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On the Shoulders of Giants in the Company of Legends in the State of Hockey |
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On Wednesday, October 22, 2008, the NHL together with USA Hockey (presented by the New York Rangers and, this year, hosted by the Minnesota Wild) held the 41st annual Lester Patrick Award ceremony, this year in St. Paul, Minnesota. This year, three of the four honorees hail from Minnesota which, since the Minnesota Wild’s arrival, has taken on the nickname: “the State of Hockey”. The fourth honoree was originally from Canada, but has called Hockey Town U.S.A. his home for over fifty years. The four who were honored were former Wild owner, Bob Naegele; Anaheim Ducks General Manager, Brian Burke; former NHL-er and U.S. Olympian, Phil Housley; and the legendary former captain of the Detroit Red Wings, Ted Lindsay. The Lester Patrick Award “has become one of the most prestigious trophies in the National Hockey League” which serves to recognize outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Master of Ceremonies, Bill Clement, rightfully commented at the outset of the ceremony that it had the feel of a hockey family gathering in the State of Hockey, the United States’ home of rosy cheeks and frigid toes, paying homage to Minnesota’s hockey history. Presenters gave Minnesota hockey the nod as “the epicenter of what we are doing in the United States.”
To get a sense of the honor that is the Lester Patrick Award, one need not look any further than the previous Lester Patrick Award recipients which, among others, includes Cammi Granato, Brian Leetch, Marcel Dionne, Steve Yzerman, Glen Sonmor, Reed Larson, Ray Bourque, Willie O’Ree, Herb Brooks, Scotty Bowman, Mario Lemieux, Craig Patrick, Neal Broten, John Mayasich, Pat LaFontaine, George Gund III, Wayne Gretzky, Lou Nanne, Bob Johnson, Hobey Baker, Art Ross, Charles M. Schulz, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, John Mariucci, Walter L. Bush, Jr., Clarence Campbell, William Jennings, Terry Sawchuk, Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Charles Adams, James Norris, Sr., and J.J. Jack Adams; a virtual who’s who for hockey in general, impacting U.S.A. hockey in some way, shape or form. From the greatest U.S. woman player to the greatest NHL players, coaches and owners to even a famed cartoonist whose characters would often be displayed skating on the outdoor ponds and/or birdbaths in the Peanuts cartoon. In addition to specific great individuals and their impact on the sport and it’s influence in the United States, past honorees also include some of the greatest U.S. teams to ever lace up the skates and take to the ice, including 1960 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team, and the infamous 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team.
Upon those shoulders, the four recipients were honored. Those attending included the families of the honoree’s, Lou Lamoriello, Gary Bettman, Bill Daly, Doug Woog, Dan Brooks (son of the late Herb Brooks), Reed Larson, Lou Nanne, Glen Sonmor, Tommy Younghans, Tom Reid, Neal Broten, Paul Broten, Rob McClanahan, Craig Leipold, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, and the entire management of coaching staff of the Minnesota Wild, among many, many others.
The first to address the room was NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman. He started out by giving a nod to the Xcel Energy Center as one of the great arenas in the world of hockey and it’s connection of the home town Wild to the State of Minnesota given the high school hockey jerseys that wrap around one level’s concourse for all to see. He then mentioned that, appropriately so, three of the four award recipients had donned one of these many high school jersey in their youth while growing up in Minnesota. Phil Housley for South St. Paul, Brian Burke for Edina, and Bob Naegele for Minnetonka. Bettman then referred to the past blight on Minnesota’s solid hockey history by stating “I’m sorry we ever left”, referring to when the Minnesota North Stars moved to Texas and became the Dallas Stars of today. He then agreed with a statement Bob Naegele had made when attempting to lure an NHL franchise back by stating that “the NHL belongs in Minnesota.”
