Featured Image:
Nate Prosser skates up the ice during Minnesota’s 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
(MHM Photo/Jordan Doffing).

For a handful of players on the Minnesota Wild roster, the lyrics “I was born a child of the strong and wild,” from their anthem could not be more appropriate as they hail from the great state of hockey. Nate Prosser is one of those players and as Hockey Day in Minnesota approaches he couldn’t be a better choice to feature following the Wild’s 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The win came in front of a sold out arena of 18,037 home team fans and included Prosser’s first game-winning goal of his career, coming at 16:45 of the 2nd period, assisted by Jason Pominville. Prosser honed the skills that would lead him to the NHL – and that 2nd period goal – on the site of this weekend’s coming Hockey Day activities, “The Pit,” as it is lovingly referred to, in Elk River, MN.

Sit back and enjoy this Q&A with Nate Prosser on growing up Minnesota, High School Hockey and what being truly blessed means to him.

Q: What do you think was the best part of growing up in Minnesota as far as hockey is concerned?

A: I think the best part about growing up here for hockey is the availability of ice. “The Pit” in general is a great spot. Growing up, when we wanted to play outdoor hockey we could go there and and it was perfect. There are lights and it’s down out of the wind, it literally sits in a pit so it was kind of alike a dream setting for kids with the warming house and everything right there.

Q: Was there anything really special about Elk River specifically for you?

A: The biggest thing for me growing up in Elk River was being able to watch Paul Martin and my brother who was three years older than me. I was able to grow up watching those great players and we actually won a state tournament when I was a bantam. There have been some great teams down through there in the past ten to twenty years and I think it’s just a perfect spot to have Hockey Day with the teams that we’ve been having and the success that we’ve been having with hockey…it’s such a hockey city. We get such good fans there. The student section is down on the glass on the opposing end and the guys really got us into it. It’s just a fun city to play in.

Q: Do you have a favorite hockey memory?

A: The state tournament my sophomore year was a lot of fun at the Xcel playing Bloomington that first game and all of the road trips me and my dad and sometimes my brother would take up to Grand Rapids or Duluth or Fargo…places like that. We’d pack up the minivan and head up and play penny poker on the way up and do goofy stuff. My first high school hockey game was an experience I’ll always remember because I grew up watching and idolizing my Paul Martin when he was in high school who was such a good player and I always wanted to play for my high school team. My sophomore year our first game was against Edina and I just remember stepping on the ice that first time and it was a dream come true.

Q: Coming full circle…does it make it more special that you play in the NHL here as opposed to if you played at another NHL venue?

A: Yeah for sure. I definitely have to take a step back a lot of the time and pinch myself. I know I’m truly blessed with where I’m at and all of my family and friends are still in the local area here and I’m truly thankful to be a part of this organization. When I graduated from college I was so happy to be heading to the Xcel and being able to play in front of my friends and family…the sense of pride I had to be playing for the hometown team…words can’t even describe it.

Q: Do you think having your friends and family here makes it easier or harder to play?

A: Obviously there are pros and cons with everything, in every situation, but I think the pros definitely outweigh the cons in this situation. I’m  able to be here and be close to my family and I’m able to raise my family here. My wife is pregnant with our second child and we’re getting a big family going down here and I think it’s great to be here in Minnesota.

Q: Any plans to check out the State High School hockey tournament this year?

A: Yeah! Oh yeah!

Q: Why do you think that tournament is so popular?

A: This state just loves their high school hockey! It’s pretty incredible. I remember playing up at sectionals at the DECC in Duluth and that place would be packed full and then you come play in St. Paul and it’s packed full as well. People just love coming to watch their high school hockey and when the top eight teams get into one building, especially at the Xcel because it’s a great venue for it, everyone comes down and makes a weekend of it and just makes it a great time. I also always go to the final five because it’s just incredible as well.

Following Prosser’s big night we couldn’t help but ask him to reiterate how special it was to play in front of his friends and family. He responded with a big smile, “It’s a dream come true playing here in front of my family and friends at the Xcel. Having them here by my side and supporting me after every game is huge.”

Nate Prosser during Minnesota’s 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Photo Credit ~ Jordan Doffing.

Head coach Mike Yeo also weighed in on Prosser following the game saying, “He’s an unbelievable professional, he’s an unbelievable team guy.” He continued, “He does little things right and obviously we’re incredibly happy for him to score that goal tonight but even if he didn’t score that goal he’s going to go out and give you a great chance because of the way he plays, the way he defends and manages the puck well and he competes hard every night.”

There is no doubt Minnesotans everywhere echo Coach Yeo’s sentiments on Prosser and perhaps even smile a bit knowing the defenseman is a living representation of the spirit of hockey being instilled in kids all across the state of Minnesota.

For more information on Hockey Day in Minnesota CLICK HERE! Be sure to follow @MNhockeyMag on Twitter for all of our latest articles, updates and events as well as the author of this article @AmySnow17!

