Minnesota Hockey Journal

Minnesota Hockey Journal December 2013

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By ROGER A. GODIN, TEAM CURATOR, MINNESOTA WILD New State of Hockey Tribute Exhibits Highlight the Olympics and Women's Hockey s Minnesota hockey fans look ahead to the Sochi games in February, they can be reminded of earlier success by home-state skaters as they enter the Hockey Lodge at Xcel Energy Center. Straight ahead, just above the television monitor, an image of 1960 U.S. Olympic player Roger Christian stares down at shoppers, reminding them of the nation's first Gold Medal at Squaw Valley. Christian, a Warroad native who passed away in November 2011, played a key role in the American triumph by assisting on his brother Bill's game-winning goal in the critical 3-2 win over the Russians. That event is celebrated by a game image high on the far wall to the deep left of the Christian portrait while the team itself is pictured to the right with the State of Hockey logo in the middle, separating the two views. Moving on to the newly rebranded Fanzone, formerly the Iron Range Grill and then Blue Line Bar, diners will find among the six exhibit cases one recounting the nation's earlier Olympic successes and listing 16 the potential Minnesota players on both the men's (14) and women's (3)teams. The case features a repro U.S. jersey from the 1980 Miracle on Ice team as well as the skates belonging to Babbitt native Buzzy Schneider, a member of that team. Other new exhibits in this area feature the Virginia, Minnesota Rockets, both the pro and amateur teams from that Iron Range City; defenseman Joe "Brute" Bretto , a Hibbing native; and St. Paul's Dave Langevin. The "Bammer," as Langevin was once known, came out of then-Hill High School and UMD to play on four Stanley Cupwinning teams in the early 1980s, the only Minnesotan to accomplish that feat. His 1982-83 New York Islanders' jersey and Stanley Cup replica from the 1980-81 team highlight the exhibit. Down at the Gate Three mini-gallery, Minnesota women get their due in an exhibit entitled "The Ladies Take Center Ice." The presentation pays tribute to both the Gophers' undefeated 2012-13 NCAA National Champions and the professional MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // DECEMBER.2013 Minnesota Whitecaps. Photos and graphic texts tell the story of both teams' accomplishments. On the Gopher side, to the left facing, Bethany Brausen's jersey is featured along with the skates of Becky Kortum, while to the right, the Whitecaps' Western Women's Hockey League 2009-10 championship trophy stands proudly next to Jenny Potter's jersey. The rosters of both teams, with the Minnesota players highlighted, are placed to the front of the artifacts. In the Whitecaps' case, the roster is that of the Clarkson Cup champions, also from 2009-10. On the Upstairs Concourse near Section 220-221, fans will see early Senior squads honored with a mural featuring team photos of the 1994-95 Allen Cup Champion Warroad Lakers, the 1962-63 Rochester Mustangs, the 1953-54 Eveleth Rangers, and the 1950-51 Crookston Pirates. This exhibit pays tribute to a long-gone era of highly competitive post-high school/ college play with structured schedules/playoffs and a touch of professionalism. Take particular note of the Rochester Mustangs and see if you can identify the man who led us to the Gold Medal in 1980! PHOTOS BY MINNESOTA WILD FIELD TRIP: Relive the Gopher Women's hockey team's historic run.

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