Brian Burke was the first honoree to be presented. Bill Clement described him as the only rotweiler with a degree from Harvard. Surprisingly, Burke did not begin to play hockey until his family moved to Minnesota when he was 12. After watching that year’s Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament on television, he was determined to learn the sport he had just seen. He was assisted and mentored by coaches that believed in him and the sport and he began his playing days by playing two years in the house league bantam program, before moving to the midget level and then advancing to the high school varsity team for Edina West. As the years progressed, his play accelerated to the point that he was recruited by and played for NCAA Division I, Providence College, coached by none other than Lou Lamirello. He eventually was the captain for Providence before taking a stab at the big leagues of the NHL. While he never played in the NHL, he was a member of a Calder Cup Champion before returning to school, Harvard, and getting degrees in business and law. He then set out as a player agent before taking a stab as GM for the Hartford Whalers in 1992 and then worked for the NHL offices, eventually becoming the GM of the Vancouver Canucks, the Anaheim Ducks and is presently of GM for the 2010 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team. In his remarks, he humbly declared that the only name that did not deserve to be on the list and that, frankly, it should be him thanking hockey and not the other way around. “Hockey has been the driving force in my life” and “I am now among the immortals of this sport” were among his best quotes of his speech. He ended by proclaiming to the U.S.-biased crowd that “folks, we’re only going to Vancouver for one reason, to win”, obviously referring to the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics. In an earlier interview, he had indicated that he and his staff of other NHL GM’s had already submitted “ghost rosters” and that at the upcoming GM meetings, they would be reviewing each GM’s choice for players on the team and set up a scouting plan. He indicated that he would build his team with speed, skill and finesse on his top two lines, followed by players who had “sand and grit” on the 3rd and 4th lines. After speaking with him alone for a few minutes earlier in the day, as we parted I offered some feisty support for the upcoming U.S. team and what they should do to the Canadians and Russians to which he responded, “that’s what we’re there for.”
Phil Housley was the next honoree to take the podium. Profiling his career, it was pointed out that he was selected at the 6th overall pick in the 1982 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres; that his career spanned from ’82 to 2003, 21 seasons; that, at the time he retired, he was the U.S. player with the most NHL games and the most NHL points; and that he was a 9 time participant in international competition, a member of the gold medal 1996 World Cup Champions, and a member of the 2002 U.S. Olympic silver medallists. He credited much of his success to his high school coach, Doug Woog who went on to become the coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers for many years. He then went through a few of the great memories he had in international competitions. He ended by talking about his current status as a high school hockey coach for a Minnesota high school (the Stillwater Ponies) and affirmatively stated that, someday, he wants to coach in the NHL.
Terrible Ted Lindsay was next to be honored. A member of the famed “Production Line” and captain for the Detroit Red Wings, he played along side Sid Able and Gordie Howe. He was described as a mixture of snarl and skill. In 1950, he was the NHL’s scoring champion and, in that same year, he won his first Stanley Cup. Mr. Lindsay is credited with starting the tradition of taking a victory lap or two with the Stanley Cup and he described the impetus for that as being the only chance for sharing the trophy with the fans; the people whom he realized paid his salary. This was in an era where there were no victory parades and no player’s day with the Cup as exists now. He described being able to take it up to fans who sat along the boards without the benefit of plexiglass to protect them like today, harkening back to an era that we can only dream about today. He referred to hockey as “the greatest game in the world” and “still my number one love”. He spoke of how his father played professional hockey alongside the late, great Lester Patrick; of meeting Mr. Patrick after he, himself, turned pro in 1944; and he spoke of the Challenge Cup, the predecessor to what is known today as the Stanley Cup. He talked about playing in the Original Six Era where games against New York and Boston would occur at mid-week, while games against the others were usually home and home series on weekends, much the same as you see in college hockey today. Along the way, he met and played against a few Minnesota players including Frank Brimsek, whom he referred to as the greatest goalie to ever play the game, and John Mariucci, the toughest player he ever came up against, but perhaps not the brightest. He referred to Minnesota as “the other province in Canada” and did not wonder why hockey flourished in Minnesota given its Canadian-like winters. He also talked about being responsible for the first attempt at forming a player’s union in an effort to help players get $150 a month which would have really helped those guys back then. He talked about days after playing where he coached at both the high school level and the college level, but never for pay. “I didn’t do it for money, I did it for love.” “Hockey’s been very good to me. The Red Wings have been more than good to me.” “Hockey is the greatest game in the world.” These were among my favorite quotes from the colorful and “not-so-terrible” Ted Lindsay. A gentleman who continues to work in the auto industry in Detroit and whose foundation helps the fight against autism.
Bob Naegele was last to be honored, but certainly not least. In his introduction, Bill Clement said that “to accuse a Minnesota person of having an insatiable appetite for hockey would be both redundant and a compliment” and was a fitting way to refer to the previous owner of the Minnesota Wild. Naegele was credited, among others, as being responsible for returning the NHL to the hockey hot bed of Minnesota. Mr. Naegele recognized his fellow investors, the Wild staff, and new owner Craig Leipold. He stated that “there is no finer sport than hockey” and, as evidence of that, he pointed to the team building and camaraderie that survives the game. He referred to hockey as a “wonderful gift from God” and credited his family in helping him serve a noble and valiant purpose that made a positive impact on the NHL and became part of the history for the State of Minnesota. With that said, he accepted his award on behalf of “the team of 18,000” and all of Minnesota.
