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Fox Sports North, in conjunction with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, televised
the third annual Hockey Day Minnesota on Saturday, January 17, 2009.
The broadcast event sponsored by Burger King was a success, receiving
top ratings and praise throughout the State of Hockey. The telecast event
began at 9:00 a.m. with programming anchored from Phalen Recreation
Center located on St. Paul's historic "East Side". Anthony LaPanta, Kevin
Gorg and Ann Carroll reported from Phalen Park while Marney Gellner,
Darby Hendrickson and Telly Hughes hosted the days events from the
Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. Throughout the day, viewers
were brought back to both locations where the FOX Sports North team
introduced unique hockey-related features and vignettes.
According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox Sports North received top
ratings for their coverage of Hockey Day Minnesota, including
record-breaking ratings during the first hour of Hockey Day programming
and their highest-rated high school hockey and Gopher game this
season. The day-long event included over 20 hours of hockey-related
programming, seven games from five locations and required over 100 Fox Sports North employees. The regional network balanced three production trucks stationed at Phalen Park, Xcel Energy Center and the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, a total of 20 cameras, seven on-air reporters and ten play-by-play/game analyst duos throughout the day.
For the first time, the regional network included unique Hockey Day Minnesota coverage from Iraq. Crawford Communications DVIDS Group handled getting the feeds from Iraq to the Xcel Energy Center. Throughout the day, fans had the opportunity to participate in a worldwide texting initiative designed to honor and celebrate the men and women serving our country. Fox Sports North received nearly 2600 text messages. Soldiers stationed in Iraq watched Hockey Day Minnesota on the Armed Forces Network.
"The spectacle of Hockey Day Minnesota took another huge step forward this year," said Minnesota Wild Chief Operating Officer Matt Majka. "The military component made this year's Hockey Day the best ever. Our contributions to the troops pale in comparison to the daily sacrifices they make and give to all of us.”
Over 2500 fans came out to watch the hometown boys from St. Paul
Johnson dominate the visiting Rockets from Rochester- for a final
score of 4-0 - being played on the outdoor refrigerated ice located
on St. Paul's historic "east side" within Phalen Park. The game and
activities surrounding the Hockey Day event were organized by the
city of St. Paul and St. Paul Johnson High School. “Words can not
describe the gratitude that the Johnson Hockey program has for all
that were responsible for the Hockey Day Minnesota production. It
will be a lifetime memory that will never be replaced for all of us,”
said Steven Carl Younghans, a.k.a. “Moose” of St. Paul Johnson
High School. “We told our kids it would be their day in the spotlight, but it was much much more.”
Being at the events first hand- and again shooting photos rink-side- the outdoor Phalen game itself brought back memories of last years Hockey Day Minnesota events from chilly Baudette Bay. The temperature this year was some 20 degrees warmer compared to the 2008 Hockey Day Minnesota outdoor games! The game and events surrounding the Phalen Recreation Center also made me think of the 2008 NHL Winter Classic game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres where light snow was falling during game play- making for some modern era "old-time hockey at it's finest", and rather striking photos!
Thanks again to everyone involved in making the 2009 Hockey Day yet another successful day to showcase hockey in our great state of Minnesota. The day once again left me looking forward to next years Hockey Day Minnesota events. Special thanks as well to Becky Ross from FSN for allowing VMH.com staff photographers: Chad Hanson, Mike Hueller, and myself to once again cover Hockey Day Minnesota through our camera lenses- in which over 1500+ photos were shot between Phalen Park and the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud! The Gophers skated to a 8-6 win for a series home and home sweep of the Huskies. The Huskies- for one night- donned a 1953 era throwback uniform created by Gemini Athletic Wear for the nights contest on Hockey Day Minnesota. The teams jerseys were all auctioned off at the conclusion of the 3rd period in a "silent auction format" in the concourse with proceeds benefiting the Husky Hockey program. These jerseys could very well be considered the rarest game-used SCSU jersey to date.
(Click on photos below for larger image)
Source in part: FSN Press Release 1-22-09
2009 Hockey Day Minnesota Schedule
White Bear Lake vs. Duluth East 1:00 p.m. Xcel Energy Center
Stillwater vs. Minnetonka (girls) 1:30 p.m. Phalen Recreation Center
University of Minnesota at St. Cloud State 5:00 p.m. National Hockey Center, St. Cloud
Minnesota Wild vs. Anaheim Ducks 8:00 p.m. Xcel Energy Center
