Last Updated on Thursday, 27 August 2015 10:01
From tiny Taconite to mighty Minneapolis, Minnesota is full of hockey-mad cities. But who should be named the capital of Minnesota hockey?
By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor
Each fall in Let’s Play Hockey, we bring you a not-quite-comprehensive list of what it means to be a hockey fan in Minnesota. Atop that list is the following item: “You might be a hockey fan in Minnesota if … you get ticked off when you hear Detroit call itself ‘Hockeytown USA.’”
In the Dec. 10, 2007, edition of Sports Illustrated, Michael Farber dethroned the Motor City and handed over the mythical title to St. Paul. Detroit lost its designation as Hockeytown USA largely due to lackluster attendance at Red Wings games and waning interest in hockey in Michigan’s largest city.
St. Paul, Farber wrote, is hockey’s epicenter in the U.S., mainly because of the Minnesota Wild, a franchise that has gone out of its way to be respectful of the game, its fans and the countless hockey players in the state.
Farber’s conclusion was certainly greeted with pride here in the Twin Cities as it seemed the nation had been told what we have known all along: The game of hockey holds a special place in the hearts of countless Minnesotans – something you just don’t see in many other areas of the country.
What Farber failed to recognize, however, was the inadequacy of naming just one Minnesota city as Hockeytown USA. Although it’s truly just a marketing slogan the Wild cooked up in their nod to grassroots hockey, the “State of Hockey” really does capture what the sport means to this state.
Here in Minnesota (not just in St. Paul), hockey is strongly woven into our fabric of life. Learning to skate, shoot and stickhandle is a rite of passage for countless Minnesota kids every winter in cities and towns across the state. Hockey in Minnesota is about trudging through the snow to reach the warming house at the local park. It’s about skipping school or work to go to or watch the state high school tournament. It’s about clearing your schedule on Friday and Saturday nights in the winter to watch the Gophers. It’s about hockey moms (and dads). It’s about rivalries. It’s about Mites, Squirts, PeeWees, Bantams and a nation-leading population of girls’ hockey players.
The debate will continue on as to what city deserves the title of “Hockeytown USA.” Detroit will point to its trademarking of the phrase. Warroad will look to its history of claiming the title for over 50 years. St. Paul will turn to Sports Illustrated. And a host of other cities, including Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Philadelphia and Binghamton, N.Y., will make their case.
That debate won’t be settled anytime soon. But what is certain is that Minnesota is a state of Hockeytowns. From tiny Taconite (pop. 358) to mighty Minneapolis (400,070) and every city, suburb, burg, hamlet, municipality and whistle-stop in between, Minnesota is chock full of hockey-mad locales.
Instead of settling the Hockeytown USA debate, let’s shift gears and formally crown a capital of hockey in Minnesota. To do that, we used strict criteria to measure just how strong a case each city has in being named the hockey capital. That criteria included tracking the hometowns of players in pro, college (Division I and III) and junior hockey (USHL, NAHL, BCHL, WHL) in 2014-15, the hometowns of all-time NHL alumni, a city’s historical success in winning youth and high school state championships, and the number of indoor ice rinks in each city.
The total number of players, state titles and rinks were then added up to determine our rankings for the capital of Minnesota hockey. For example, Burnsville can claim four players in pro hockey, 14 in college and five in juniors, while also owning one NHL alum, six state championships and two indoor ice sheets. Add it all up, and the home of the Blaze clocks in with 32 points, good for a tie for 18th on our list.
This ranking system was put together in the hopes of measuring a city’s current success in pro, college and junior hockey, while also taking a city’s history on the ice into consideration.
Following, in reverse order, are the top 15 cities in our inaugural rankings for Minnesota’s hockey capital.
15. Stillwater – 34 points
A picturesque city on the shores of the St. Croix River, Stillwater (pop. 18.674) kicks off our rankings thanks, in part, to its 22 college hockey players during the 2014-15 season, a total that ranks sixth in the state. The home of the Ponies also has produced two MSHSL girls’ state titles, one Minnesota Hockey state championship and one NHL alumnus (Adam Berkhoel).
