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Wild Gets Outdoor Tune-Up for Upcoming Stadium Series

12/30/2015, 9:45am CST
By Evan Sporer, Courtesy Wild.com

Team Holds Chilly Practice in Edina for 1,000 Fans

Credit: Wild.com.

Credit: Wild.com.

It's been unseasonably warm in Minnesota to kick off winter, making outdoor hockey rinks, a cold-weather staple for the State of Hockey, harder to come by.

Everything on Tuesday though, from light snowfall to the balmy 20-degree temperature was perfect as the Minnesota Wild held an outdoor practice in Edina in front of 1,000 fans.

"It's been tough this year, not a lot of outdoor hockey, but the weather is certainly looking like it's changing its mind, and starting to bring what it's supposed to bring this time of year," Head Coach Mike Yeo said. "I'm sure the outdoor rinks will get going; I know the lakes are starting to freeze."

Regardless of the temperature, the Minnesota Wild will head outdoors February 21 when it plays the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at TCF Stadium.

Practice on Tuesday served as the appetizer before February's main course, which has been stewing in the kitchen since the NHL created the Winter Classic in 2008.

"Right now, things are building, and it's not too far away now, and it will keep getting more exciting," Yeo said. "I know it's going to be an amazing event. It's something that, finally we have one here, and it's obviously deserved, in this market, with this fan base, and the history of hockey here."

It's why practice took on more of a "fun" feel on Tuesday just hours after the Wild defeated the Red Wings 3-1 at Xcel Energy Center to finish up a four-game homestand.

"That was fun. It was a neat atmosphere," Ryan Suter said. "Brooks, my son plays out there, so I always get to watch him play. It was neat to be out there."

Read more at Wild.com

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