Kevin Kurtt
A Greater State of Hockey
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 09 August 2012 16:39
By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor
From April to October, I’m a casual Minnesota Twins fan. Almost every evening, the channel on my TV will inevitably make its way to Fox Sports North for the broadcast of that night’s game.
I’ll passively watch the game while eating dinner, playing with the kids, talking to my wife, checking Twitter, surfing the Web or just vegging out. Rarely am I so “into the game” that I’m watching every pitch, second-guessing Gardy’s decisions or getting upset at yet another Twins inning ended by grounding into a double play.
The Twins broadcast basically serves as a background for whatever else is happening in my family room that night.
From October to April, I’m a casual Minnesota Wild fan. Almost every evening, the channel on my TV will inevitably make its way to Fox Sports North for the broadcast of that night’s game.
Much like the Twins broadcasts, the Wild games are, more times than not, an afterthought in the Kurtt household.
That is about to change.
Nine Minnesotans taken in 2012 NHL Draft
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 18:48
By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor
After a one-year hiatus, Minnesota returned to the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. When the N.Y. Rangers selected Lakeville native and U.S. Under-18 Team defenseman Brady Skjei with the 28th pick of the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on June 22, it marked the ninth time in the last 10 years that a Minnesota native was drafted in the first round.
The Rangers’ selection of Skjei also meant that for 44 straight years, a Minnesotan heard his name called at the NHL Draft. In all, nine Minnesotans, were selected in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Minnesota has obviously been a hockey hotbed for many years now, but only recently has the State of Hockey seen the sheer numbers of players taken, both in the first round and in the draft overall. In fact, the last 13 NHL Drafts have seen a significant increase in the number of Minnesotans that have heard their name called by an NHL franchise.
From college to the NHL
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 16:44
A record 300 former U.S. college players appeared in the NHL during the 2011-12 regular season
By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor
If you’ve watched nearly any NCAA sporting event on television in the past several years, you’ve seen the ad. You may even be able to recite the tagline: “There are 380,000 NCAA student-athletes, and just about all of them will be going pro in something other than sports.”
It’s a noble campaign directed at educating the masses that most athletes in college will see their athletic careers come to an end at graduation.
In the world of NCAA hockey, the vast majority of players on the 58 Division I and 77 Division II/III men’s teams will not make the jump to the NHL, AHL, ECHL or any other of the various professional hockey leagues around the world. But for a select few, college hockey is merely a steppingstone to the bright lights of the National Hockey League.
Feeling a Draft: Minnesotans in the NHL Draft
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 16:44
By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor
When the Anaheim Ducks selected Swedish right wing Rickard Rakell with final pick of the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, a notable streak was snapped. For nine straight years (2002-10), a Minnesota native was drafted in the first round.
But when the NHL Entry Draft returned to the State of Hockey last year for the first time since 1989, no Minnesotans were picked in the first round. Thirty names were called at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center. None from Minnesota.
However, when the hometown Minnesota Wild traded their third and fourth round picks to Vancouver for the 60th overall pick to draft Wayzata High School left wing Mario Lucia, another streak continued. For the 43rd consecutive year, a Minnesotan heard his name called at the NHL Draft.
Gopher hockey is back
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:12
By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor
Excuse me while I play the role of University of Minnesota apologist.
Golden Gopher hockey is back. Yes, I know Minnesota lost 6-1 to Boston College in the NCAA Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla., last week. And, yes, I know the Gophers didn’t exactly have their ‘A’ game in the loss to the eventual national champions.
No matter.
After a hiatus as one of college hockey’s premier programs, Minnesota’s Pride on Ice is once again finally that – a source of pride for a state that bills itself as the State of Hockey.