With that said, so ended this year’s Lester Patrick Award Ceremony. For more information on the honoree’s, the history of the award and a look by John Dellapina at why Minnesota is referred to as the State of Hockey and whether it actually is or not, please refer to the following materials supplied by the National Hockey League. Please also note that the entire ceremony was taped and will air on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 7:30 pm (EST) on the NHL Network.
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2008 Lester Patrick Award
The Lester Patrick Award, honoring recipients for outstanding service to hockey in
The United States, was presented to the National Hockey League by the New York
Rangers in 1966. It honors the memory of Lester Patrick, a pioneer in the sports
development, who spent 50 years in hockey as a player, coach and general manager.
Among those eligible to win the Lester Patrick Award are players, coaches,
broadcasters, referees and linesmen, as well as team and League executives. The
winner is selected by an award committee consisting of the Commissioner of the NHL,
an NHL Governor, a representative of the New York Rangers, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Builder's section, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Player's section, a
member of the U. S. Hockey Hall of Fame, a member of the NHL Broadcasters'
Association and a member of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Except for
the League Commissioner, each member is rotated annually.
The list of individuals honored, including this years recipients – Bob Naegele Jr.,
Brian Burke, Phil Housely, Ted Lindsay -- stands at 108, in addition to three United
States Olympic hockey teams.
Bob Naegele Jr.
Returning the top hockey league in the world to the State of Hockey was a dream of many Minnesotans in the mid-1990s. Robert O. Naegele Jr. didn’t just share that dream, he made it a reality, assembling the group of investors who were awarded the NHL expansion franchise that became the Minnesota Wild.
A born-and-bred Minnesotan who played goal for Minnetonka High School and then attended Dartmouth College, Naegele already had made a name for himself in the Twin Cities business community as co-owner of the area’s predominant billboard company when the NHL announced in 1996 that it would accept applications for expansion franchises. Determined to fill the hole left when the North Stars departed for Dallas three years before, Naegele pulled together an association of like-minded hockey enthusiasts that would become Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE). Under Naegele’s leadership and funded by his large personal investment in the project, MSE managed to overcome myriad obstacles to satisfy the NHL’s stringent franchise requirements – including coordinating city and state officials to get an arena built and ensuring that a large-enough fan base would purchase tickets.
Naegele’s tireless work turned the dream into reality on June 25, 1997, when St.
Paul was awarded an expansion franchise. On Oct. 11, 2000, reality exceeded anyone’s
dreams when the Wild played their first home opener before a sellout crowd in the
magnificent Xcel Energy Center. And that was just the start. The Wild merely have sold out every game – preseason, regular season or playoffs – since for a streak of capacity crowds that reached 300 regular season and playoff games going into 2008-09. On the ice, the franchise has been similarly stellar. The Wild won 42 games and advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals in just its third season. It won 48 games in 2006-07 and captured the Northwest Division title last season.
Having shepherded the Wild from mere pipe dream to the model to which many
rival franchises look for guidance, Naegele characteristically sought out new challenges.
He sold his majority ownership in the Wild to Craig Leipold last January. "Throughout the entire league, throughout North America, when you look at a franchise that embodies everything that every franchise wants to be, this is the marquee franchise in our league,” Leipold said. “This is the new standard in the NHL."
Bob Naegele set that standard. Said MSE vice chairman Jac Sperling: "Craig will lead us into the future, but Bob Naegele has laid the foundation. He had a vision to return the NHL to Minnesota."
Brian Burke
Born in New England and raised in Minnesota, Brian Burke has been a passionate advocate for the game over a career that spans more than 35 years as a player, player agent and senior executive at both the League and Club levels.
A native of Providence, RI, Burke grew up in Edina, Minnesota, and starred at Edina-West High School. Upon graduating from Providence College, where he played under 1992 Lester Patrick Award winner Lou Lamoriello, Burke signed with the Philadelphia Flyers and won the 1978 Calder Cup with the Maine Mariners.