13 (tie). White Bear Lake – 36 points
This northeast metro suburb (pop. 24,555) earns its spot in the top 15 largely on the back of its 12 college hockey players and 12 all-time Minnesota Hockey championships. The home of the oldest ice arena in the Twin Cities still in operation today, White Bear Lake claims five all-time NHL players, including current Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Carter, 1996 Hobey Baker Award winner Brian Bonin and two-time Stanley Cup champion Elwyn “Doc” Romnes.
13 (tie). Roseville – 36 points
A suburb of both Minneapolis and St. Paul, Roseville (pop. 34,934) enters the rankings thanks to its 19 natives who played college hockey in 2014-15, including 11 women at the Division I and III levels. Roseville is also home to a trio of MSHSL girls’ state titles, five Minnesota Hockey championships and 1995 Stanley Cup champion Chris McAlpine. The two-sheet Roseville Ice Arena will host the 2015 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Women’s Face-Off College Game between Minnesota and St. Cloud State on Dec. 11.
12. Rochester – 39 points
The southernmost city on the list (by far), Rochester (pop. 110,742) saw 15 of his native sons and daughters play college hockey this season, yet only one at the Division I level (Lake Superior State defenseman Pete Spratte). The third-largest city in Minnesota can also boast six indoor ice sheets, five all-time Minnesota Hockey state championships and eight NHL alumni, including 2001 Stanley Cup Shjon Podein and current Winnipeg Jets blueliner Mark Stuart.
10 (tie). Grand Rapids – 40 points
The home of the Thunderhawks, Grand Rapids (pop. 10.989) earns the No. 10 spot, thanks in part to its nine all-time Minnesota Hockey state titles and three MSHSL boys’ state championships. This northern Minnesota city had one NHL player in 2014-15 in Dallas Stars defenseman Alex Goligoski, and can also claim seven NHL alumni, including former Minnesota North Stars goalie Jon Casey. Grand Rapids also had 13 college hockey players last season, including six at the Division I level.
10 (tie). Roseau – 40 points
The northernmost city on the list (by far), Roseau (pop. 2,627) boasts 19 current pro, college or junior players, as well as seven NHL alumni, despite being the city in our rankings with the smallest population (by far). Home to five Minnesota Hockey championships and seven MSHSL boys’ state titles, Roseau has produced a pair of Stanley Cup champions (Neal Broten, Dustin Byfuglien), eight Olympians and two U.S. Hockey Hall of Famers (Neal & Aaron Broten).
9. Plymouth – 41 points
With NHLers Jordan Leopold and Blake Wheeler, seven ECHL players and five players in Europe, Plymouth (pop. 73,987) lays claim as the Minnesota city to have produced the most professional hockey players in 2014-15. The west metro suburb also boasts 19 college hockey players, including 12 who played at the Division I level this past season. Plymouth’s total would certainly have been higher if it was home to a youth hockey association as neighboring Wayzata gets to take credit for 25 Minnesota Hockey state titles, many of which were earned with Plymouth natives on team rosters.
8. Minnetonka – 45 points
The 2014-15 season saw 19 natives of this west metro suburb play Division I college hockey, including a record 10 women. Minnetonka (pop. 51,368) is also home to three MSHSL girls’ state championships and 11 Minnesota Hockey titles. The home of the Skippers boasts just three NHL alumni (including current Carolina defenseman Jack Hillen), but their names are well-known in the hockey world. Former Gopher Dave Snuggerud spent four seasons in the NHL, but continues his impact on hockey as the founder of Chaska’s Breakaway Academy. Steve Martinson, meanwhile, has coached his teams to nine titles in four different pro hockey leagues following a 14-year pro hockey career.
7. Eden Prairie – 48 points
Boasting a pair of MSHSL state championships for both the boys and the girls, Eden Prairie (pop. 62,603) takes the No. 7 spot in our rankings. Prior to high school, the Eagles are also successful, claiming 12 all-time Minnesota Hockey titles. After high school, EP sends players to the next level with six players in juniors, 17 in college (including 10 Division I men) and five in the pros in 2014-15. Surprisingly, Eden Prairie has produced only one NHLer in 2013 Stanley Cup champion Nick Leddy (above), now a top-four defenseman with the New York Islanders. That number will surely increase with Danny Kristo and Kyle Rau waiting in the AHL wings.
