FACEOFF
O N T H E C O V E R :
Minnesota's community hockey
associations have been producing
World Juniors players for 50 years.
Photos by USA Hockey, IIHF, Minnesota
Sports and Events
04 / GOALS & ASSISTS
Snapshots from around the
State of Hockey.
14 / STATE OF HOCKEY
SPOTLIGHT: HIBBING
Minnesota community hockey
dominates 2025 NHL Draft.
16 / TIPS: DON'T SHUT
OUT THE GOALIES
How and why coaches need to prioritize
goaltending development.
22 / HOME ICE
The 50th edition of the World Junior
Championship returns to Minnesota—
with high expectations.
26 / THANK YOU, MURRAY
A tribute to World Juniors founder and
USA Hockey legend Murray Williamson.
IN THIS ISSUE
SHOW
TIME
SHOW
N
O
V
/
D
E
C
2
0
2
5
HOCKEY DAY
MINNESOTA TURNS 20
WHY HIBBING
IS A HOCKEY HOTBED
MINNESOTANS
FUEL PWHL
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
RETURNS TO THE STATE OF HOCKEY
SCOTT
PERUNOVICH
HIBBING
BL AKE WHEELER
WAY Z ATA
BRODIE
ZIEMER
CHASK A /CHANHASSEN
BOB
MOTZKO
AUS TIN
NEAL BROTEN
ROSE AU
CORY MILLEN
CLOQUE T
MURRAY WILLIAMSON
WORLD JUNIORS FOUNDER
ERIC
POHLKAMP
BR AINERD
MAX PL ANTE
HERMANTOWN
JOEY
ANDERSON
ROSE VILLE
RUSSO: SHOWTIME
NOV/DEC
27
HOCKEY DAY TURNS 20
18
EDITOR: Aaron Paitich
CONTRIBUTORS:
Steve Carroll, Dave Jensen, Steve Mann, Jessi Pierce,
Brooke Pioske, 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 2
D
E
S
I
G
N
|
C
R
E
A
T
E
|
I
N
S
T
AL
L
K
J
B
R
A
ND
I
N
G
D
E
S
I
G
N
|
C
R
E
A
T
E
|
I
N
S
T
AL
L
K
J
B
R
A
ND
I
N
G
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
NOV/DEC 2 0 2 5 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M
Celebrating two decades of Hockey Day Minnesota
and Skating It Forward for the next generation.
Head Coach
Bob Motzko will lead
Team USA's quest
for a three-peat on
home ice.
Bob Motzko and Luke Kunin on
the 2017 Gold Medal and what hosting the 2026
World Juniors means to Minnesota.