But his true hockey calling was off the ice. So Burke returned to the classroom to
earn a law degree from Harvard in 1981 and begin a practice that would focus upon
player representation for the next six years.
In 1987, Burke switched sides of the negotiating table, joining the Vancouver
Canucks as VP Hockey Operations. In 1992, he was named General Manager of the
Hartford Whalers.
The next year, then-new NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was looking for a
right-hand man to handle the league’s hockey operations side. Bettman turned to Burke,
whose refreshing candor while supervising the NHL’s on-ice product and doling out
player suspensions made the Senior VP/Hockey Operations a favorite interview subject
for reporters and effective spokesman for the game.
Burke’s competitive juices required a return to the club level. And in 1998, he
went back to Vancouver to serve as the Canucks’ President and General Manager.
During his six-year tenure, the Canucks became a perennial Western Conference
power, compiling 90 points four times and winning the Northwest Division title in 2003-
04. In 2001, Burke was named NHL Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.
In 2005, Burke moved back to the U.S., taking over as Executive Vice President
and General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks. Molding the team in his own aggressive,
high-energy image, Burke made a series of bold moves to sign or trade for stars such as
Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne and Chris Pronger. And in 2007, Burke’s Ducks
made history, becoming the first California team to capture the Stanley Cup.
Having achieved the ultimate success at the NHL level, the relentless Burke in
June 2008 embarked upon a quest to conquer the world of international hockey. Named
the President and General Manager of the 2010 United States Olympic Team, Burke will
pick the team that attempts to win America’s third gold medal in men’s hockey.
“We could not be more pleased than to have Brian as our General Manager,”
said Ron DeGregorio, President of USA Hockey. “His record of accomplishment speaks
for itself. Brian’s drive and fire for the game rub off on you and it’s that type of passion
that will help lead us to our ultimate goal of winning the gold medal.”
Phil Housley
Phil Housley made headlines when the Buffalo Sabres selected the 18-year-old South St. Paul High School star with the sixth overall pick of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. The St. Paul native would go on to fill up score sheets and light up scoreboards for the next 21 years as one of the most prolific defensemen in hockey history. Only one U.S.-born player had been taken with a higher draft pick -- Massachusetts prep prodigy Bob Carpenter, who went third overall to Washington in 1981 – when Housley’s name was called by the Sabres. Somehow requiring no seasoning in junior hockey or the minors, Housley made a stunning jump from high school to the NHL a few months later, leading all first-year defensemen in scoring with 66 points (19 goals, 47 assists) and earning a place on the NHL's All-Rookie Team in 1982-83.
Housley went on to play 20 more NHL seasons with eight clubs, dazzling
teammates, fans and opponents with an elite level of skill and refined ability to envision
offensive options that combined to produce prodigious scoring totals.
He scored a whopping 31 goals while turning 20 years old during his second
NHL season. He scored at least 20 goals six straight seasons from 1986-87 through
1991-92. With Winnipeg in 1992-93, he piled up a career-high 97 points (18 goals, 79
assists).
Housley was part of many triumphant teams. He made it to the Cup Final with
Washington in 1998. He won a silver medal with the United States at the 2002 Olympics
in Salt Lake City. And in 1996, he was a member of the American team that won the
inaugural World Cup of Hockey.
Housley retired from the NHL as the League’s all-time leader among U.S.-born
players in games (1,495) and points (1,232). He remains the NHL’s all-time leader
among U.S.-born defensemen in goals (338), assists (894) and points.
Having represented his country in two Olympics, two Canada Cups, the ’96
World Cup, a World Junior Championship and six World Championships, Housley was
inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
“He was a talent, especially on the power play," said Scotty Bowman, the 2001
Lester Patrick Award winner who drafted Housley as the Buffalo GM. "He was a
quarterback, the way he brought the puck up the ice, the moves he made in the neutral
zone. He had super skills. He could really accelerate. He was one of the better skaters
I've ever seen.
"His second year, he scored 31 goals as a 19-year-old. Even with Bobby Orr you
didn't see that."
Ted Lindsay
Only 5-foot-8 and 163 pounds and hardly a blazing skater, Ted Lindsay spent 17 NHL seasons making it painfully clear that nobody ever should have doubted his ability or physical toughness.
An icon in Detroit sports history, Ted Lindsay played 14 of his 17 NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and was a key member of the Red Wings dynasty that captured seven consecutive regular-season titles and four Stanley Cups from 1948-49 through 1954-55. Playing much of his career at left wing on the Red Wings' famed 'Production Line' alongside right wing Gordie Howe and center Sid Abel, Lindsay captured the League scoring title in 1949-50, made 11 All-Star Game appearances and was named an NHL First Team All-Star eight times.
