The post Gallery: WJC Semifinal Finland vs. Sweden appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Please take a few minutes to review the Media Kit for the 2025-26 season and see what we are up to!

Thank you to all our sponsors who have made Minnesota Hockey Magazine an award-winning publication possible.  

We are now putting together our World Junior and Minnesota High School Hockey Preview issue and you still have time to advertise in this special magazine. 
This will be going out right after Thanksgiving.

 Please let me know if you have any questions, or suggestions, as we are here to serve you!

Scott Tiffany
President&Founder, MHM

The post Your Sneak Preview appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Simply click HERE to begin your FREE digital subscription.

Also, as you are reading the magazine, please support our sponsors by clicking on their ads to see what they have to offer.  The ads have associated links to their websites and landing pages.  Our sponsors and advertisers make creating these keepsake magazines possible.  Thank You!

The post MHM March 2025 H/S Tourney Guide appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Charbonneau and his wife, Elizabeth, turned their professional energy toward hockey when they started working together at Strauss Skates & Bicycles in 1983. Charbonneau applied the same grit and determination to Strauss as he did to his earlier auto racing (NHRA) career, determined to provide the best products possible to his customers.

Charbonneau’s honesty and attention to detail grew into partnerships between him and the hockey manufacturers to push the limits of technology and ultimately develop better, lighter, faster, more durable and protective equipment. Charbonneau worked with a local machine shop to create the “Strauss Rocker,” which was a very early, cutting-edge multi-radiuses rocker. He took pride in knowing that he taught his successful business strategies to his daughter Jenelle and her husband Shaun. Charbonneau transitioned the day-to-day operations of the family business to the fifth generation.

He leaves behind a legacy that will inspire generations through his passion, sportsmanship and the thrill he brought to everything he did.

More info on his background can be viewed in the full obituary here…

https://www.muellerbies.com/obituaries/richard-charbonneau

The post Remembering Richard appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

It’s sometimes difficult for transfers to fit into a new system right away, but St. Thomas forwards Noah Prokop and Matthew Gleason make it look easy.  

“We actually joke about it that we had one shift together in our two years at Colorado College,” Gleason said with a laugh. “We actually had a scoring chance there. But I think the thing with us is that we’ve lived with each other for two years now, and we can work off each other and we can communicate really well with each other, which I think that’s one of the biggest things about being on the line with guys.

“He can yell at me when I’m doing something wrong, and I can yell at him if he’s doing something wrong. But at the end of the day, it’s just for the better of the team and to perform better. I think that’s the biggest thing is just the relationship we have off the ice.” 

Noah Prokop (No. 21, center) scored three goals and six assists in two seasons with Colorado College before transferring to St. Thomas this season. (Photo courtesy of University of St. Thomas)

The two are really close friends and on the same wavelength about things, Prokop said. 

Matthew Gleason skates for Colorado College in a game against Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 5, 2022. He scored 10 goals and 16 assists in the last two seasons with CC. (Photo courtesy of University of St. Thomas)

“And then Gleason was a kid that I recruited all the way back when he was at Cretin (Derham Hall). I’d been watching him for years. I had a really good relationship with his family, but I honestly was surprised when he popped in the transfer portal. He’s just a kid that works his butt off and has a ton of skill and really kind of how we want to play at St. Thomas. I knew he would be a kid that (UST head coach) Rico (Blasi) would appreciate in terms of what he brings to the table on a nightly basis. So, that was a big reason for those two.” 

Gleason and Prokop helped the Tommies reach second place in the conference standings at the holiday break. (MHM Photo / Ryan Stieg)

“You’d like to sit there and think that he’s kind of pesky and just always working hard and in your face kind of water bug that’s all over the place,” Prokop said. “But at the end of the day, he is a skilled player. He can make plays and he can score goals. I think he’s an all-around good player and that his work ethic is absolutely off the charts, and it goes to show in games and in practice that guys are nervous going up against him and they know they’re going to get his best all the time.

“His work ethic is top notch, and I think his hockey IQ is unbelievable as well. So, it kind of makes for a perfect combination of being a good player.” 

The post From Tigers to Tommies appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

The post Gallery: Warroad vs. Mahtomedi appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

According to his team and reported by the Associated Press, Johnson died after his neck was cut by a skate blade during the game against the Sheffield Steelers at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena. 

Born in Grand Rapids, Johnson helped lead the Hibbing/Chisholm boys’ hockey team to the state tournament in 2011. Johnson scored a natural hat trick in the Class 1A boys’ state semifinals, a 6-4 loss to Hermantown. 

He went on to play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. His overtime winner against Boston University in the 2017 NCAA Tournament sent the Bulldogs to the Frozen Four. 

Johnson played 13 career NHL games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. His only NHL goal came against his home-state team, the Minnesota Wild, on Oct. 12, 2019 at Xcel Energy Center. Johnson also recorded one of his three career assists in that game, which the Penguins won 7-4.

Johnson spent the 2020-21 hockey season playing in Sweden. 

Tributes to Johnson poured in starting Sunday morning. 

The Nottingham Panthers are truly devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically passed away following a freak accident at the game in Sheffield last night. pic.twitter.com/lhSOkDu03Q

— The Nottingham Panthers (@PanthersIHC) October 29, 2023

The National Hockey League family mourns the passing of former Pittsburgh Penguin Adam Johnson. Our prayers and deepest condolences go to his family, friends and teammates. https://t.co/kgLN8bf0RV pic.twitter.com/fYEiuGw0yC

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 29, 2023

Bulldog Hockey Mourns the Passing of Former Standout Adam Johnson https://t.co/59XpJqpffz pic.twitter.com/0cH801qdS4

— UMD Men’s Hockey (@UMDMensHockey) October 29, 2023

UMD coach mourns fallen hockey player Adam Johnson: “They all loved him” https://t.co/j57iwTel2H

— WCCO | CBS News Minnesota (@WCCO) October 30, 2023

Forever in our hearts. pic.twitter.com/oGkbtjANPN

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) October 30, 2023

Very emotional scenes as Nottingham Panthers players laid flowers and spoke to hundreds of fans who arrived at the Motorpoint Arena to pay respects to player Adam Johnson who died last night #panthers pic.twitter.com/VnRfVEs6LX

— Sarah Hawley (formerly Teale) (@sarahhawleytv) October 29, 2023

I was able to find 21 of the 24 goals Adam Johnson scored in UMD colors. Listen to them, presented in chronological order, here: https://t.co/YI2r6ADUXi

— Bruce Ciskie (@BruceCiskie) October 29, 2023

Instead of silence, the Penguins asked for the crowd to give a final cheer for Adam Johnson. Quite a moment. pic.twitter.com/48TBRn4vh4

— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) October 30, 2023

Anybody looking/asking what they can do for Adam Johnson’s family up in Hibbing, there’s now a page up on MealTrain.

They have meal slots for anybody located up north and a way to donate for those who aren’t.

Do your thing, Minnesota hockey community.https://t.co/BJwY024HCk

— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) October 30, 2023

The post Remembering Adam Johnson appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Fans of the Minnesota state high school boys’ hockey tournament might recognize Lamb’s name from the goal fest he put together on the same sheet during the 2021 tourney. The Byron native scored six of the seven goals for his Dodge County team in a 7-3 quarterfinal victory over a depleted Hermantown squad (pandemic protocols kept most of the top Hawks out of the lineup). Lamb was the leading scorer in that tournament with 10 tallies as he led Dodge County to a runner-up finish to Gentry Academy.

Friday, Lamb scored a pair of third-period goals in a back-and-forth contest against St. Thomas, helping the Gophers achieve an eventual 6-5 overtime victory.

“Obviously it’s a little different play style from what I played in high school,” Lamb said. “The atmosphere was great tonight, obviously two big student sections. It’s always good to play in front of a loud crowd.”

Jimmy Snuggerud scores in overtime to give the Gophers a 6-5 victory. (MHM / Jonathan Watkins)

The crowd, a mix of maroon-and-gold and purple-clothed spectators, was engaged and created a fun atmosphere for the Minnesota/St. Thomas women’s and men’s hockey doubleheader. Looking around the lower bowl for the men’s game with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop was reminiscent of the turnouts for the Class 1A boys’ high school tournament.

Paid attendance for the two games (the women played at 4 p.m., an 8-0 Gophers win) was 11,376; one ticket provided entry for both contests, with St. Thomas as the home team playing at a neutral site but still in its native St. Paul.

“This is my favorite road trip now of the year,” said Gophers coach Bob Motzko. “I’ll be home by 11:02 p.m. We’ll keep it going. Our fans want it, and we’ve got to deliver it.”

Fans were treated to a very entertaining hockey game that helped establish what many hope could be a new in-state, Division I rivalry. St. Thomas, in only its third season as a DI program after moving up from Division III, faced the Gophers for the first time since January 1927 for a regular-season game.

