After walking through an entrance tunnel of various hockey sticks, and with historic and current Bears teams lining the tunnel walls, fans are greeted with the option to place a commemorative puck with a message, dedication or signature on the wall to be a part of the Hockey Day celebration.
Whether you played hockey, watched from afar, became a fan this season, it doesn't matter. The pucks come together to fulfill the state outline with hockey. To celebrate our beloved 'State of Hockey' mantra that is exceptionally brought to life each Hockey Day Minnesota for the past 17 years.
Hockey is more than a game.
White Bear Lake brought hockey fans to the northeast metro. Introduced them to eastside hockey with Stillwater, Mahtomedi, Hill Murray, White Bear Lake and Forest Lake teams on full display, too. Hermantown and Cretin-Derham Hall also made appearances, along with the St. John's and Augsburg men's teams.
"Eastsiders are tough. It's blue collar. I like everything about that," said Brian Bonin, 1992 Mr. Hockey Award winner, 1996 Hobey Baker winner, and White Bear Lake native. "We get to showcase our type of hockey town with this event. And the community couldn't be more excited."
There were wins. There were losses. Celebrations and hung heads.
But, it's more than a game.
Since its origin in 2007, Hockey Day has reminded Minnesotans how special a place hockey has in our heart. It's about a community coming together. In White Bear's case, multiple communities. The school's blaze orange and black were plentiful, but with close proximity to nearby suburbs, you saw plenty of Zephyr, Ponies and Rangers colors, too.
Hockey makes connections.
You saw dancing. And live music. And the coming together of family and friends, old and new, embracing the freezing temperatures like only Minnesotans can do, and seeking warmth by fires as necessary before cheering from the stands.
Hockey tells stories.
For as long as Bonin can remember, he had a rink in his backyard. Outdoor hockey has its place in nearly every Minnesotan's story. To watch White Bear Lake host the premiere outdoor event, with his son, Jude, a junior forward for Hill Murray who played in a 3-2 overtime defeat of Bonin's alma mater, for Bonin it felt full circle in his book.
"Outdoor hockey like this resonates with everyone," he said. "Everyone has those memories. Those stories. It's pretty special to see it here in White Bear on a stage like this."
Hockey teaches us lessons.
The wins and losses for competing teams. The sportsmanship following the games. The resilience seen by teams and players, like Sebastien Nevalainen, who says sled hockey changed his life.
Or the members of Sophie's Squad, who honor the memory of Sophie Wieland and her battle with mental illness, their booth and presence at Hockey Day reminding people it's OK to not be OK.
Hockey is, and always has been, more than a game. Thank you, White Bear, for putting that on full display this weekend.