Lindsay was Detroit’s captain for its back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 1953-54
and 1954-55. And following that 1955 triumph, he began what has become one of the
game’s most honored traditions by lifting the Cup over his head and leading a victory lap
around the ice.
“Everyone’s emotions were on high and I guess mine were a little higher,” Lindsay said. “It was an impulsive sort of thing.”
As productive as he was as a top-line forward, Lindsay also was a rugged player
who piled up penalty minutes as prodigiously as points. He led the Red Wings in penalty
minutes 10 times and the League in that category in 1958-59, becoming one of only two
men in NHL history to have led the League in both scoring and penalty minutes in
individual seasons.
“I had the idea that I should beat up every player I ever tangled with,” Lindsay
famously said. “And nothing ever convinced me it wasn’t a good idea.”
Even upon coming out of retirement to play for the Wings at the age of 39 in
1964-65, Lindsay still merited the nickname “Terrible Ted.” He piled up 173 penalty
minutes.
A fierce competitor on the ice, Lindsay also refused to back down from a principled scrap away from the rink. In the mid-‘50s, he and fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Doug Harvey teamed up to organize the first NHL Players Association, incurring the wrath of then all-powerful owners and general managers – Lindsay, in fact, was punished with a trade to then-downtrodden Chicago, with whom he played for three seasons.
Upon retiring for good following the ’64-65 season, Lindsay quickly was inducted
into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966. Ten years later, he took over the management of
a troubled Wings team and got it to the 1977 playoffs, earning NHL general manager of
year honors. He also coached Detroit for parts of the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons.
Still working today to help his beloved Detroit-area community, Lindsay in 2001
combined with John Czarnecki, the father of a 9-year-old boy with autism, to establish
the Ted Lindsay Foundation. The foundation raises funds through golf outings, other
events and the sale of autographed sports memorabilia for research into the cure and
cause of autism.
LESTER PATRICK RECIPIENTS
Year Name (*awarded posthumously)
