams), I would definitely choose these tickets. I really love sitting by the face off circle to get in on the action from the start.

The game I WILL be going to is against the Vancouver Canucks on November 20th at the Xcel. Word has it that lots of tickets are still available, and surprisingly reasonably priced. At ticketking.net, I found plenty of decent seats for just $55. That means I can treat my friends to drinks afterwards. Gotta love post hockey appetizers right in downtown St. Paul!

So, while my friends lounge by the pool and mourn the inevitable end of summer, I'm secretly laying out my favorite Minnesota Wild jerseys and impatiently counting down the days until November. Can't wait!

Lester Patrick Trophy

Hockey7 — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:20:11 -0000

Yes, it's a slow time of year for hockey. So let's fixate on the good news...or any news! I don't know if you tracked the Lester Patrick Trophy winners for 2008, but they were recently announced in early August.

Quick background info: the Lester Patrick Trophy honors NHL or non-NHL players, coaches, or anyone involved in improving hockey programs around the country. The trophy is named in honor of Lester Patrick, longtime player and coach in the NHL who passed away in 1960. Six years later, the Lester Patrick Trophy annual recognition was established.

Over the years, the Lester Patrick Trophy has been awarded to 108 individuals and 3 teams, including the 1998 women's Olympic hockey team.

Well, this time around, none other than Minnesota native and Wild former majority owner and current chairman Bob Naegele received one of 4 trophy honors. Bob Naegele's love for hockey dates back to his high school years on the Minnetonka hockey team. His pursuit of bringing Minnesota pro hockey paid off when the Wild came to the state in the late 90s.

Congrats, Bob Naegele, and good work on behalf of all Minnesota hockey enthusiasts!