6. Lakeville – 51 points
If it’s college hockey players you want, then head to the southern metro as Lakeville (pop. 58,562) produced 32 collegiate skaters in 2014-15 (second only to the No. 1 city on our list). That number includes 15 Division I players and a record 11 women at the Division III level. Home to the defending MSHSL boys’ state champion Lakeville North Panthers (above), this suburb can boast four indoor ice sheets and five all-time Minnesota Hockey titles. Lakeville is yet to produce an NHL player, but that is sure to change as former Gopher Brady Skjei is knocking on the door with the New York Rangers.
5. Minneapolis – 53 points
Minnesota’s largest city takes the No. 5 spot despite not having a single player in North American pro hockey last season (three played in Europe). Minneapolis (pop. 400,070) cracks the top five thanks, in part, to its 11 indoor ice sheets and six MSHSL state championships (including five from The Blake School girls’ hockey team). The City of Lakes boasts 18 NHL alumni, including Stanley Cup champions Tom Chorske, Cully Dahlstrom and Virgil Johnson, and U.S. Hockey Hall of Famers Reed Larson (above), Mike Ramsey and Dahlstrom. The future also looks solid as 11 Minneapolitans played college or junior hockey in 2014-15.
4. Bloomington – 61 points
The largest suburb in Minnesota, Bloomington (pop. 86,319) may be the former home of the Minnesota North Stars, but it’s the current home to 10 pro hockey players, including NHL defensemen Tom Gilbert (Montreal) and Erik Johnson (Colorado) (above). Bloomington can claim another eight NHL alumni, including Stanley Cup champions Ben Clymer, Don Jackson and Tom Kurvers. Home to the Bloomington Ice Garden, a training spot of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, Bloomington has captured 11 Minnesota Hockey championships and seven MSHSL state titles, including six by the Jefferson boys’ and girls’ hockey programs. The 2014-15 season also saw 16 Bloomington natives play college hockey, with 11 of those at the Division III level.
3. Duluth – 86 points
A hockey hotbed on the shores of Lake Superior, Duluth (pop. 86,128) excels at moving its natives to the next level. In 2014-15, Duluth ranked first in the state in junior hockey players (12), tied for second in pros (10) and tied for third in college players (24). Natives of this northern Minnesota city have captured their fair share of state championships, with 18 Minnesota Hockey titles and three MSHSL boys’ state crowns (all by Duluth East). Duluth did not have an NHLer in 2014-15, but does boast 18 NHL alumni, including 1993 Stanley Cup champion Sean Hill. The Twin Ports city, home to nine indoor ice sheets, will host the state’s annual outdoor hockey extravaganza this upcoming season with Hockey Day Minnesota coming to Bayfront Park on Feb. 6.
2. St. Paul – 91 points
With 25 NHL alumni hailing from Minnesota’s capital city, the home of the Minnesota Wild and the MSHSL state tournaments takes the runner-up spot in our rankings. Leading the list of NHL alumni from St. Paul (pop. 294,873) is four-time Stanley Cup champion Dave Langevin, current Philadelphia Flyers president Paul Holmgren and U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer Jack McCartan. Although he doesn’t factor into the point totals, Minnesota hockey legend Herb Brooks also called St. Paul his home. This past season saw two Saintly City natives play in the NHL in Mark Alt (Philadelphia) and Kyle Okposo (N.Y. Islanders) (above). Another 24 St. Paulites played college hockey, including 10 at the Division I level. St. Paul can also claim 11 indoor ice sheets, five MSHSL boys’ state titles and 12 Minnesota Hockey championships. Downtown St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center is the epicenter of hockey in Minnesota, with the 18,000-seat arena hosting numerous high school, college and pro hockey games throughout the season.
1. Edina – 131 points
It probably should come as no surprise that Edina (pop. 49,376) lands atop our rankings for the capital of hockey in Minnesota. The home of the Hornets leads the state with 38 college hockey players (including 14 Division I men), 12 MSHSL state championships and 50 Minnesota Hockey state titles. Edina had one player in the NHL last season in New York Islanders forward Anders Lee and claims nine NHL alumni, including three-time Stanley Cup champion Bill Nyrop and 1986 Stanley Cup champion David Maley. Home to the largest youth hockey association in the state, an Edina team has captured a Minnesota Hockey state championship for 12 consecutive years. Likewise, the Edina High School boys’ hockey program has won three state titles since 2010 and has qualified for nine consecutive MSHSL state tournaments. Nine Edina natives played junior hockey last season, including a record five in the USHL. This southwest metro suburb has been churning out elite hockey talent for decades, and it shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. For that reason, it’s time to crown Edina as Minnesota’s Hockey Capital.