2008 Bob Naegele, Jr., Brian Burke, Phil Housely, Ted Lindsay
2007 Brian Leetch, Cammi Granato, Stan Fischler, John Halligan
2006 Steve Yzerman, Gordon "Red" Berenson, Reed Larson, Glen Sonmor, Marcel Dionne
2004 Mike Emrick, John Davidson, Ray Miron
2003 Willie O'Ree, Raymond Borque, Ron DeGregorio
2002 Herb Brooks, Larry Pleau, 1960 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team
2001 Gary Bettman, Scotty Bowman, David Poile
2000 Mario Lemieux, Craig Patrick, Lou Vairo
1999 Harry Sinden, 1998 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team
1998 Peter Karmanos, Max McNab, Neal Broten, John Mayasich
1997 Seymour H. Knox III*, Bill Cleary, Pat LaFontaine
1996 George Gund, Ken Morrow, Milt Schmidt
1995 Joe Mullen, Brian Mullen
1994 Wayne Gretzky, Robert Ridder
1993 Frank Boucher, Red Dutton, Bruce McNall, Gil Stein
1992 Al Arbour, Art Berglund, Lou Lamoriello
1991 Rod Gilbert, Mike Ilitch
1990 Len Ceglarski
1989 Dan Kelly, Lou Nanne ,Lynn Patrick*, Bud Poile
1988 Keith Allen, Fred Cusick, Bob Johnson
1987 Hobey Baker*, Frank Mathers
1986 John MacInnes, Jack Riley
1985 Jack Butterfield, Arthur M. Wirtz
1984 Arthur Howie Ross*, John A. Ziegler Jr.
1983 Bill Torrey
1982 Emile P. Francis
1981 Charles M. Schulz
1980 Bobby Clarke, Frederick Shero, Edward M. Snider, 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team
1979 Bobby Orr
1978 Philip A. Esposito, Tom Fitzgerald. William T. Tutt, William W. Wirtz
1977 Murray A. Armb, John P. Bucyk, John Mariucci
1976 George A. Leader, Stanley Mikita, Bruce A. Norris
1975 William L. Chadwick, Donald M. Clark, Thomas N. Ivan
1974 Weston W. Adams Sr.*, Charles L. Crovat*, Alex Delvecchio, Murray Murdoch
1973 Walter L. Bush
1972 Clarence S. Campbell, John Kelly, James D. Norris*, Ralph Cooney Weiland
1971 William M. Jennings, Terrance G. Sawchuk*, John B. Sollenberger*
1970 James C.V. Hendy*, Edward W. Shore
1969 Robert M. Hull, Edward J. Jeremiah*
1968 Walter A. Brown*, Gen. John R. Kilpatrick*, Thomas F. Lockhart
1967 Charles F. Adams*, Gordon Howe, James Norris Sr.*
1966 J.J. Jack Adams
Minnesota: The State of Hockey
That “State of Hockey” moniker? It’s not just a clever line for a hockey parent’s bumper
sticker. And it’s hardly self-inflating hype. In truth, it is Minnesota’s sporting essence.
Texas has its Friday night lights. Indiana has its hoops. For Minnesota, hockey is king.
And it has been for as far back as anybody can remember.
From the overflow crowds at the annual Minnesota State Boys High School Hockey
Tournament to the more than 300 consecutive Minnesota Wild sellouts at Xcel Energy
Center. And from the couple of dozen men who played in the first ice polo games in St.
Paul in 1883 to the more than 50,000 players and coaches currently registered with USA
Hockey.
From John Mariucci’s home-grown University of Minnesota teams in the ‘50s and ‘60s to
his 1956 U.S. Olympic team that captured silver. And from Herb Brooks’ NCAA-title
Gopher teams in 1974, ’76 and ’79 to his once-in-a-lifetime 1980 U.S. Olympic team that
still shocks the world.
From Hockey Hall of Famer Frank “Mr. Zero” Brimsek of Eveleth recording 10 shutouts
as an NHL rookie with the Boston Bruins in 1938-39 to Erik Johnson of Bloomington
being chosen first overall by St. Louis in the 2006 Entry Draft. And from Lou Nanne
scrambling to snuff out enemy power plays to Jacques Lemaire devising ways to shut
down opposing offenses.
From the North Stars’ stunning runs to the ’81 and ’91 Stanley Cup Final to the Wild
reaching the 2003 Western Conference Final in just their third season of existence. From
the halls of Eveleth High that prepared John Mayasich and Mark Pavelich to achieve
Olympic glory to the campus of Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep that fostered current NHL stars
Zach Parise, Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby.
From the remote frozen ponds of Roseau in the northwest corner of the state and
Eveleth in the northeast’s Mesabi Iron Range to overbooked multi-sheet rinks in and
around the Twin Cities. And from the eight Minnesotans on the 17-man 1960 U.S. team
that won Olympic gold to the 12 Minnesotans (and one St. Paul-born head coach) on the
20-man Miracle team in ’80.
From Frank “Moose” Goheen of White Bear Lake leading the St. Paul Athletic Club to
MacNaughton Cups in 1916 and 1920 to Eveleth’s Mayasich leading the Gophers to two
NCAA Finals and anchoring the defense for the ’60 team that won Olympic gold. And
from Roseau’s Neal Broten winning a Hobey Baker Award, an Olympic gold medal and a
Stanley Cup to St. Paul’s Phil Housley scoring more points than any American-born
defenseman in NHL history.
From the 13 Olympic medals in women’s hockey won by Minnesota natives and/or U of
M products (including three-time medalist Jenny Schmidgall-Potter) to the 10,702 girls
and women who registered with USA Hockey in 2006-07 (one-fifth of all the registered
female players in the nation). And from the nearly 250 covered indoor rinks in operation
throughout the state to the nearly 200 high school hockey jerseys that ring the open
concourse of the Xcel Energy Center.
The State of Hockey, indeed.
Is it the climate, which keeps the ponds frozen longer than those in most of the rest of
the United States? Certainly. Is it the proximity to Canada. Undoubtedly.
“We’re right on the border -- you can make a case that, in the sport, we’re the 11th
province,” said Roger Godin, the first director of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame who
currently serves as the Wild’s team curator.
But then, several other states border Canada. Plenty have long, cold winters. None
dares claim that it is the State of Hockey. There is something special about Minnesota –
or, to be more specific, Minnesotans – that connects them to the game in a special way.
“Oh no question about it,” Godin said. “There are three M’s in American hockey –
Minnesota, Michigan and Massachusetts. I believe we’re the biggest.”
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A special thanks to the NHL for allowing me to cover a day I won't soon forget!
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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