Vintage Minnesota Hockey - History

Vintage Minnesota Hockey Take:

2017 HDM moved to Stillwater, MN - the Birthplace of the State of Minnesota border town of Minnesota/Wisconsin nestled on the shores of scenic St. Croix River, with the history laden Stillwater lift bridge as the backdrop of the days event.  Stillwater Ponies hockey program has been a longtime community that loves hockey and has been supportive of growing the game for a long time.  Prior to 2017, the Ponies H.S. team made it to the State Tournament for the first time ever in 2014, and returned to the Tourney to win their first game in 2016.  The location, event, and amazing ice castles event was also located within feet of the rink, which many visiting fans visited adding to the overall winter park atmosphere, and made for a special few days in Stillwater.  Prior to the actual HDM date of Januray 21, event organizers took advantage of the ice sheet, and the evening and night prior (January 20) a Stillwater Fire vs. Police game was held at 4:30, followed by Minnesota Whitecaps vs Korean National Team at 6:00, followed by a fun Gophers vs. Badgers mens hockey alumni game at 7:30.  Many older alumni from each storied program, including current Wild players Ryan Suter (WI) and Jordan Schroeder (MN), including Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leopold were on-hand to drop the ceremonial puck for the night cap, and see the alumni play under the lights.  The University of Minnesota men came away with the win, and a home-made hockey stick handle, with an axe affixed to the end named the Border Battle Alumni Hockey Trophy.  (Craig Leopold was so intrigued, he came back the next day to watch the high school contests at actual HDM, and stood atop the media riser to watch the action).

The actual morning of scheduled HDM (Janurary 21) began with a light rain shower, causing the ice that morning to look more like a curling rink with an even coated orange peeled texture surface prime for throwing rocks.  This year marked the 3rd straight year of refrigerated ice at HDM with an on-site reefer that had no issues keeping the ice cool with the a.m. rain.  The days first games featured Thief River vs. Mahtomedi with one of Herb Brooks grandsons (Joe Paradise) on the Mahtomedi squad who came away as victors over the Prowlers 3-0, who were led by former NHL player Tim Bergland.  The marquee game of the day featuring the Ponies of Stillwater vs a strong visiting Eden Prairie team - led by future 1st round (8th overall) NHL draft pick - Casey Mittelstadt deemed to be too powerful for the hometown squad who fell 4-1 on Pony territory ice to the Eagles.

All in all, the weekend in history laden Stillwater, with restaurants, breweries and wineries within walking distance away from the rink made for a very memorable time in Stillwater.  Although not highly attended the night before, the addition of a collegiate game (although alumni) in 2017 marked what appears to be a new tradition at HDM as the 2018, 2019 and 2020 HDM also had scheduled D1 collegiate hockey games on the outdoor ice sheets.