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M H J O N L I N E . C O M | J A N / F E B 2 0 2 5 24 Wednesday, Jan. 22 3:30 p.m. // Shakopee vs. Brainerd (JV Girls) 5:30 p.m. // Lakeville North vs. Rosemount (Varsity Girls) 7:30 p.m. // Eastview vs. Rosemount (Varsity Boys) Thursday, Jan. 23 3:30 p.m. // Northfield vs. Orono (Varsity Girls) 5:30 p.m. // Prior Lake vs. Eden Prairie (Varsity Girls) 7:30 p.m. // Shakopee vs. Brainerd (Varsity Girls) Friday, Jan. 24 3:30 p.m. // Orono vs. Delano (Varsity Boys) 5:30 p.m. // University of Minnesota Alumni (Men's) 7:30 p.m. // Lakeville South vs. Prior Lake (Varsity Boys) Saturday, Jan. 25 8:30 a.m. // Eden Prairie vs. Hibbing (Varsity Boys) 11:30 a.m. // Univ. of Minnesota vs. Bemidji State (Women's) 2:30 p.m. // Shakopee vs. Maple Grove (Varsity Boys) 5:00 p.m. // Shakopee vs. Maple Grove (JV Boys) 6:00 p.m. // Calgary Flames vs. Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 is coming to iconic Valleyfair in Shakopee, Jan. 22-25! Live music, vendors, food trucks, select rides open (pending weather), and more! WILD THING DREAM … STATE? Last season, Shakopee High School's boys' squad won the South Suburban Conference and finished 21-5-1 overall, but fell short of the ultimate goal, losing 4-2 in the Section 2AA semifinal to Chanhassen, the eventual State runner-up. This year, Shakopee looks like the team to beat in 2AA and has several future college players on the roster. Led by Simon, captains Cooper Simpson and Carson Steinhoff and and other key contributors Nate Pederson and Cooper Siegert, expectations are high. "The rankings create a lot of pressure and expectation, but we're excited about it," said Simon, who grew up in Shakopee and was a member of the lone Sabers team to make it to the State Tournament, in 2005. "It's hard not to be confident about our high school group and our youth program. We're as deep as anybody, with forwards, defensemen, goaltending, all the way through to our Bantams." Shakopee's '24-25 journey will be on full display beginning in February, as the featured program during season six of "Dream State," the series developed by the Minnesota Wild, in partnership with TRIA Orthopedics, that follows teams on their path toward the State Tournament. It's an honor, and certainly recognition that the Sabers are the real deal. "Our team goals are the same whether they're realistic or not—for our seniors to acquire a diploma, win a con- ference, section and state championship and help devel- op these guys to be Sabers for life," said Simon. "I think the biggest thing that's been a part of our rise is we have a chip on our shoulders. We know what people have historically thought of us and know where the program has been. We've been on a mission to knock down the door and prove who we are and what our community is about. Personally, I've got unfinished business. I've been to the tournament. We got our butts kicked. So, I know for the alumni it would be huge deal to get back there and win some games this time around. It would mean more than I know how to express." A DAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT Since 2007, Hockey Day Minnesota has been responsible for creating some of the most memorable hockey experiences for fans of the sport statewide. This year, from January 22-25, amusement park Valleyfair (usually a popular summer fun destination for Minnesotans) serves as host of the event, shining yet another spotlight on the city of Shakopee and providing an opportunity to showcase its dedicated hockey and business community. "To have something like that right down the street, something most of us have seen on TV for years and never been a part of… you can Shakopee High School boys' head coach Calvin Simon. Shakopee's youth hockey programs enjoyed one of its most successful seasons last year. S H A K O P E E HOC K E Y