It’s been 20 years since the inaugural Hockey Day Minnesota event in Baudette. What began in 2007 as a way to simply celebrate the game loved by so many in the state, has evolved into an annual tradition—more like a holiday—unrivaled in the U.S. hockey universe. 

The group that conceptualized and planned that first Hockey Day—the Minnesota Wild, Fox Sports North, Minnesota Hockey and hockey and community leaders in Baudette—aimed to connect fans of different generations and shine a spotlight on the State of Hockey. The event has since grown into a week-long hockey carnival featuring games at various levels, outdoor concerts and other activities, with each host community putting its own signature spin on the event. It’s become a sought-after opportunity for hotbeds around the state to host and something for fans of all ages, and statewide, to be a part of—whether on-site, in front of their TVs or on their backyard rinks at home.

HOCKEY DAY MEMORIES

But 20 years already? Time definitely flies when you’re having fun.

“I don’t know that anyone thought it would grow to what it is today, but we knew we had something very cool,” said Wayne Petersen, Senior Director, Community Relations and Hockey Partnerships for the Wild. “It has become a major event. Now there are multiple communities raising their hands every year to host. Past local organizing committees are proactively sharing information and insights with the current and future hosts to make sure the next events are even better. There are some tournaments that have sprung up that take place on Hockey Day, and a ton of interaction by fans on social media, showing what they’re doing to celebrate. It means so much to so many people.”

Petersen, who was part of the original Hockey Day Minnesota committee and has been involved ever since, has so many fond memories from the last 20 years.

“If I had to name a few, it was really cool to be in Warroad, Hockeytown USA,” he said. “They put on a fantastic event. I’m from Stillwater, so to have it in my hometown was very special, on the banks of the St. Croix River with the lift bridge in the background. We had 10,000 people enjoying hockey in the falling snow in Mankato. The ice crew was out shoveling the ice constantly. In Bemidji, there were carved Paul Bunyans throughout the village, and it was 10-below. It looked like a scene from Mystery, Alaska. We’ve also had some Hockey Days that were on high school football fields. By the time the stands are up and the hockey villages are built, with the custom fire pits, it all turns into something magical.”

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Over the last 20 years, communities such as Baudette, Mankato, Duluth, Stillwater, Moorhead, Grand Rapids, Warroad, Minneapolis, St. Paul and others have stepped up as hosts, showcasing their civic pride and cementing their names in Hockey Day Minnesota history. 

It is no small task for a community to host a Hockey Day Minnesota. Scheduling events, securing funding, locations and volunteers, and creating an outdoor hockey environment worthy of this annual spectacle takes significant effort. The dedication shown year after year is but another example of what makes Minnesota’s hockey community special.

“Hockey Day starts with a strong, local organizing committee and that evolves to include the youth hockey association, high school programs, city hall, tourism and Main Street,” Petersen said. “Everyone rallies together and it’s so fun to see. There’s a lot of pride that this event is in their community, and it brings people there. People coming in to buy tickets, stay at hotels, eat at restaurants. It’s a great thing for the host cities.”

Hockey Day Minnesota 2026 will be held in Hastings, an eight-day celebration complete with American Hockey League, high school and youth hockey games, local music performances, a village-like “fan zone” with food, merchandise and local vendors and opportunities to support the United Heroes League and Hastings Youth Hockey. The AHL matchup between the Iowa Wild and Milwaukee Admirals will be the first professional outdoor AHL game in Hockey Day Minnesota history. 

“Hastings is doing a fantastic job and they’ve been great to work with,” said Petersen. “They already have a NHL-size outdoor rink, which is a big benefit for them.”

SKATE IT FORWARD ON HOCKEY DAY MINNESOTA

This year on Hockey Day, community hockey supporters across the State of Hockey will have the opportunity to contribute to growing the game and ensuring that Minnesota’s successful community hockey model continues to thrive for the next generations of skaters. 

The Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Wild Foundation, and TRIA Orthopedics recently introduced Skate it Forward on Hockey Day Minnesota (a nod to events and movements such as Giving Tuesday and pay-it-forward), through which fans can donate to Skate It Forward, a philanthropic initiative to help preserve and strengthen community hockey in Minnesota. 

The core objective of Skate It Forward is to grow community hockey participation in Minnesota by making it more affordable and accessible for first-time players to get on the ice. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage even more Minnesota kids to play hockey and for Skate It Forward on Hockey Day Minnesota to continue as an annual part of the Hockey Day tradition.

“Hockey in other parts of the country has become a privatized, for-profit business,” said Petersen. “We have something special here in Minnesota, however, we can’t take it for granted. Community hockey makes hockey much more affordable and accessible and we want to do what we can to help preserve and grow that.”

“The money raised will go to supporting community hockey associations in Minnesota and to try to get even more kids introduced to the game,” Petersen added. “They may not all become NHL players, they may not play D-I, but playing hockey with your friends for however long you can do it is a win for everybody.”

The Wild also announced that 11 pilot community hockey associations will receive recruiting grants to help cover registration fees for first-year players under the age of 8 who register for the 2025-26 season. Those associations include: Anoka, Bloomington Jefferson, Delano, Langford Park, Minnesota Sled Hockey, Mounds View Irondale, Osseo-Maple Grove, St. Paul Capitals, Waseca, Willmar and Winona.

The communities reported significant growth in the 2025-26 season as a result of Skate It Forward contributions. Anoka’s "Try Hockey For Free" event attracted 200 skaters and the association welcomed 74 first-year players, an increase of 40 skaters compared to 2024-25. Minnesota Sled Hockey saw 65% growth in the 2025-26 season, adding 28 first-year players. Waseca added 26 first-year players with the help of “Bring a Friend” promotion and a Family Mentorship Program. 

Additional Skate It Forward Enrollment Highlights:

• Bloomington Jefferson: 101 first year skaters this year / 78 last year
• Delano: 62 first year this year / 38 last year
• Osseo - Maple Grove: 10 first year players in Brooklyn Park this year / eight last year
• St. Paul Capitals: 100 first year this year / 75 last year
• Willmar: 27 first year skaters this year / 18 last year

Skate It Forward on Hockey Day Minnesota! https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/skateitforward