Many a hockey fan knows that the State of Hockey is Minnesota, but many may not know the origin of that name, and how it actually came out of a marketing campaign by the Minnesota Wild in their first year in the NHL.
For Team Lore week, let's take a look at the State of Hockey nickname, and how the Wild have continued to embrace the name, many seasons later.
The origin story of the State of Hockey
The name "The State of Hockey" was born out of a marketing campaign by the Minnesota Wild in their inaugural season in the NHL in 2000-01. It was designed to welcome NHL hockey back to the state of Minnesota for the first time since the Minnesota North Stars franchise moved to Dallas in 1993. However, Minnesota's hockey lore dates back to the 1800s.
Minnesota's first organized hockey game at the University level was played against Winnipeg in February 1895, and the game continued to grow into the 20th century. Now, the state produces the most hockey players for USA Hockey and the most NHL players, some of whom have played for the Wild. Minnesotans flock to the rink for hockey games from the high school level to college, pro women's hockey, and the NHL.
For the Minnesota Wild to use it as a marketing tagline is not much of a reach for anyone who's ever experienced hockey in the state. The Minnesota men's high school hockey tournament drew over 135,000 attendees in 2015, and the five Division 1 men's college teams regularly see some of the highest attendance in the NCAA.
Continuing to embrace the State of Hockey
Even though the marketing campaign began in 2000 as a way to welcome the Minnesota Wild to Minnesota and get people excited about an NHL team in the state again, it didn't end after the inaugural season.
...in the State, the State of Hockey! 🏒#Wild20 pic.twitter.com/yMimp3JsFE
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 6, 2020
The team has continued to embrace the nickname throughout marketing and advertising since then, including the 20th-and 25th-anniversary seasons. Players use it to refer to the state as a whole, including in this message from Mats Zuccarello when he left in free agency in the 2025-26 off-season.
from Mats Zuccarello to the State of Hockey: pic.twitter.com/V3CDfFhshs
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) July 1, 2026
The team still keeps up some traditions related to the State of Hockey, including the State of Hockey flag and State of Hockey anthem.
What started as a marketing initiative has become synonymous with hockey in the state of Minnesota. As long as hockey continues to be a priority in Minnesota, one can expect the State of Hockey name to live on.
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