When it comes to hockey pedigree, being born and raised in Minnesota is about as good as it gets. This season Minnesota boasts the most NCAA players in Division I men (183) and well as Division I women (135). There are 43 NHL players who call Minnesota home as well as 11 Olympians headed to Sochi!

Here are some telltale signs shared by those who hail from this great State of Hockey.  You know you’re a Minnesota Hockey player when . . .

1. You make the pilgrimage to St. Paul for the Minnesota high school hockey tournament every March.
2. Your knee hockey gear is ready to go at a moment’s notice.
3. A typical winter weekend includes outdoor hockey.
4. You have Miracle and the Mighty Ducks movies in regular rotation. You’ve even practiced the ‘flying v’ with your teammates.
5. You’d rather it be 10 degrees outside than 40, just to keep the outdoor ice in good shape.
6. Hockey laced sweatshirts and luggage carts full of hockey bags are a staple at hotels on the weekends.
7. You know how to pronounce Wayzata, Edina, Shakopee, Mahtomedi, Bemidji and Waseca. You also know the big-name players that came from each association.
8. Your March Madness is on the ice instead of the court.  
9. You point out to all your friends which NHL and college hockey players are from Minnesota.
10. Watching the Zamboni is comforting.
11. You have a designated stickhandling/shooting area at your house and it’s actually on ice.
12. With an empty net, you pass to your linemate instead of shooting with one minute left in the game.
13. You have debated whether you should tape your stick from heel to toe, or toe to heel.
14. Hockey Day Minnesota is the most anticipated holiday of the year.
15. You understand what “Where grandma keeps the peanut butter” means.
16. You love two types of sauce – the team spaghetti dinner sauce and the sauce your linemate sends you to create a scoring opportunity.
17. You have five different college teams to cheer for and know the rousers for each one.
18. Your dad coaches you, whose dad coached him, whose dad coached him…it’s in the blood.
19. You understand the name on the front is more important than the one on the back
20. You know how to use a hockey stick as a shovel
21. School is canceled and you head to an ice arena
22. You arrive to practice and games an extra 15 minutes early to let your equipment thaw
23. You wonder what people are talking about when they refer to breezers as “hockey pants”
24. Dreams of playing in the State Tournament come before playing for the Stanley Cup
25. Skating on fresh ice with your best friends is your favorite thing to do. You couldn’t imagine not playing this sport.

Tweet us and share what makes you a Minnesota Hockey player at @MinnHockey