Minnesota’s hockey holiday is almost here. This Saturday, January 17th the State of Hockey will celebrate its ninth annual Hockey Day Minnesota at Holman Field in Saint Paul. The event seems to take on a bigger role in Minnesota’s hockey culture and legacy with each passing year. With a new twist this year, that trend will likely continue.

For most Minnesotans, especially those in the hockey community, the question isn’t if to participate in Hockey Day Minnesota, it’s how they choose to be a part of it.

To help you decide, we broke down 10 of the top ways to experience Hockey Day Minnesota 2015.

Let’s start by taking a trip to Holman Field.

Thank You to Our Troops

Hockey Day Minnesota 2015 will have a special military feel from the moment it starts.  Not only are the outdoor games being played on Holman Field from which soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard 34th Combat Aviation Brigade and 2-147th Assault Helicopter Battalion have been recently deployed to Kuwait, but the event will be showcased live to hundreds of Minnesota National Guard members currently in Kuwait. The entire day will be a great tribute to our armed forces, and everyone can contribute by telling our service men and women how much we appreciate them.

Boys High School: St. Paul Johnson vs. Luverne

One of the most time-honored programs in Minnesota, the St. Paul Johnson Governors, will square off against the up-and-coming Luverne Cardinals in the first game of the day. The Cardinals made their first ever State Tournament appearance last spring and have carried that success into this season, jumping out to a 15-2 record.  The Governors are also off to one of the best starts in recent years as they started the season 5-1-1 and will rely on a strong junior class to overcome Luverne’s star power.

Boys HS: Hill-Murray vs. St. Thomas Academy

It’s only fitting that on a day where hockey fans in Minnesota give special recognition to our armed forces that the Cadets would participate in one of the day’s marquee matchups.  To make the game even more intriguing, St. Thomas Academy may enter this rivalry game with Hill-Murray undefeated pending two games this week. With several premier wins of their own, the Pioneers certainly have the talent to end that streak and will look to do so in front of a statewide audience.

A Breath of Hockey

Every year one of the bright spots of Hockey Day Minnesota is simply taking in the pure joy of celebrating the game that so many people share a passion for in our great state. Whether you are watching the festivities from the comfort of your home or experiencing it first hand, take some time to enjoy the atmosphere of Hockey Day Minnesota.  The inner excitement it brings has the ability to take anyone back to when they first fell in love with the game of hockey. It’s a feeling that simply cannot be matched.

Girls HS: Cretin-Derham Hall vs. Duluth

Former Gophers John and Krissy (Wendell) Pohl will lead their talented group of girls at Cretin-Derham Hall (CDH) up against the Duluth Northern Stars.  The key for the Stars team will be neutralizing Merrimack commit Paige Voight who will be returning to the Raiders’ lineup for the first time since winning a gold medal with Team USA at the U18 Women’s World Championships.  If they can do that, this young Duluth team, which features only two seniors, could open a few eyes with a big time performance.

Boys HS: St. Paul Academy vs. Rochester Lourdes

The Spartans and the Eagles will play the fourth high school game of the day at Holman Field. The Rochester Lourdes will make consecutive appearances on Hockey Day Minnesota and will look to use that as an advantage against a St. Paul Academy team that is off to a strong start this year, including wins over two of the day’s earlier participants in St. Paul Johnson and Luverne.

Taking it to the Pond

Part of what makes Hockey Day Minnesota so special is taking the game back to its roots with outdoor hockey.  Whether it’s an individual honing his or her skills on a backyard rink, a local association hosting its own outdoor activities or the US Pond Hockey Championships on Lake Nokomis, there are always opportunities during Hockey Day Minnesota for players of all ages to share in the celebration of hockey in Minnesota with a little time on the pond.

College: Gophers vs. Badgers

It’s border battle time!  At 5:00 pm on FSN, the Minnesota Gophers will host the Wisconsin Badgers at Mariucci Arena. The Gophers enter the game ranked 16th in country, despite a recent skid, and feature three potential Hobey Baker Award candidates in Kyle Rau, Mike Reilly and Adam Wilcox, all of which hail from the State of Hockey.  The maroon and gold will look to set the tone for the rest of the year by capitalizing on a series with a Badgers team that has struggled so far this season.

NHL: Wild vs. Coyotes

The Minnesota Wild will wrap up Hockey Day Minnesota 2015 with an attempt to sweep the season series against the Arizona Coyotes.  The Wild carry a 10-6-5 record at Xcel Energy Center this year and will look to once again build off the excitement from throughout the State of Hockey.  Last year, the Wild capped off Hockey Day Minnesota with a storybook ending as Elk River native Nate Prosser scored in overtime to win the game 3-2 on the day his community hosted the event.

Sharing the Passion

Can’t make it to Holman Field or any of the highlighted games this year?  That’s okay!  Throughout the day, people across Minnesota will be sharing how they are celebrating their love of hockey on Hockey Day Minnesota by using #HDM2015 on social media. And don’t forget to follow @HockeyDayMN for updates directly from Holman Field!