St. Thomas entered the night on the high of splitting a series with St. Cloud State a weekend ago with an overtime victory, while the Gophers officially opened their season on Friday.

The Gophers took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, but St. Thomas responded with a three-goal second period to grab the 3-2 lead headed for the final 20 minutes of play. The Gophers “got off script,” Motzko said, and St. Thomas capitalized.

“I have no idea who that team was playing in the second period,” Motzko said, of his Gophers.

If any fans lingered in the concourse following the second intermission, they missed out on a ton of action. Only 27 seconds in, sophomore Lucas Wahlin gave the Tommies a two-goal cushion. The momentum appeared to be all St. Thomas. But the Gophers, the nation’s runner-up last season, countered right away. Gophers sophomore Jimmy Snuggerud needed only five seconds into a power play to score his first goal of the game, and only 20 seconds after Wahlin.

Then it was time for Snuggerud’s linemate Lamb to put on his show. Still only 2 minutes, 8 seconds into the third period, Lamb tied the game 4-4 with a perfect top-shelf wrister from the slot. Four minutes later, Lamb struck again for his first collegiate multi-goal game to give the Gophers a 5-4 lead.

Maintaining a positive attitude throughout the third period was key for the Gophers bench, according to Lamb.

“Two-goal lead’s the worst lead in hockey,” Lamb said. “So, I think just staying composed, talking to everyone on the bench, staying positive.”

Gophers goaltender Justen Close made 31 saves against St. Thomas on Oct. 13. (MHM / Jonathan Watkins)

But Wahlin countered again for the Tommies with 6:43 left in regulation. Snuggerud scored the overtime winner to avoid the season-opener upset for a 6-5 Gophers victory. The Gophers avoided what would have been an eye-popping loss, but also put on some entertainment for the fans.

Wahlin, who scored twice and added an assist, credited the Gophers but also noted how the Tommies battled back from being down 2-0 early.

“We’re right there with the No. 1 team in the nation,” Wahlin said. “It is tough. Definitely a good hockey game and a good team.

“They got the last bounce, but it’s the way it goes.”

Saturday, the home-and-home series moved to 3M Arena at Mariucci. The Gophers finished off the sweep with a 3-0 victory, with Snuggerud scoring two a pair of goals before Lamb, who assisted on the second goal, scored an empty-netter in the final minute. The Tommies pressured but couldn’t get a goal past Justen Close, who made 24 saves for the shutout.  

After Friday’s game, St. Thomas coach Rico Blasi said his team was taking the necessary steps to progress and make sure they’re in more games than not.

“So, we were in that game (Friday),” Blasi said. “Do I think we’re there yet? Probably not. But we’re getting close.”

The post Like a Lamb appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

The 2022-2023 hockey season is upon us.  Join MHM this year as an advertiser/sponsor.

• We will be publishing 4 digital magazine issues this season, printing 2 of them.
• Award Winning 4 Color Gloss Magazine.  Gold medal award with the Minnesota Magazine Publishers Association Magazine of the year-Special Section. 
• You will be seen.  We will market our magazines by exposing our content through social media with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our e-Edition. 
• Our entire core team is intact for another season featuring some of the best writers and photographers in the business.
• Also…Sign up for our FREE e-Edition from the home page of our website or just click HERE.
• Making a Difference:  To date, we have sent over 360 kids in need to various hockey camps on scholarship via our MHM Foundation.

Please take a few minutes to review this media kit.  

We are looking for the right partners to join us as we promote hockey and help kids in need. Let’s team up!

We look forward to hearing from you.

Scott Tiffany
President&Founder, MHM

The post The 2023 Hockey Season is Here – Join Us! appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Yet in reality, successfully mastering the move is the result of months and years of work behind the scenes.

For Minnesota State fifth-year senior forward Reggie Lutz, scoring a go-ahead wraparound goal in the Frozen Four against Minnesota is a move that he has been practicing on since the age of five when the Elk River native received a special incentive.

“Every time I would score a wraparound goal, my Dad would take me to McDonald’s, and I’d get a Happy Meal. I’ve been working on one for a while and it was pretty cool to see it work on the big stage,” he said after the Mavericks defeated Minnesota 5-1 in the Frozen Four semifinals. “It was able to pay off tonight, so it was pretty cool.”

Working for years behind the scenes is Minnesota State’s M.O. 41 NHL Draft picks descended to Boston from the Frozen Four teams. Only one, Nathan Smith, came from the Mavericks.

It did not matter to the only program to make a repeat Frozen Four appearance, as thousands of fans came from Mankato, Minnesota, and points elsewhere to cheer, to high-five, and enjoy a program-high against three of the sport’s traditional bluebloods. Thousands lined the TD Garden red carpet for both the April 7 semifinal and the April 9 championship game.

“We’re still building,” said Mike Hastings, who found his wife in the crowd before Thursday’s game. “Pretty special to be a part of it and to have the people travel that distance, spend the time away from work.

“We had some students hop on flights. I’m not sure where the pay came from, but they hopped on some flights out here to support us.”

Photo courtesy of Mansoor Ahmad

Lutz’s path to the Mavericks from Elk River included stops in Fairbanks and Chicago. The 25-year-old’s road to college is the norm for Minnesota State, who had one player debut before their 20th birthday. Burnsville’s Cade Borchardt won a USHL Clark Cup after high school, the culmination of three different teams in three years. Smith played high school hockey in Florida. 

Dryden McKay, the 2022 Hobey Baker Award-winning senior goaltender and men’s hockey all-time shutout leader, spent three straight seasons as a Mike Richter Award finalist without winning the award.

Even Hastings, celebrating his 10th anniversary being hired as Minnesota State’s head coach, has come a long way from an early season series against Denver where the Pioneers swept his Mavericks in Mankato. 

“You learn from the hard things. That was a hard weekend. I remember it vividly,” he said. “I thought we played well that weekend, and we didn’t get a point.”

That Mavericks team eventually made the NCAA Tournament, as did another six under Hastings. When Minnesota State broke through to make it to the Frozen Four in 2021, Borchardt said that he took in the moment, remembering the ones that got him there, before his latest.

In its second Frozen Four appearance, Minnesota State, who began the season sweeping the defending national champions in Massachusetts, made the most of its recent experience in comparison to Minnesota, Michigan, and Denver.

Relaxed, screaming, and happy pregame, the Mavericks players embraced their “we before me” team mantra. The group became one, utilizing its suffocating defense against one of the nation’s top offenses and dispatching Minnesota despite trailing 1-0.

McKay gave up a goal on the first shot he saw of the weekend on a 2-on-0. He did not give up another until the third period of the national championship game. Before Lutz, Benton Maass scored a wraparound goal.

“I think it’s right when you step foot on campus. Ever since Coach has been here in Mankato, he’s built a great culture of family, team first,” Lutz said. “Anything that gets thrown our way, you’re going to put our team first. We don’t have one selfish guy on our team.”

The same team that collectively learned from the hard things and took the long path to college quickly became a perennial national title contender. Walking around Boston was a fanbase, dressed in purple suits, Revolutionary War outfits, and the more traditional Mavericks sweaters, ready for a championship. They had been on the road from Day 1.

Facing the same Denver program Hastings learned from a decade prior, Minnesota State spent 45 minutes keeping the nation’s top offense in neutral. The Pioneers had 4 shots on goal in the national championship game’s first half before finding the back of the net.

Once Denver did, the lessons resumed. A 1-0 third period lead quickly wrapped around into a 5-1 defeat for the Mavericks and the first loss in 19 games. The rainbow that was over TD Garden pregame disappeared. 

“You look at the whole season. We hadn’t lost a game since around Christmas until tonight,” Borchardt said after the championship game. “I mean, obviously nothing’s going to solve this or make us happy right now. So I am proud of everyone, proud of the seniors. It stings.”

Boston was a special place for Minnesota State, who continues to present a difficult puzzle for any team to solve. It is a program long past the point of Providence, Palmquist being pushed, NCAA first rounds, and being a surprise national title contender.  

In a decade, Hastings has evolved the program into one that can reload and keep its identity. The only goal left to change the course of the program is one that barely eluded this group, the ones that came so close to the years of work paying off and wrapping their hands around the trophy.

“I’m incredibly proud of them because they’ve gone to work every day. We all know, your dailies are what make your week, what makes your month, which makes your year. These guys came to work every day with a smile on their face and made their dailies fantastic. The ride they took our staff on and our program on was special,” said Hastings after the title-game loss. 

“There will be time for reminiscing and thinking about the rest of it. Like I said, it’s a little raw now. And we’re going to learn from it and we’re going to move on. We’re going to be better because of what happened tonight and because of the journey that these guys allowed us to have together from the beginning of the year until now.”

Photo courtesy of Mansoor Ahmad

The post That’s A Wrap appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.