The post From “The Pit” to “The X” ~ Minnesota’s Nate Prosser appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
Jamie Langenbrunner during a break during the preliminary game against Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics. (Photo: Rosie Perera)

When Jamie Langenbrunner looked across the outdoor ice of Washington Elementary school in Cloquet, Minnesota as a kid and saw the lights of his family home flickering in the distance, he knew it was time to take off his skates and head home. It has been many years since his days of organizing shinny games on the westernmost edge of Minnesota’s Iron Range, but the lights of home are once again flickering for the hockey player, bringing him back to the deep quiet nights of the “Wood City of the North,” as he officially retires from the National Hockey League.

On the eve of his retirement from a career that spanned nearly twenty years and included time with the Dallas Stars where he won a Stanley Cup, the New Jersey Devils and the St. Louis Blues, Langenbrunner took some time to discuss growing up Minnesota, winning the Stanley Cup and everything in between with not just another Minnesota kid, but me, a little girl who grew up in the very same city as he did, and skated the very same sheets of ice he learned on.

Q: First things first Jamie, now that your retirement is official how do you feel?

A: It’s a little bittersweet. It’s tough walking away and being officially done with something that you’ve been doing for nearly seventeen years. I’ve been playing hockey since I was five so to admit it’s over is difficult but I’m excited for the next chapter and being able to spend time with my kids and coach them and to get those other rewarding experiences…but it’s been a lot of fun.

Q: You grew up in Cloquet, Minnesota which is a pretty small town. Do you have any fond hockey memories from growing up in Northern Minnesota?

A: I have lots of great memories and I’m actually back here right now with my kids so I’m kind of reliving them a bit! I grew up next to Washington school which had a rink there and I’d walk across the field to skate there as a kid. I’d see my parents’ bedroom lights from the rink and when they started flickering that light it was time to come home. I was pretty fortunate to grow up during a time when our peewee and bantam teams were very competitive throughout the state and I got to play with some of my best friends in Rick Mrozik who went on to play a few games in the NHL and Adam Pavlatos and Kyle Young and guys that I grew up with and was able to play hockey with from the time I was little through high school.

Q: Is it weird for you at all being in Cloquet with how much people look up to you or is it just home?

A: I’ve never felt weird here. It’s always been home to me and I’ve always come back here in the summer. Most of my friends I grew up with are still around so it’s just home to me. They have the banners and such in the rink and I definitely feel special with that but I always look at the guys before me with Corey Millen and Derek Plante and those guys and they are the ones I’m always excited about so for me it’s not a big deal but I’m definitely honored by the nice things people say.

Q: You seem to have the reputation of being a solid leader in the NHL and beyond and have worn a C for multiple squads; do you attribute your leadership abilities to anyone or anything specifically?

A: I think part of it is that I’ve always just kind of been that way, even as a kid. I was the kid trying to arrange the games, as my mom would say. I would be calling all of my buddies making sure we had people from around town to get a game going and doing those kinds of things.

As far as the captaincy thing is concerned, in the NHL I was very fortunate early on in my career to be around some guys who I consider to be great leaders in Joe Nieuwendyk, Guy Carbonneau and Craig Ludwig. The teams I was on in my career also had some great guys I was around who either were captains or had been captains of teams. To see the way they conducted themselves and the way they treated people I was able to really learn firsthand how to do it at that level. I think leadership comes naturally though and you kind of feel comfortable in that role.

Q: Speaking of one of the teams you Captained, what was it like representing the US in the Olympics in 1998 and 2010?

A: Amazing would be the first word. I dreamed of being an NHL hockey player but the Olympics were definitely something that we all looked at and strived for and something I thought had gone away when I turned pro in 94’. Then the opportunity came up in 98’ when they brought the NHL guys in and it was amazing. Being named Captain for the 2010 team and being able to represent not only the country but my town and my team on the biggest stage, and for us to do well was probably the greatest individual honor I was given in my career.

Q: What was more flooring, winning the Stanley Cup or winning a silver medal at the 2010 Olympics?

A: Well if it had been a gold medal we might have a conversation! I think they are really two different things. To win the Stanley Cup, I mean you’re going through a season with a team. In Dallas we made a few trades at the deadline and added another Cloquet guy with Derek Plante and whatnot but you’re basically going through with a team for a six month battle and then a two month war with the playoffs, so you have a bond with those guys that’s pretty deep. You’ve spent more time with them then you’ve spent with your family by the time it’s over and it’s a really pretty amazing thing to go through.

The Olympics, especially with the way it’s set up as a two week long tournament is definitely different. It was a great experience since our group came together so well and we really bonded in a short time though. We had a lot of fun together but I think they are two completely different experiences although the world stage makes it so amazing especially with the country behind you. Hearing those stories back home from people who can tell you where they were while they were watching this game or that game is neat stuff and makes you feel pretty special to be a part of that.

Q: You recently spent some time with your most recent team, the St. Louis Blues, while they were visiting Minnesota. What was that day like for you?

Yeah, I brought my boys down the day before and spent the day with the guys from the Blues and went to pre-game skate. The boys were able to go to the pre-game meal with the guys and we had a good time seeing everybody and spent the day with Zach Parise and stuff afterwards so it was good to see some friends.

Q: So what’s next for you?

A: I’m kind of regrouping a little bit. I’ve actually been talking with the St. Louis management a bit about starting to do something with them. I’m just trying to find the right fit for me with the idea that I still want to have some flexibility to be around for my boys and stuff so we’re having ongoing conversations. Hopefully we find something that works for all parties involved and kind of slowly transition into something else. I’m not in a rush to do anything and it’s nice to have that luxury, so for now we’ll kind of wait and see what happens.

For more information on Jamie Langenbrunner and his career CLICK HERE for the NHLPA media release. You can follow Cloquet, MN native and the author of this article Amy Gist at @AmySnow17 as well as @MNhockeyMag for all of our latest updates, articles and events!

The post Flickering Lights and Hockey Nights appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
Ottawa Senators forward Matt Kassian during game two of their second round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, May 17, 2013 at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA.
(Photo: Michael Miller/Pens Through My Lens)

In the summer of  2012 Matt Kassian was on the Wild Road Tour in Minnesota when it was announced that he had signed a new two-year deal with the Minnesota Wild. By March of the following year the honeymoon was over, however, and Kassian was traded to the Ottawa Senators. With the Sens in town Kassian seemed like an ideal candidate for our “Know Your Frenemy/Enemy” series!

The Senators have slowly been building up a huge roster, literally in terms of size, and Kassian was a perfect fit for the towering team from Canada. To give a quick comparison there are only two players on the Ottawa Senators roster right now who fall below six feet tall while the Wild have nine currently listed. We spoke to Kassian during the Senators visit to the Xcel Energy Center today and what we got, was a great Q&A with the humorous gentle giant, that is Matt Kassian.

Q: Do you feel like you’ve evolved as a player since being traded to the Senators and leaving the club you were with for so long?

A: I haven’t reinvented myself as a player or tried to reinvent myself as a player because that would not be very smart, but it’s about opportunity and there wasn’t a lot here in Minnesota for me and in the end I was sent elsewhere to get that opportunity. Ottawa has been great, it’s been a lot of fun up there and I do think I’ve improved and I want to keep improving. I do feel like I’ve been better, which comes with having the opportunity to get out there and play and work on everything.

Q: How have you adjusted to the playing environment in Canada?

A: The culture of hockey in Canada is a bit different, not that it’s not good here in Minnesota because it is, but Canada is just on another level as far as hockey goes. It wasn’t difficult to adjust though, there are great fans there just like there are here. I loved my time here and it was a great place to play and Ottawa is the same. I don’t have any complaints or worries about my time there or here.

Q: How do you feel about the dressing room you call home now as a Senator?

It’s a good group. That Methot guy, he’s a bit of a different bird, I don’t know about him he sketches me out a little bit but it’s a pretty fun group. [Methot had no comment on Kassian’s chirps although it was obvious the two players are great friends who consistently jest one another all in good fun!] It was really easy for me to come in and fit in with these guys. I didn’t have to test the waters to see if I was accepted with my sense of humor and my slight awkwardness [laughs]. It’s even been easy with the guys who have come in since I’ve been there, like Bobby Ryan who was tweeting pictures of pigeons of me before I even met him, so it’s a good group, a fun group, and a group who likes playing with each other and for each other and I think that’s really important.

Kassian poses with a fan during the MN Wild Road Tour 2012. The fan gifted Matt with a great Gnome/Rooster war statue in honor of a long standing inside joke from Kassian’s twitter.

Q: Is it strange coming back to Minnesota?

It’s a little weird. It’s a little different seeing all of the places you’ve been before and seeing the people you’ve seen before from the security guards to the guys at the doors and gates…when you’ve been around a place for awhile you still know them all, so it’s good to see everybody and fun to be back.

Q: Do you have any former teammates or things you particularly miss?

You miss guys and good friends. Scandella is one of my closer friends so it’s good seeing him, we got a chance to go to dinner last night and sit down together so that was nice. I mean you’re going to see guys, I saw Brodziak a bunch this summer and Spurgeon, but it is what it is. It’s part of the businesses and they know it just like I do that even if you get traded you’re going to be seeing those guys around because it’s a small world and for me it’s right now and it’s going to be fun and I’m excited for it.

As the lights fell dim over the Xcel Energy Center ice, Matt Kassian took to his twitter account as he often does and tweeted, “After much deliberation I have decided that winning on the road is fun…” The 3-0 win was not the first for the Sens this road trip, but it certainly was a night Matt Kassian probably won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

You can follow Matt on twitter at @Kassassination as well as the author of this article @AmySnow17! Be sure to check out @MNhockeymag as well for all of our latest updates, articles and events!

The post Know Your Frenemy ~ Ottawa Senators’ Matt Kassian appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
Niklas Backstrom, Clayton Stoner and the Wild are unbeaten in 2014.
(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images)

Last night at the Xcel Energy Center I was on the losing end of a winning game. Early on in the first period my beloved iPhone, a tool that allows me to record post game interviews, check quick stats and of course keep contact with the world, decided it didn’t want to work anymore. On any day that wasn’t a game day I probably wouldn’t have been so bothered by it, but there I was in the press box without a key piece of my life.

As the Wild scored goals and chalked up their first win in seven I Googled how to get my touch screen to start responding again. First I had to try to hard restart it, no luck. Next I had to erase it and perform a factory reset. I went through this process a solid five or six times, occasionally contemplating the idea of deep-sixing the handset and letting it fly off the press box level to its demise, before finally conceding defeat and admitting I was powerless to help my phone.

As my iPhone saga unfolded a few members of the press noticed my obvious frustration and came to my rescue with recorded audios I could use as well as calming words meant to refocus and get me back on my game. These key words and phrases were running through my head: restart, refocus, back on my game, back to basics. I glanced behind me at the Minnesota Wild players who were watching their team from the press box and then looked back down towards the ice … and it was at that moment that I had a revelation.

As the Wild skidded six games before finally winning last night against the Buffalo Sabres we had observed them attempting to fix their broken game night after night by resetting, attempting to get back to basics and use the system and structure that is meant to be the backbone of the squad. Much like me with my iPhone, as they tried to reset back to their baseline operating system and found themselves still facing failure, they grew more and more frustrated and agitated until there was little semblance left of team cohesion.

They came under pressure from fans, themselves, the coaching staff and whoever else could throw out an opinion but no amount of talking, or not talking was going to get them out of the endless cycle of reset, fail. They had to accept they were powerless and start building up from the bottom, which is what appears to be happening now.

The dressing room became increasingly tense with players struggling to explain what was going on. How do you really answer a question with no real answers anyway? Coach Mike Yeo also found himself facing tough questions and the speculation that continued losses may result in his dismissal. If that isn’t a recipe for disaster I’m not really sure what is. With last night’s win came a few small laughs and even a joke out of Clayton Stoner that the team is now undefeated for the new year although a cloud of caution still hung over the press conferences and interviews deep in the belly of the ‘X’ following the contest.

I write this as a simple reminder that sometimes there aren’t any easy fixes or answers and that even when the solution seems simple, the answer is not always as straightforward as it first appears. I believed I could fix my iPhone by getting it back to basics, as I’m sure the Wild believed they could get their team back on track by prescribing to their system. The thing is though, with so many moving parts, like in my phone, a team is only able to control so much before they have to take a deep breath and wait for things to start clicking again.

My iPhone ultimately took some professional help to get back online and even as I type this I’m still not sure whether or not it’s going to come off of life support anytime soon. I’ll go so far as to say the Wild aren’t quite out of the woods just yet either but they are slowly showing signs of intermittent life, something that should make all Wild fans breathe a little easier for the time being.

As we move through the next few games beginning with the Capitals and Kings – two teams known for being ruthless when they want to be – remember that any frustration you’re feeling is probably being felt ten-fold on the bench and while their performance may not be without error or even pretty, it will be a genuine effort being put forth by a team that truly cares about its fans and the state of Wild hockey.

*You can follow us on Twitter @MNHockeyMag! You can also follow the author of this article @AmySnow17!

The post A Wild Reset appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

You are a US born player and spent time with the US National Team Development Program. How important was that to your development as pro?

For me going to Ann Arbor and the program was really important. I was a very raw player and needed a lot of work and I think they saw that as well; to have those kinds of resources as a 16-year old is amazing because you play against older players and it really develops your game. There’s a fine line between developing your game and playing to win and the coaches and the whole staff did a great job of it. I think ultimately my two coaches there and some of the support staff were tremendous in helping me develop and get ready for college and ultimately the next level, here [the NHL].

What is it like for you watching younger players coming through the program now that you are in the NHL?

It’s cool. I think me being a part of it and seeing older guys who went through it and now these young guys…you always remember your experiences there and playing in the World Juniors and the World 18s and it’s just an exciting feeling. You’re always excited to play for your country but as you get up and go through the ranks it’s harder and harder to get that opportunity. I know how special it is for these guys to have this opportunity and they are obviously doing great right now so it’s fun to watch, especially with a couple Canadian guys in the locker room!

Sounds like there’s some friendly competition over the IIHF tournament in the dressing room…

There’s some bets going and we’ll see what happens!

You went from the program to Boston University. How did playing college puck influence your game?

I’m from the Northeast and I grew up watching college hockey so that was my goal. I think for many kids in Canada the goal is often to play in major juniors. Going the college route was very important to me but it’s not an allotted plan for everyone; we all take different routes to get here and for me getting to college was that path. I think BU in particular was important for me because of the coaches and knowing that’s where I would develop best. To be able to have Coach Parker who was very hard on me but in the right ways was really important. Their new Coach David Quinn who was our assistant and defensive coach there took a lot of time to make sure we developed in the right way and I think it was important to do that and I wasn’t rushed out of college either which was also nice.

Do you have any favorite “Winter Classic” style events from your hockey career?

At school we got to play BC at Fenway Park so that’s probably my greatest outdoor game experience. Playing at Fenway in front of 45,000 people was amazing! We got to do that and we won and had a nice little celebration after and it was just a really, really fun night and something that we’ll get to remember for a long time.

Would you like to play in a Winter Classic one day?

I would love to! I think it would be great for us and for the team. It brings a lot of excitement to the game which is important too. Hopefully, we’re crossing our fingers, that St. Louis will get a game sooner or later.

What are your personal feelings on the season so far?

The season so far has been great. It’s nice to start the season on time and go through training camp with all of the guys to get back in the swing of things. I think we have a pretty special team here and we were very excited coming into the season. I think we’ve met our expectations and it’s just been good to not have to go through all of that hoopla and the meetings and such like last year.

You have been stepping up and really contributing to some big wins for your team this season including a game winning shootout goal over the Blackhawks just the other night. How does that make you feel? 

It’s great when you get to fill a big role for your team. I think everyone always hopes to be someone who contributes in a game for their team and when you get the opportunity it’s time to step up and for me it was a great night. It’s always a good feeling to come into the locker room knowing you had a piece of the win and the guys are congratulating you; it’s a very fulfilling type of feeling.

Obviously you guys have already travelled to a lot of cities this winter but what do you think of this Minnesota deep freeze you arrived in yesterday?

Unfortunately I left my coat at home so it wasn’t a great night for me last night! It’s been pretty crazy this season, we’ve been to some cold cities so far but I think Minnesota has taken the cake!

You can follow Kevin Shattenkirk on Twitter @Shattdeuces as well as the author of this article @AmySnow17!

Featured Image:
Kevin Shattenkirk surveys the ice during his two-point night (1-1–2) in the Blues’ 3-2 loss to the Kings on Dec. 2, 2013 in Los Angeles.
(Getty Images/Jeff Gross)

The post Know Your Enemy ~ St. Louis Blues Kevin Shattenkirk appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

If the density of number 22 jersey’s filling seats wasn’t proof that he fell more in the beloved category than the hated, the applause that filled the building during a first period tribute to the returning warrior, surely was.

Tonight, “Know Your Enemy” takes on a friend turned foe who remains a supporter of the boys who now oppose him. With that being said, let’s get reacquainted with a former child of the strong and wild, New York Islanders forward, Cal Clutterbuck.

On a hot July morning this past summer, Cal Clutterbuck stood outside of Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario Canada surrounded by Josh Harding, Kyle Brodziak and Tom Gilbert, men, who until recently had not only been trusted friends, but teammates. The men stood quietly chatting, all wearing orange shirts, preparing to golf in the NHLPA’s 21st annual golf classic in the pursuit of raising money for Harding’s Hope.

“Charity events are definitely important,” said Cal before tee off time, “but this one hits a little closer to home, having spent the last year and a half with Josh, it takes on a whole new meaning and it’s the least we can do to be here to support him.”

Cal would go on to lead his foursome of golfers to victory, banking $40,000 for Harding’s Hope and supporting his friend in the process. He also commented on his fresh trade to the Islanders on that hot July morning and while there was no predicting what would come to pass in coming months, he was ready to take on a new challenge in hockey.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for me and a bit of a different scenario. It’s a younger team and kind of growing into maturity,” said Clutterbuck, “I’m looking forward to getting in there with the team at a good stage and growing with them. I think it’ll be a good place for me and for my family as well.”

Unfortunately for Clutterbuck, he suffered a severe leg laceration from a skate during the first exhibition game of the season and found himself sidelined for an extended period of time.

“My injury at the start of the year was pretty tough and it was hard to come back from that.” He continued, “I missed all of training camp but I think things are starting to pick up for me and I’m starting to find my way.”

(MHM Photo/Jeff Wegge)

Injury aside, adjusting to a new city and team can be a challenging all on it’s own, something that Cal commented on, saying, “It’s a lot different even with just coming to the rink every day, coming to a different building, different people. It’s an adjustment period in itself to just get used to your surroundings and the people that are around you every day. Once you get over that I think it’s pretty easy.”

While the adjustment to his new surroundings may have been relatively smooth, Cal says, “It’s not Edina, Minnesota but it’ll do.”

Clutterbuck also felt the video montage welcoming him “home” was nice but unnecessary and when asked about the night he simply stated, “It was nice coming back tonight. Obviously it’s tough playing against some guys who are friends but it was fun. It was a different experience and obviously my first time doing that so I had a blast.”

Whether or not you consider Cal Clutterbuck to be a friend, foe or stuck in that gray relationship area known as a frenemy, there is no denying that at the end of the day he is a player and a man who stands solidly behind his teammates—both past and present—his family and the communities who cheer for him no matter which team colors or number are on his back.

~Quick facts about the NHLPA Charity Golf Classic mentioned in this article courtesy of the NHLPA:

* The tournament has raised over $3.2 Million for various charities throughout the years.

* This year the players competed for a total charity purse of $100,000, with the winning team receiving $40,000 for their designated charity, followed by $25,000 and so on.

* Team captains were: Josh Harding (Harding’s Hope); David Clarkson (Clarky’s Kids); Cory Conacher (JDRF); Marty Biron (Harding’s Hope); Chris Campoli (Look Good Feel Better).

* The following players were playing for Josh’s charity: Dominic Moore, Kyle Brodziak, Cal Clutterbuck, Tom Gilbert; Dwayne Roloson and Marty Biron.

*Make sure you’re following @MNHockeyMag on Twitter for all of our latest articles, game updates and events! You can also follow the author of this article @AmySnow17!*

The post Know Your…Frenemy? New York Islanders Cal Clutterbuck appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
San Jose Sharks forward Tommy Wingels in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 3, 2013 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo: Getty Images/Graig Abel)

Tonight’s “Know Your Enemy” holds special meaning for multiple reasons and I felt that I really needed to give you all an introduction to why I very specifically chose Tommy Wingels as the subject of this piece instead of a less obvious choice such as former Wild player Brent Burns.

When I was starting out in hockey, I was a fan blogger covering the San Jose Sharks and Tommy Wingels was a kid getting his feet wet in the NHL. In the spring of 2012 Tommy, along with Phoenix Coyotes Andy Miele and Patrick Burke (now with the NHL department of player safety and son of Edina-raised long-time NHL executive Brian Burke), along with help from their friends and family, founded the You Can Play Project. You Can Play is a project created in memory of Patrick’s younger brother Brendan who had been not only a friend and team manager of Tommy and Andy’s at Miami U, but also an advocate for the rights of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) athletes and speaking out against homophobia in sports. Brendan was tragically killed in a car accident just months after coming out but left a lasting impression on all of the lives he touched.

As the project launched I was given my first opportunity ever to interview an NHL player, who happened to be the young Tommy Wingels himself. As I spoke at length with Tommy about the You Can Play Project and his dear friend Brendan I couldn’t help but think that this was the reason I was writing about hockey, to tell stories like his. Over the years since then I have had the opportunity to periodically check in with Tommy (as well as Patrick and Andy) on You Can Play and career changes, and applaud their commitment to the project as they lead hectic lives on the NHL stage.

When I started out on this journey as a hockey writer I had no idea where it would take me but I am incredibly grateful for the many paths it has presented to me. I have covered hockey in nearly every league in North America and quite literally from coast-to-coast. I felt the pull of home at a certain point, which brought me back to the state of hockey, the place that seeded the love of the game deep in me. Now, as a member of the Minnesota hockey press I have the honor and privilege of reporting on the Wild among many teams but always look back to the Sharks as the team I cut my teeth on as a hockey writer.

The game tonight was special to me as I view both the Wild and the Sharks as my “home team.” Let’s toss in the fact that tonight was the first time I have ever met Tommy Wingels face to face into the mix and then, as if that plus the two home teams thing and the You Can Play connection weren’t enough, today also would have been Brendan Burke’s 25th birthday.

With all of that being said, let’s get to know San Jose Sharks Center, Tommy Wingels with a little Q & A.

Q: You’ve really become a hybrid player for the Sharks, how do you really think you’ve developed since coming into the NHL?

A: As you play more games in this league you really find what makes you more effective as a player, what things are easy for you and what things take more work and effort. I think when I first started in this league I was more of a chip-and-chase, be physical and create energy kind of guy. As time has progressed I’ve become more confident in a lot of ways, including making plays and then the offense sort of comes with that. I try to be an all around player, play a full ice game and be involved shift in and shift out.

Q: You’ve been talked about as being one of those players who just happens to be in the right place at the right time. Personally I think there’s a lot of work that goes into that and it’s not just happenstance. What are your thoughts on that?

A: I couldn’t agree with you more. It’s about habits on the ice, it’s about what spots on the ice are easiest for you to get to, which spots are easy for you to work and which ones are your tendency to go to. You learn a lot about your game and at times yeah, you’re lucky that the puck squirts out where you are but if you prepare yourself well then you’ll be in those spots more often and the puck finds your stick.

Q: You are a former Redhawk (Miami U), which is now a part of the NCHC. Have you given any thought to the new conference and what it means for college hockey?

A: I actually have. My brother is a freshman there (Miami) this year. I follow them very closely and it’s obviously a big change in the college hockey dynamic. Whether it’s good for college hockey or bad for college hockey it’s not really my opinion that matters but it’s cool to travel to new buildings and play different teams like Denver, CC, St. Cloud, Minnesota-Duluth, and North Dakota. Those are buildings I would’ve loved to go to when I played there. So obviously it’s a lot of travel but it’s pretty fun to play in those different atmospheres.

Q: So given that you and your brother are both collegiate hockey players, how do you feel about the difference between college hockey and junior hockey? Does it actually make a difference when you get to the NHL level?

A: No. There are different routes and they are both good routes. For me, and my family we believed college hockey was the best way for us. Obviously professional hockey doesn’t work out for everyone and I’m very fortunate to be playing, it’s a dream come true but who knows how long it will last. If you can prepare yourself for a career after hockey ultimately I think that’s really important and I’ve told my brother the same thing and told him to enjoy his time at college, get his degree and if pro hockey works out then great but that’s not a thought until you finish up school.

Q: Its a couple years down the road now since the You Can Play Project was launched, how do you feel about it’s progress so far?

A: I think great. It’s actually ironic because today would’ve been Brendan’s 25^th birthday. I think the success that the project has had, it just took off, is a credit to the people behind it; the players, coaches and GMs pushing it to. I think we are in an environment where if a player wants to come out they can feel comfortable. It was unknown territory when we launched the project and there were some apprehensions about how it was going to be taken by the players but it’s amazing to see. No one could have predicted the success it’s had so far and we need to continue to build on it and create a safe environment in our locker rooms.

Want to know more about the You Can Play Project? Visit www.youcanplayproject.org and follow them on twitter at @YouCanPlayTeam! You can also follow the author of this article, your truly at @AmySnow17!

The post Know Your Enemy ~ San Jose Sharks Tommy Wingels appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
Ticket From Zac Rinaldo’s Summer Charity Event for McMaster Children’s Hospital

Zac Rinaldo has always been viewed as a bit of a goon in the NHL ranks, currently leading the Flyers in penalty minutes and being an aggressive presence whenever his skates touch the ice. On the eve of signing his contract over the summer, some fans delighted and some seriously questioned whether or not he was worth the money being invested. What could the tough guy from Hamilton, ONT, Canada really bring to the struggling Flyers other than too many penalties and some entertaining fights?

Rinaldo answered back quickly as the season began to roll and the kid known for throwing the Flyers into penalty kills was suddenly…a penalty killer? Cue the confusion right? No, it’s actually somewhat brilliant if you look at it objectively. How do you get a penalty causer to curb his penalty minutes? Make him a valuable member of the PK and see what happens. Not only have his penalty minutes dropped a bit in comparison to his previous stats if you break down the math, but he is also racking up TOI and changing the way he sees the game.

“It’s just natural not to hit on the penalty kill,” said Rinaldo, “I take pride in the penalty kill and really like it. I think fans are surprised, which is good. I’m always up for a challenge and have a good coaching staff and teammates who help me out.”

While Philadelphia media has already been all over Rinaldo on the PK, it’s an important thing to note as he skates onto Minnesota ice. You can expect fireworks from Rinaldo but perhaps not in the typical way we’ve watched him in the past. As far as hockey is concerned Rinaldo isn’t one to look too far ahead into the future.

“I don’t want to say where I’m going to go (in the future). Any new challenge that’s brought to me by my team I’m willing to accept.”

As far as challenges against the Wild, Rinaldo believes it’s all about getting pucks to the net and the Flyers just playing their game. Simplicity is really what the Flyers have been doing to turn things around and become a challenging club to play against, something that really started to be noticed in a 5-0 shutout of the Ottawa Senators three weeks ago.

“The biggest change I think we went after was just dumping pucks in and really forechecking. We just need to keep it simple and that’s when things go our way.”

It will be interesting to see what he has in store for fans as his development continues and he finds new ways to improve his game and his overall impact on a daily basis. Given his demeanor on and off the ice it’s safe to say he has the talent, ability and work ethic to truly become an impact player and break out of the “tough guy” role.

Other things you should know about Rinaldo that may curb your opinion on him? He’s all about family, spending his summers in Hamilton with them and supporting their various endeavors. When friends opened Sarcoa restaurant in Hamilton, Zac was there to not only support them, he decided to support the community as well. In July he threw a charity event including a live DJ, awesome food, a charity auction and even items for sale from his own clothing line – 90s World – to benefit McMaster Children’s Hospital, a hospital Zac has historically donated money to through various fundraisers.

Zac invited media members to the event, including yours truly, and we sat down to chat and find out what he was really all about. I’ll publish Zac’s entire interview and a gallery of photos from the night in a follow up story so you can all get a glimpse at what really goes into a large NHL charity event and how family and friends play a huge role in the lives of the men who play.

You can follow Zac on twitter at @RinaldoZac and yours truly as well @AmySnow17!

Tune in later to @MNhockeyMag on twitter for tweets from Flyers At Wild and post game interview fun!

The post Know Your Enemy ~ Philadelphia Flyers Zac Rinaldo appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
Minnesota defenseman Keith Ballard passes the puck up the ice in the second period of the Wild’s 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 1, 2013, in St. Paul, Minn. Friday (MHM Photo / Jordan Doffing)

Keith Ballard leads a quartet of Wild wounded back to the Minnesota lineup.

A crowd of 18,207 Wild fans welcomed freshly shaven Movember faces and a collection of fresh-off-the-IR hockey players on Friday at the Xcel Energy Center where the Wild won a hard-fought game against the Montreal Canadiens 4-3. Minnesota saw the return of Keith Ballard, Jonas Brodin, Josh Harding and Charlie Coyle while the Canadiens welcomed back their seasoned tough guy and master of the mustache, George Parros.

Minnesota received solid contributions from its returnees beginning with Harding who made 28 saves in raising his record to 6-2-1 on the season including 5-0-0 at home. Brodin wore a full face shield after missing three games with a broken cheekbone and led the team with 26:54 of ice time. Coyle logged 18:23 in his return from an 11-game absence due to a knee strain and Ballard chipped in a pair of assists and was a plus-2 in his debut following a seven-game hiatus with an upper-body injury.

When an injured player returns to the lineup, pressure from external influences not only plays a role, but in some cases internal pressure can affect how a player performs as well.

“Some guys tend to beat themselves down a little bit too much and that can wear on you,” Ballard said. “You can almost talk yourself into thinking you aren’t doing anything well when actually, you are. I try to just take a step back and take a broad perspective.”

Keith Ballard picked up two assists in
Friday night’s game against
Montreal, his first since being injured.
(MHM Photo / Jordan Doffing)

Ballard is a realist when it comes to his return to the ice and spoke candidly about his first night back in the lineup, saying his performance was close to what he expected.

“I think there were some good moments, I thought there were some OK moments,” Ballard said. “It was more trying to keep myself out of trouble; make smart plays, not over-extend anything as far as shifts or what I’m trying to do with the puck or run around or anything like that.”

While Ballard felt his play was OK to good, Wild coach Mike Yeo was clearly pleased to have the former Gopher defenseman, and Baudette native, back in the lineup for multiple reasons.

