In 2000, the Minnesota Wild was formed, bringing professional hockey back to the area after seven years without a team. In their short time as a professional team, the Wild has made it to the post season three times, going all the way to the Conference Finals once. They have done reasonably well for an expansion franchise.
Home of the Minnesota Wild is the Xcel Energy Center, also known as the X. Owned by the city of St. Paul, the stadium seats just over 18,000 fans for hockey games as well as lacrosse games. The arena also hosts many non sports related events including concerts and conventions and was even the home of the 2008 Republican National Convention.
On the ice, the Minnesota Wild is supported not only by their fans, but also by their number one fan, Nordy the mascot. Nordy is an anthropomorphized animal, although it seems unclear exactly what kind of animal he is.
Since 2008, Nordy has lived at the Xcel Energy Center and is seen at home games, playing tricks, being mischievous, and rooting on his favorite team. He can also be found out in the community at various events and even children’s birthday parties spreading cheer and his love for the game of hockey.
Out in the community, the Wild give a deeper meaning to the nickname the State of Hockey that Minnesota is often referred to by. They are active in many youth initiatives, including education based programs and medical causes. They are also active in promoting youth hockey programs, giving many children a brighter chance at a healthier future.
They provide financial assistance to many of these programs but also make appearances and visits, as well as raising awareness about important issues such as brain injury and literacy. The players and their wives are very active, giving the community the help that it needs and providing for those less fortunate.
The logo of the Minnesota Wild is considered by many to be one of the best logos in sports. An environmental landscape, the logo is also the silhouette of a wild animal, making for a great optical illusion. The eye of the animal is a star, paying homage to the Minnesota North Stars team that used to play hockey in the area. There are also pine trees that double as fur and texture for the animal, the mouth is a river, and the ear is a moon. This logo was the inspiration for Nordy.
A reasonably young team, the Minnesota Wild has already gained great respect and love from their fans. Of course this is not a difficult thing to do in the State of Hockey, at least not for a hockey team, but this team has definitely earned their place in the fans’ hearts, contributing in the community when they are not entertaining on the ice.
2009-10 Minnesota Wild
Season ticketholders were not surprised when on May 22, 2009, Chuck Fletcher replaced Doug Risebrough and on June 16, 2009, Todd Richards became only the second head coach in Minnesota Wild history. The team drafted United States defenceman Nick Leddy with the 16th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Free agency yielded 13 players, most notably former Blackhawk Martin Havlat (6-yr $30 million), former Nashville Predator Greg Zanon (3-yr $5.8 million) and former Pittsburgh Penguin Petr Sykora (1-yr $1.6 million).
The Wild are currently sitting in 4th place in the Northwest Division with a 28-25-4 record.
Previous Seasons
The Wild will get some help from Finland this season. Newcomerr Niklas Backstrom is The Wild’s key goaltender, now that Manny Fernandez has gone. Led by Coach Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota plays incredibly defensive hockey, and are looking good this season – perhaps even playoff contenders? Fans wait to see what Backstrom can do, and are excited to have superstar Marian Gaborik on the ice again and injury free. The Wild will definitely showcase offensive potential as well coming into ’08.
Although they are only in their fifth season, Minnesota Wild ticket holders are already packing their home arena, the Xcel Energy Center, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 19,398 Minnesota Wild hockey tickets were sold for their October 5, 2005 season opener, when they soundly defeated the Calgary Flames by a score of 6-3. The arena, known to fans as "The X", was named by ESPN in 2004 as the best overall sports venue in the United States and features four spectator levels including one sweet suite level.
Returning for the Wild this year is all-star goalie Dwayne Roloson, winner of the 2004 Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, All-American defenseman Willie Mitchell, and forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who was named to the Western Conference YoungStars team in 2004. Defenseman Brad Bombardir left the Wild this season to join the Nashvile Predators, while winger Andrew Brunette left to play for the Colorado Avalanche.
Perhaps the most important acquisition the Wild have made this year is Blair Mackasey, who was hired as director of professional scouting. Mackasey had been the head scout for Hockey Canada for three years prior to his joining the Wild. He is considered one of the best talent scouts in the league, and was called upon to assist Wayne Gretzky with selection of the 2006 Canadian men's Olympic team. He joins head coach Jacque Lemaire, who has been with the team since its inception in 2000. Lemaire has an impressive resume as well; he coached the New Jersey Devils from 1993-1998, leading them to a Stanley Cup victory in 1995. Prior to the Devils, Lemaire was head coach for the Montreal Canadiens, where he had spent his entire career as a player; with Lemaire, the Canadiens won 10 Stanley Cups. He is the 1994 and 2003 recipient of the Jack Adams Award.
The Wild were formed in 2000 and failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs in their first three seasons; they finally made it to the 2003 playoffs, where they advanced to the Western Conference finals. The Wild defeated a powerful Colorado Avalanche team in seven games to advance past the first round of the playoffs; they knocked the Vancouver Canucks out of the playoffs in seven games in the second round. They were defeated in the third round by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, who would go on to win the 2003 Stanley Cup. They did not make the playoffs in the 2003-2004 season.
Fans are expecting a big year from winger Marian Gaborik, rookie forward Mikko Koivu, and forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who has returned after a neck injury. A unique thing about the Wild is that they do not name a captain for the entire season; instead, they rotate captains every month, picking a player who has shown outstanding leadership and character. So far this season, Alex Henry, Fillip Kuba, and Willie Mitchell have been named team captains. Who's the next member of the Wild to make captain? Get your Minnesota Wild tickets and find out in person.
