FACEOFF
O N T H E C O V E R :
Gear up for an unforgettable
season of Minnesota Hockey.
Photos by Zach Siegert/ZW Photography
Cap relief, young talent, and health could
push the Wild to the next level.
04 / GOALS & ASSISTS
Snapshots from around the
State of Hockey.
06 / STACKED SCHEDULE
A look ahead at the loaded lineup for
Minnesota hockey players and fans.
10 / HOME COOKIN'
Minnesota community hockey
dominates 2025 NHL Draft.
12 / TIPS: YOUR BEST
SEASON YET
A message from former NHL
defenseman and two-time NCAA
Champion Keith Ballard.
21 / NORTHERN LIGHTS
BURNING BRIGHT
Minnesota starts one of the first
women's sled hockey teams in the nation.
24 / STATE OF
HOCKEY SPOTLIGHT:
WORTHINGTON
Get to know one of the state's thriving
hockey associations.
IN THIS ISSUE
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+ Worthington Rallies For New Community Rink
+ 2025-26 Minnesota Hockey Season Primer
+ Michael Russo's Wild Season Preview
+ 17 Minnesotans Selected In 2025 NHL Draft
WORLD JUNIORS, OLYMPICS, AND THE
DRIVE TO STATE HIGHLIGHT A HISTORIC
MINNESOTA HOCKEY SEASON
RUSSO:
READY TO POUNCE
OCTOBER
26
SEASON
PRIMER
EDITOR: Aaron Paitich
CONTRIBUTORS:
Keith Ballard, Steve Mann, Steve Oleheiser,
Jessi Pierce, Michael Russo
DESIGN & PRODUCTION:
Mike DeArmond, Brandon Favre
ADVERTISING: Bryan Nelson
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Emily Sizen
WEBSITE: mhjonline.com
E-MAIL: contactus@minnesotahockeyjournal.com
"The purpose of Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA
Hockey, is to encourage and improve the standard of
youth and other amateur ice hockey; to conduct ice
hockey tournaments and to select representative teams
to participate in tournaments; to associate with other ice
hockey associations; to do any and all acts necessary for
creating further interest in youth and other amateur hockey."
MHJ
M I N N E S O TA H O C K E Y J O U R N A L
ASSOCIATION
minnesotahockey.org usahockey.com
MINNESOTA HOCKEY
CORPORATE PARTNERS
The following organizations have generously supported
amateur hockey in Minnesota. Please consider their support
next time you make a purchase.
Volume 27, Number 1
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Marco Rossi
signed a three-year,
$15 million contract
extension this
offseason.
PUBLISHER
PRESIDENT: Dave Jensen
EDITOR: Aaron Paitich
ART DIRECTORS: Mike DeArmond, Brandon Favre
AD SALES: Bryan Nelson
AD COORDINATOR: Emily Sizen
MARKETING COORDINATOR: Brooke Pioske
1601 Utica Avenue South, Suite 110
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(763) 595-0808
info@nordstarmedia.com
nordstarmedia.com
03
OCTOBER 2 0 2 5 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M
Everything you need to
know about the 2025-2026
Minnesota Hockey season.
