EDITOR: Aaron Paitich
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Jessi Pierce
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Michael Russo, Nate Wells
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Volume 22, Number 3
FACEOFF
JAN/FEB
27
2021 WILD
SEASON PREVIEW
Michael Russo takes a deep dive into
the remodeled Minnesota Wild roster.
J A N / F E B 2 0 2 1 | M H J O N L I N E . C O M
O N T H E C O V E R :
Bloomington's Jack Weiss and
Centennial's Will Francis are
the comeback kids.
Photos: Tim Kolehmainen, UAF
03
IN THIS ISSUE
MINNESOTA HOCKE Y JOURNA L
BLAINE'S NICK
BJUGSTAD IS COMING
HOME TO PLAY FOR THE
MINNESOTA WILD
Will
Francis
+ RUSSO'S RANTS:
2021 MN WILD
SEASON PREVIEW
J
A
N
.
/
F
E
B
.
2
0
2
1
How
Will
Francis
and
Jack
Weiss
fought
cancer
with
their
hockey
families
+ GENERATION GOLD:
MINNESOTA'S NEXT
WAVE OF TALENT
Jack
Weiss
04 / GOALS & ASSISTS
Snapshots from around the State of Hockey.
09 / SOUND OFF:
KIDS IN THE CREASE
Navigating life as a hockey goalie parent.
10 / TIPS: SECRET WEAPON
Develop a dangerous backhander with Wild
assistant coach Darby Hendrickson.
12 / STATE OF HOCKEY
SPOTLIGHT: PRIOR
LAKE-SAVAGE
Get to know one of the state's thriving
hockey associations.
14 / Q&A: TRUE GRIT
Grand Rapids native Micah Miller gives the
Huskies a competitive edge.
16 / COMEBACK KIDS
How Jack Weiss and Will Francis battled
cancer with the support of their hockey
communities.
24 / LAND OF
OPPORTUNITIES
Want to play hockey after high school?
Learn more about the league landscape.
Minnesota's next wave of top talent has
eyes on the game's biggest stage.
20
UConn senior
captain Natalie
Snodgrass (Eagan)
is one of many
young Minnesotans
on the USWNT's
radar.
GENERATION GOLD
Jared
Spurgeon is
primed for a
return to the
Stanley Cup
Playoffs.