Minnesota's Hockey Capital Rankings - Top 50
| Rk | City |
Pro hockey players (NHL) |
College hockey players (DI) |
Junior hockey players |
MSHSL titles |
Youth titles |
Indoor ice |
NHL alumni |
Total |
| 1 | Edina | 8 (1) | 38 (23) | 9 | 12 | 50 | 5 | 9 | 131 |
| 2 | St. Paul | 5 (1) | 24 (10) | 9 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 25 | 91 |
| 3 | Duluth | 10 (0) | 24 (11) | 12 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 86 |
| 4 | Bloomington | 10 (2) | 16 (5) | 6 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 64 |
| 5 | Minneapolis | 3 (0) | 9 (2) | 2 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 53 |
| 6 | Lakeville | 3 (0) | 32 (15) | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 51 |
| 7 | Eden Prairie | 5 (1) | 17 (14) | 6 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 48 |
| 8 | Minnetonka | 2 (1) | 21 (19) | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 45 |
| 9 | Plymouth | 14 (2) | 19 (12) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 41 |
| 10 | Grand Rapids | 4 (1) | 13 (6) | 2 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 40 |
| Roseau | 5 (1) | 8 (4) | 5 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 40 | |
| 12 | Rochester | 4 (1) | 15 (1) | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 39 |
| 13 | Roseville | 3 (0) | 19 (7) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 36 |
| White Bear Lake | 4 (1) | 12 (5) | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 36 | |
| 15 | Stillwater | 2 (0) | 22 (8) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 34 |
| 16 | Maple Grove | 2 (0) | 22 (10) | 2 | 0 | 5* | 1 | 1 | 33 |
| Wayzata | 1 (0) | 5 (0) | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 33 | |
| 18 | Blaine | 3 (2) | 11 (6) | 6 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 32 |
| Burnsville | 4 (1) | 14 (5) | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 32 | |
| Woodbury | 3 (0) | 17 (4) | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 32 | |
| 21 | Apple Valley | 8 (0) | 11 (6) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 30 |
| 22 | Warroad | 2 (2) | 9 (5) | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 29 |
| 23 | Eagan | 3 (0) | 14 (8) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| 24 | Elk River | 4 (2) | 10 (2) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 25 |
| 25 | Moorhead | 4 (2) | 7 (2) | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 24 |
| 26 | Eveleth | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 22 |
| 27 | Hibbing | 0 (0) | 4 (1) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 21 |
| International Falls | 2 (0) | 5 (3) | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 21 | |
| 29 | St. Louis Park | 0 (0) | 8 (5) | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 30 | Faribault | 8 (4) | 7 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| Hastings | 3 (1) | 11 (3) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 19 | |
| Lino Lakes | 2 (0) | 9 (1) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | |
| 33 | Chanhassen | 2 (1) | 13 (8) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| St. Cloud | 1 (1) | 8 (2) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 | |
| 35 | Hermantown | 3 (0) | 8 (3) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| Shoreview | 0 (0) | 15 (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | |
| South St. Paul | 6 (2) | 1 (0) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17 | |
| 38 | Brooklyn Park | 3 (2) | 7 (1) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| Oakdale | 1 (0) | 7 (4) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15 | |
| Thief River Falls | 1 (0) | 8 (2) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | |
| 41 | Circle Pines | 0 (0) | 3 (0) | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| East Grand Forks | 0 (0) | 4 (3) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | |
| Inver Grove Heights | 2 (0) | 7 (2) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14 | |
| New Prague | 1 (0) | 9 (1) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 | |
| Richfield | 1 (0) | 4 (3) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | |
| 46 | Andover | 1 (0) | 8 (4) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Bemidji | 3 (0) | 3 (1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | |
| Champlin | 1 (0) | 5 (1) | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | |
| Coon Rapids | 0 (0) | 9 (5) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | |
| 50 | Forest Lake | 1 (0) | 5 (4) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| Prior Lake | 1 (1) | 5 (4) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | |
| Virginia | 2 (1) | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
* Split with Osseo. The Osseo/Maple Grove Hockey Association has won 10 Minnesota Hockey state championships.
