Minnesota Wild Announce Matchups for ‘Hockey Day Minnesota 2014’
By Dakota Case
Mar 29, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) screens Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Wild 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The date is set and so are the matchups for this season’s Hockey Day Minnesota, hosted by Wild defenseman Nate Prosser’s hometown–Elk River. Let it be known, yours truly predicted the day would be January 18th, 2014 as soon as the 2013-14 regular season schedule came out. It was simple reasoning–it was a Saturday (HDM is always on a Saturday), in late January, with a puck drop an hour later than normal. Oh, and it was a game against our new division rival Dallas Stars. Kind of a no-brainer on that one.
Per the Wild’s website:
"The matchups are set for the annual celebration that brings the entire State of Hockey together.The Minnesota Wild, along with FOX Sports North and Minnesota Hockey, has announced the matchups for Hockey Day Minnesota 2014, presented by Wells Fargo. The all-day event is set for Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014. As previously announced, the outdoor high school games will be held at “The Handke Pit” in Elk River. The game schedule is as follows:High School Games (at Handke Pit, Elk River)10:15 a.m. Rochester Lourdes vs. Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (boys)1 p.m. Elk River vs. Stillwater (boys)4 p.m. Elk River vs. Anoka girls (*tape delay on FS North)College Game (at Mariucci Arena)5 p.m. Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey vs. Ohio StateWild Game (at Xcel Energy Center)8 p.m. Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas StarsHockey Day Minnesota 2014 on FOX Sports North will be the eighth annual celebration of hockey from peewees to pros. Previous sites for outdoor games include Baudette Bay (2007-08), Saint Paul (2009), Hermantown (2010), Moorhead (2011), Lake Minnetonka/Excelsior (2012) and Grand Rapids (2013).Hockey Day Minnesota 2014 on FOX Sports North will include a full day of hockey-related programming designed as a celebration of the game from peewees to pros."
Here’s what Prosser had to say: