Outdoor hockey: The Minnesotan's pastime and
natural habitat. Where grasshoppers become warriors. A high-
octane, physical form of meditation. A labor of love. A way of life.
We play on ponds and lakes, in parks and backyards.
There are massive events like the U.S. Pond Hockey
Championships on Lake Nokomis and the Wild's
Stadium Series game in February. And then there
are intensely intimate—but just as competitive—
annual family pond hockey tournaments, weekly
pickup games at the nearby park, and sun-up to sun-
down sessions all across the state.
Outdoor hockey in Minnesota, in a way, should
be an element in the periodic table. It is the eighth
wonder of the world. And all the parents and
volunteers who flood and maintain our outdoor
ice should be hailed as community heroes for
preserving our heritage and passing on our culture.
If you see even a small patch of ice in Minnesota,
be aware that a hockey game may break out at any
minute. It is advisable to be in the ready position at
all times. With that said, let's make the most of this
pond hockey season together. So grab your gear and
let's take it outside.
WHY HOCKEY PLAYERS LOVE TO TAKE IT OUTSIDE
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