Hockey Day Minnesota Preview

Hockey Day Minnesota always has the main ingredient for playing hockey: An ice rink.

But the locations and settings for those rinks have varied over the years. From frozen ponds to parks, to the Handke Pit in Elk River, to the tarmac at Holman Field/St. Paul’s downtown airport. Backdrops are sometimes snowy but usually scenic, with lift bridges (Duluth or Stillwater) or the Minneapolis skyline serving as the picturesque setting for the annual event.

This year’s Hockey Day Minnesota in Shakopee – the 19th annual event – offers something new again. Valleyfair is the host, marking the first time Hockey Day Minnesota is located on private property, not to mention the first amusement park as well.

Valleyfair is the host site for Shakopee’s Hockey Day Minnesota this week. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

“This is the first time in our almost-50-year history that we will have rides operating in the dead of winter,” said Melissa Ferlaak, regional public relations manager for Valleyfair.

Valleyfair, which opened in 1976 in Shakopee, is home to more than 75 rides and attractions. Of course, it’s open seasonally and is usually shut down for the winter.

When Shakopee was selected as the Hockey Day Minnesota host city, Valleyfair quickly became part of the conversation. “Hey, nothing says Shakopee like Valleyfair’s skyline,” the Hockey Day Minnesota Shakopee committee said, according to Ferlaak.

“Just imagine the camera covering some hockey games, an outdoor rink, and they pan up and there’s roster coasters,” said Erik Radtke, Hockey Day Minnesota Board vice-chair and PR/coms chair.

However, the larger rides like roller coasters won’t be operating during the festivities. What’s considered “flat rides,” ones that stay on the ground, were deemed by Valleyfair officials as the best options.

In addition to plenty of hockey games played on outdoor ice for four days from Jan. 22-25 this week, Hockey Day Minnesota attendees will get a chance ride five rides: Antique Autos, Carousel, Flying Eagles, Scrambler and the Tilter. The Flying Eagles is the only exception of a ride going up into the air. These rides are all in an area closest to the parking lot, where the main ice rink is located for Hockey Day Minnesota.

The carousel is one of five rides set to be up and running during Hockey Day Minnesota. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

“That’s certainly something that Hockey Day goers will experience that has never necessarily been a part of it before,” Radtke said.

Valleyfair and its maintenance team determined which rides could potentially operate. Roller coasters, for example, wouldn’t be a safe option in the winter. Plus Ferlaak added: “Not that you would also want to go 70 mph face-first into 10-degree cold.”

The rides are all scheduled to be up and running, and crews are mindful of safely running them in the cold temperatures.

“I think the cold is the biggest factor,” Ferlaak said. “We’re going to have heaters out there on the mechanisms and everything to make sure that they stay in good condition. We also don’t want to wreck the rides, because they haven’t run in the cold before.”

With safety in mind – for both riders and the rides themselves – it’s been so far, so good. The maintenance teams hadn’t encountered any issues with the rides being ready as of early January.

Hockey Day Minnesota merchandise will be available for sale at Valleyfair. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Anybody who purchases a ticket to Hockey Day Minnesota can also ride the rides. There will also be some three-on-three youth hockey games played in the Valleyfair amphitheater. Some of the Valleyfair shops will also be open selling special merchandise for the event.

As part of the hockey schedule, Shakopee boys’ and girls’ varsity teams will play in the event. The Shakopee girls’ team faces Brainerd/Little Falls on Thursday evening. Coach Jaime Grossman is also the revenue committee chair on the Hockey Day board.

“I think for us, we feel we’re in a community that’s growing from a hockey standpoint,” Grossman said. “So, to be in the spotlight of hockey for a week is truly, we think it’s going to be great for our game long-term.”

Specialty food and drinks for HDM
Valleyfair’s food and beverage team also has some unique items planned for the menu for Hockey Day Minnesota attendees. For food, choose from traditional concession staples like hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken tenders, plus mini donuts, Bavarian pretzels and nachos. They’ll also have breakfast items available on Saturday. Food truck options include Blue Loon Concessions, Red Rocket Pizza, Rusty Kettle/Booya and Delia’s.

For those looking for something beyond the traditional fare, there will be chili, poutine with fresh cheese curds, loaded pulled pork mac & cheese, bundt cakes, Hockey Day brownies, specialty popcorn and smores kits available for purchase for those looking to roast marshmallows over the open fire pits on site.

The amphitheater at Valleyfair has a sheet of ice set up for youth hockey games throughout the Hockey Day Minnesota festivities. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

To wash down it all down, coffee, hot chocolate and Coca Cola beverages will be available for purchase. But Valleyfair will also offer a variety of adult beverages on site. Gray Duck drink options include vodka, Bomba Juice Seltzer and Duck Duck Lager. Lake Hour Cocktails available include watermelon cucumber and peach jasmine. For specialty cocktails, try sipping on a U of M Ginger Cranberry Sour or BSU Green Apple Kiwi Margarita. Golden Road Mango, Shakopee Brewhall and Coors beverages will also be available. For the morning crowd, check out the bloody mary bar or sip on a mimosa.

Overall, Valleyfair is excited to play a part in celebrating Hockey Day Minnesota.

“We’re so excited for people to come out and experience the park in a different way, and get a chance to ride these rides for the first time in 50 years in the winter time,” Ferlaak said. “It’s just one for the memory books.”

Check out the free digital copy of the 2025 Hockey Day Minnesota program.