Everything you need to know about Hockey Day Minnesota in one brief post? Sure, we’ll hook you up.
Holman Field at the St. Paul Downtown Airport tarmac will be the home of the ninth annual Hockey Day Minnesota. From girls and boys high school games, to the Golden Gophers in a border battle with the Wisconsin Badgers, to the Minnesota Wild hosting the Arizona Coyotes in front of a worldwide audience, the once-a-year event is even more special because of its military appeal.
According to FOX Sports North, the outdoor hockey games at Holman Field, a private airport and home base for the Minnesota National Guard 34th Combat Aviation Brigade and 2-147th Assault Helicopter Battalion, will be surrounded by Blackhawk and Chinook Helicopters, among other aircraft, which will be taking off and landing during the games.
“It’s a chance to really send a message from the State of Hockey to our families and soldiers in the National Guard that are in harm’s way each and every day,” said Pat Harris, a member of Serving Our Troops. “I can assure you that this is probably one of the most unique rinks I’ve ever seen. There’s a lot that goes into building a refrigerated ice rink anywhere, but doing it on an airport Tarmac just involves a lot of players in a lot of communities.”
Made a visit to Holmen Field this a.m. & checked out the @HockeyDayMN scene. Don't forget, we play at 5pm on 1/17 pic.twitter.com/uuSzwFpU74
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 15, 2015
The Pioneer Press reports that approximately 220 members of the 34th Brigade and 2-147th Battalion are currently stationed at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. Soldiers will get to make in-game shoutouts to family and friends throughout the day.
Wild owner Craig Leipold, FSN sideline reporter/studio host Jamie Hersch, KFAN’s Dan Barreiro and former NHL players Lou Nanne, Tom Reid and Shjon Podein, among others, arrived at the camp earlier this week.
Welcome to Camp Buehring in Kuwait!! Such an honor to be bringing #HDM2015 to the troops. @fsnorth 🇺🇸🌍🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/PYmmqwCn9b
— Jamie Hersch (@JamieHersch) January 16, 2015
Coolest hockey game ever, happening now in Kuwait. #HDM2015 pic.twitter.com/jZ7yph8UP4
— Jamie Hersch (@JamieHersch) January 16, 2015
USO posters outside USO Center, by the beach volleyball court. pic.twitter.com/CmxRQaptVA
— Dan Barreiro (@DanBarreiroKFAN) January 16, 2015
Apache attack copter next to Camp Buehring rink pic.twitter.com/HGQWpfnq1e
— Dan Barreiro (@DanBarreiroKFAN) January 16, 2015
FOX Sports North will be live all day Saturday, broadcasting 16 hours of hockey and hockey-related features. Military personnel around the world will be able to catch the action through FOX Sports 2 and the FOX Sports GO app, the Wild announced Thursday.
Here’s the lineup of featured games and where they’re available on TV or live stream.
