The 20th annual Hockey Day Minnesota is set to begin this Saturday with hockey events big and small, from area JV and varsity games, alumni games, and international games all culminating in the clash between the Iowa Wild and the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, Jan. 23, followed by a string of varsity games on Saturday Jan. 24.
Hockey Day Minnesota dates back to 2007 when it was created in partnership between the Minnesota Wild and Balley Sports North, meant to capture the origin of Minnesota Hockey, allowing players to play outside in the elements for sanctioned games, a first for many younger players.
“It’s just not heard of anymore,” said Mayor Mary Fasbender about outdoor hockey games.
That first year featured three games in Baudette, Minn., including the Wild vs. the Dallas Stars. In the decades since, the event has grown into a week-long celebration of all things hockey.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Jeff Taffe, vice-chair of the Local Organization Committee (LOC) for the event.
According to Taffe, one of the best ways for residents to help with attending the event is to buy parking beforehand. The cost of tickets will not change before and during the event, but buying parking early is $10 cheaper versus buying a parking pass the day of the event; it also provides organizers with a better idea of parking numbers.
Tickets and parking passes can be bought online at hockeydaymn.com/get-tickets
Otherwise a number of shuttles will ferry residents from around town to the United Hockey League stadium, including from Treasure Island Resort and Casino.
Shuttles from Treasure Island will run every 20 minutes from Jan. 17-23, and every 10 minutes on Jan. 24.
Shuttle service begins an hour before the first game of the day and runs until an hour after the final game.
Other shuttles can be found on Jan. 23-24 from the Smead Manufacturing’s parking lot on Ravenna Trail.
The event is still in need of several volunteers from ticketing to parking. Volunteers get free event access for the day which allows residents to avoid paying for tickets.
“We are definitely still in need throughout the week” for volunteers, said Taffe.
Volunteers can sign up at hockeydaymn.com/volunteer/

Run-up
Since the event was announced to be coming to Hastings in February 2024, the community has been preparing for the arrival of Hockey Day Minnesota. From the installation of the new hockey mural on the civic arena to the brewing of a new beer ‘Hockey Day Haze-tings” from Spiral Brewery, to the construction at the United Heros League which is set to house the event, it is safe to say that many hands have worked to make the event a success.
No hands have worked harder than those of the 23 members of the LOC, who have been meeting since April 2024 to finance, market, coordinate and overall create the event, said Fasbender, who serves as vice-chair of the LOC alongside Taffe.
“It was important for all of us to come together because we had an initial vision of how it’s going to work,” said Fasbender.
Coordinating between the major partners of the city, United Heros League, and the Hastings Hockey Boosters was important for Fasbender, especially after the 2025 Hockey Day Minnesota in Shakopee which saw those partnerships fall apart.
Final leftover proceeds of the event will go back to UHL and Hastings Hockey Boosters.
“This community, you ask for help, they come together,” said Fasbender.
Despite the years of planning in the event, just days out from the launch, there is still much to do. The final meeting of the LOC took place on Wednesday, Jan 14, capping nearly two years of work.
At time of writing, workers continue to put up tents at the site and put the finishing touches on the rink including the top layer.
A recent string of warm weather has melted the rink, but the forecasts show cooler weather throughout the event which will hopefully keep the rinks in good condition.
“Once that first puck drops, I think we all are just going to breathe,” said Fasbender.

Schedule
Hockey Day Minnesota is more than just a series of hockey games. The event will be paired with happenings across the community from live music to shows to ice sculpting. A full list of games and community happens can be found on Page 3 in the Community Calendar and online at www.hastingsjournal.news/calendar/
Reporter Bruce Karnick contributed to this story.