Hockey Day Minnesota, the State of Hockey's annual celebration of the sport at all levels, is just days away, with 2016 festivities ready to roll in Duluth on February 6. 

Stateofhockey.com will provide coverage leading up to and during the big day, highlighting activities in Duluth, as well as all across the state via the website and on Twitter (@mystateofhockey), Facebook (Facebook.com/mystateofhockey) and Instagram (@mystateofhockey).

Hockey fans throughout Minnesota are encouraged to share how they are celebrating the event throughout the week and on Hockey Day, by tweeting messages and photos to @mystateofhockey, using the hashtag #HDM2016. 

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for Wells Fargo Hockey Day Minnesota 2016 in Duluth are on sale now at Wild.com. Proceeds from the event will benefit Duluth area youth hockey programs. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit Duluthhockey.com.

HDM KICKOFF PARADE

Saturday’s Hockey Day festivities will begin with a short parade starting at 9 a.m. from the Bayfront Park entrance to the ice. Participants include Duluth Mayor Emily Larson, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, mascots for the participating schools, Nordy from the Minnesota Wild, Champ from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and Huskie of the Duluth Huskies, along with Duluth area youth hockey players.

CEREMONIAL PUCK DROP

Key figures representing Duluth’s hockey heritage Bob and Jerry Fryberger and Pat Francisco will drop the ceremonial pucks for each boys’ high school game.

Pat Francisco, a former Denfeld standout and member of Denfeld’s Hall of Fame went on to skate for the Bulldogs at the University of Minnesota Duluth from 1963-1967. For over 30 years he has given back to the hockey community in Duluth and was instrumental in establishing the Heritage Center in west Duluth. Francisco will drop the puck for the Duluth Denfeld game at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6.

Bob and Jerry Fryberger will represent the Fryberger family. Their parents, Bob and LaVerne, started the Glen Avon rink adjacent to their home over 60 years ago. In 1951, Bob Sr. gathered a group of neighborhood boys, including both Jerry and Bob Jr., and coached them to a Peewee national championship. The Fryberger family later built an indoor arena in their neighborhood that is still used today. The brothers will drop the puck for the Duluth East vs. Lakeville North game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6.

FULL EVENT SCHEDULE (Saturday, Feb. 6)

@ St. Luke's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Hockey Rink
Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, Minn.

8:00 a.m. - Gates Open 

10:00 a.m. - Duluth Denfeld vs. Eveleth-Gilbert

1:00 p.m. - Duluth East vs. Lakeville North

4:00 p.m. - Wild Sled Hockey

5:30 p.m. - Peewee AA: Duluth East vs. Stillwater

7:00 p.m. - Duluth Police vs. Duluth Firefighters

7:00 p.m. - HOCKEY DAY WRAP PARTY sponsored by Black Woods; Food, beverages and the Minnesota Wild broadcast on the big screen (Free Admission)

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@ PLEASURE RINK (adjacent to the St. Luke’s Orthopedics and Sports Medicine outdoor rink)

9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Mite Games

3:00 p.m.- DASSH (Duluth Area Special and Sled Hockey)

BROADCAST DETAILS

The television broadcast of the event is slated to begin at 9:00 a.m. on FOX Sports North. For the first time, FOX Sports North’s anchor desk will be located at the site of the outdoor games. The set will be located next to the rink and feature a backdrop of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge.

Throughout the day, FOX Sports North will introduce unique hockey-related features and vignettes from the desk, and check in with reporters located across “the State of Hockey,” in addition to broadcasting game action from Duluth, the Gophers-Penn State matchup at Mariucci Arena and the Wild-Blues game from St. Louis. FSN’s Hockey Day Minnesota broadcast schedule can be found at FOX Sports North.

HOCKEY DAY GETS SOCIAL

FOX Sports North will once again offer viewers an interactive social media experience on FOX Sports North PLUS by integrating traditional TV with live social media updates. The hockey community is encouraged to join the HDM celebration by using #HDM2016. Text and photo content will be incorporated into the broadcast and featured throughout the day.

HDM 2016 MERCHANDISE

For the first time, Hockey Day Minnesota merchandise and apparel will be available for purchase. Items are now available at the Hockey Lodge stores and online at stateofhockeystore.com.

BRIEF HISTORY

Hockey Day Minnesota was originated in 2007 by the Minnesota Wild to celebrate the game that has made Minnesota the State of Hockey. It is produced in partnership with FOX Sports North, Minnesota Hockey and the respective local community that serves as host each year. Previous locations include Baudette Bay (2007, 2008), Phalen Park (2009), Hermantown (2010), Moorhead (2011), Minnetonka (2012), Grand Rapids (2013), Elk River (2014) and Saint Paul (2015). For more information, visit Wild.com.

BACKGROUND

Costs to produce the outdoor event are fully supported through sponsorships and in-kind donations. Non-financial partnerships with the City of Duluth and the DECC have provided site planning and infrastructure knowledge and support. All local Hockey Day Minnesota efforts are led by the Duluth Local Organizing Committee.

Duluth’s Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is a group of dedicated volunteers from local rinks who have committed to bringing Wells Fargo Hockey Day Minnesota to Duluth with the purpose of celebrating Duluth’s rich hockey heritage and tradition.