“Obviously, offensively he adds a lot to us on the blue line with his ability to move along the blue line to open lanes to get shots through,” Yeo said. “But defensively he’s just such a strong skater and he relieves so much pressure.

“He’s got that first two steps that he can get himself out of trouble and have the composure to make a play from there too.”

To be a strong defenseman in the NHL is already enough of a challenge, but facing sitting out and returning just as the season begins to heat up can be a daunting task for any player.

“As the season goes on everybody gets sharper, teams get a little more crisp, so it’s tough to jump into the lineup and expect perfection,” said Ballard. “As a player it’s up to you. I try to simplify my game when I’ve been out a bit and that’s worked for me in the past and I think tonight was about where I want to be.”

While Ballard may be back and everyone felt his play was up to par, the Minnesota native pointed out injury or not, there is always room for improvement.

“I think my execution needs to be a bit sharper … you can play 30 games in a row and there will still be games you don’t execute,” he explained. “So I don’t think it’s about being out or not being out, I think I just need to sharpen up a little bit.”

As Ballard’s continues to sharpen his game it can mean only one thing for the Wild, a force on the blue line other teams will envy … if they don’t already.

**Be sure to follow @MNHockeyMag for all the latest news and information on your favorite Minnesota teams! You can also follow the author of this article @AmySnow17!**

The post Back on the Blue Line appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

In a season where it’s almost impossible not to notice the surge in young players making an impact within the NHL ranks, Nathan MacKinnon, Sean Monahan, Seth Jones and the Minnesota Wild’s Charlie Coyle just to name a few, some fans may find it easy to forget that not every player is going to walk off his junior squad and be ready to fill a nightly role with an NHL club. Carson Soucy may not be quite there yet, but if the freshman player UMD head coach Scott Sandelin refers to as “a pleasant surprise” continues to build his game at such a rapid pace throughout the NCHC season, don’t be surprised to see him become a regular presence on the Minnesota Wild’s blue line for many years to come.

As Soucy moved from the Alberta Junior Hockey League into being not only a member of the UMD squad, but also a NHL draft pick, questions arose as to whether or not the defenseman was going to be able to offer up enough of an offensive threat to be the kind of player required by the highest levels of hockey in North America. Coach Sandelin put those doubts to rest following a non-conference game against Notre Dame on Friday night.

“He’s a big kid who has good hands and he can skate, he’s got a lot of plays and we’ve seen that through a lot of these games,” said Sandelin. “I’m not saying he’s going to be Paul Coffey (for those unfamiliar with Coffey, he’s long been held as one of the NHL’s all-time best offensive defensemen, arguably second only to Bobby Orr), but he certainly does a good job moving pucks.” In the past three games Soucy has notched up three assists and in preseason exhibition play scored a goal for the Bulldogs.

“I think he’s improved every week, there’s no question about that,” said Sandelin. “You never know with freshmen where they’re going to start, but I think he’s had a real good start.”

If the seasoned coach’s opinion of the player isn’t enough to convince onlookers that Soucy is the real deal, Soucy offers up reassurance of his own. “There’s not a lot of down time in college hockey, if I’m not at school I’m putting in a lot of work at the rink,” Soucy said. “I’ve been working on my shot, getting that stronger and I’m getting more confident out there (on the ice).”

Soucy is one of the larger bodies drafted by the Wild and stands even with the largest defenseman currently on the Wild roster, Clayton Stoner. Size isn’t everything when it comes to being a D-man and Soucy is one of the first people who points this out.

“Obviously size is a big thing and lots of NHL teams are looking for big players who can also skate,” said Soucy. “If you’re a big player but you can’t skate you’re not going to be able to do much, but I think size is an advantage.”

The Alberta native grew up in a small farming community, a student of the game raised–similar to many Minnesota kids–on frozen ponds where the game of hockey is a part of life and he seems to be having no problem fitting in around northern Minnesota.

“I like Minnesota overall, I could stay here forever,” said Soucy and Minnesota fans everywhere should sure hope he does.

UMD’s Carson Soucy (#4) in action on Oct 26, 2013 in a 4-1 Win over Notre Dame at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, MN. Photo credits – Rylie Heilman UMD.

Five Player Quick Facts:

Name Pronounced – SUE-see

Twitter – @DrSouce71 (Get it? Dr. Seuss? Carson certainly has a sense of humor!)

Birthday – July 27, 1994

Prior Team – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)

NHL Affiliation – Selected in round five of the 2013 NHL entry draft, 137th overall by the Minnesota Wild

Five Player Fun Facts:

Pre-game Warmup – Ping-pong against teammate Alex Iafallo

Pre-game Meal – Chicken and pasta at Blackwoods which is “Really good!”

Music Preference– Techno! Current favorite DJ is Avicii!

Favorite off season activity – Plays fast pitch!

Something not a lot of people know about him – Carson likes to dance when he can! (Unfortunately we failed to asked whether or not he knew how to drop it low or twerk, maybe next time!)

**Remember to follow @MNhockeyMag on twitter for all of our latest stories, updates, in-game action for your favorite Minnesota Hockey team and events! You can also follow the author of this article @AmySnow17!

The post Carson Soucy: UMD’s present, the Wild’s future appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.