In 2025, Oliver Moore (#11, centre) won his second straight World Junior gold medal for the U.S. along with fellow Minnesotan Danny Nelson.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
It’s a challenge to pick just 10 big events from Minnesota hockey history. You could easily come up with 20 or 30. After all, Minnesota loves hockey so much it leads all U.S. states with more than 220 indoor rinks.
Think about the 1945 debut of the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, the Twin Cities-area filming of 1992’s The Mighty Ducks, or Kirill Kaprizov’s franchise-record 47 goals for the Minnesota Wild in 2022. Not to mention the numerous NCAA championships won by the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
With the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship underway in Minneapolis and St. Paul, we took the liberty of narrowing it down to 10 magical Minnesota milestones. Let’s go!
1) Minnesota gets first NHL franchise (1967)
When the NHL expanded from the Original Six to 12 teams for the 1967-68 season, Minnesota was a deserving recipient of an expansion franchise. The North Stars called the Met Center in Bloomington home, southeast of downtown Minneapolis. They earned a 3-1 win over the California Seals in their first home game on 21 October 1967.
The late Bill Masterton, who scored the first goal in franchise history, tragically passed away during the inaugural season. Today, his name graces the NHL’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey. The North Stars hung on until 1993 when they relocated to Dallas.
2) Eveleth welcomes U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (1973)
Eveleth is a small town in northeastern Minnesota. Yet even before the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame opened its doors here, it punched above its weight, producing talents like two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Frank “Mr. Zero” Brimsek and 1960 Olympic hockey gold medalist John Mayasich.
Think about the 1945 debut of the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, the Twin Cities-area filming of 1992’s The Mighty Ducks, or Kirill Kaprizov’s franchise-record 47 goals for the Minnesota Wild in 2022. Not to mention the numerous NCAA championships won by the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
With the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship underway in Minneapolis and St. Paul, we took the liberty of narrowing it down to 10 magical Minnesota milestones. Let’s go!
1) Minnesota gets first NHL franchise (1967)
When the NHL expanded from the Original Six to 12 teams for the 1967-68 season, Minnesota was a deserving recipient of an expansion franchise. The North Stars called the Met Center in Bloomington home, southeast of downtown Minneapolis. They earned a 3-1 win over the California Seals in their first home game on 21 October 1967.
The late Bill Masterton, who scored the first goal in franchise history, tragically passed away during the inaugural season. Today, his name graces the NHL’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey. The North Stars hung on until 1993 when they relocated to Dallas.
2) Eveleth welcomes U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (1973)
Eveleth is a small town in northeastern Minnesota. Yet even before the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame opened its doors here, it punched above its weight, producing talents like two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Frank “Mr. Zero” Brimsek and 1960 Olympic hockey gold medalist John Mayasich.
Today, the Hall has close to 200 inductees. The 2025 class included NHL veterans like 2010 Olympic silver medalists Joe Pavelski and Zach Parise (a longtime Minnesota Wild star) and two-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Gomez. Blueliner Tara Mounsey, who won Olympic gold in 1998 and silver in 2002 with the U.S. women’s national team, was also inducted.
3) “Miracle on Ice” team boasts Minnesota majority (1980)
It never gets old watching the 2003 movie Miracle, Disney’s reenactment of the U.S.’s thrilling “Miracle on Ice” upset over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
The real-life American team of college kids that won the gold medal was coached by St. Paul native Herb Brooks, a 1999 IIHF Hall of Fame inductee. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame interestingly notes: “While 12 of the 20 players on the final roster were native Minnesotans, nine of those 12 were players whom Brooks had coached [with the University of Minnesota Golden] Gophers.” Some Minnesota-born team members who also succeeded in the NHL include defencemen Ken Morrow and Mike Ramsey and forwards Neal Broten and Dave Christian.
4) North Stars shine en route to Stanley Cup finals (1981, 1991)
The North Stars never won the Cup, but it wasn’t entirely their fault as they faced two legendary opponents in their runs to the finals.
In 1981, left wing Steve Payne led the Cinderella Stars – who came third in the old Adams Division – with 17 post-season goals, the third-highest total ever. But the New York Islanders – starring Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin – were too much to handle, winning the final series 4-1 en route to their second of four straight Cups.
In 1991, Minnesota’s playoff performance was even more improbable. The Stars squeaked into the playoffs after winning just four of their first 23 games. For them to knock off league-leading Chicago and defending champion Edmonton in the first and third rounds respectively was shocking. But despite the scoring heroics of Dave Gagner, Brian Bellows, and a young Mike Modano, the firepower of the Mario Lemieux-led Pittsburgh Penguins took Minny down in a six-game finals.
5) Wild march to conference finals (2003)
To this day, the Wild’s most dramatic and successful playoff run remains the one in their third NHL season. The defence-minded, Jacques Lemaire-coached club fought back from a 3-1 series deficit in Round One to stun the Colorado Avalanche, headlined by captain Joe Sakic and 2003 league MVP and scoring leader Peter Forsberg. Andrew Brunette’s overtime winner in Game Seven capped off the amazing comeback.
3) “Miracle on Ice” team boasts Minnesota majority (1980)
It never gets old watching the 2003 movie Miracle, Disney’s reenactment of the U.S.’s thrilling “Miracle on Ice” upset over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
The real-life American team of college kids that won the gold medal was coached by St. Paul native Herb Brooks, a 1999 IIHF Hall of Fame inductee. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame interestingly notes: “While 12 of the 20 players on the final roster were native Minnesotans, nine of those 12 were players whom Brooks had coached [with the University of Minnesota Golden] Gophers.” Some Minnesota-born team members who also succeeded in the NHL include defencemen Ken Morrow and Mike Ramsey and forwards Neal Broten and Dave Christian.
4) North Stars shine en route to Stanley Cup finals (1981, 1991)
The North Stars never won the Cup, but it wasn’t entirely their fault as they faced two legendary opponents in their runs to the finals.
In 1981, left wing Steve Payne led the Cinderella Stars – who came third in the old Adams Division – with 17 post-season goals, the third-highest total ever. But the New York Islanders – starring Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin – were too much to handle, winning the final series 4-1 en route to their second of four straight Cups.
In 1991, Minnesota’s playoff performance was even more improbable. The Stars squeaked into the playoffs after winning just four of their first 23 games. For them to knock off league-leading Chicago and defending champion Edmonton in the first and third rounds respectively was shocking. But despite the scoring heroics of Dave Gagner, Brian Bellows, and a young Mike Modano, the firepower of the Mario Lemieux-led Pittsburgh Penguins took Minny down in a six-game finals.
5) Wild march to conference finals (2003)
To this day, the Wild’s most dramatic and successful playoff run remains the one in their third NHL season. The defence-minded, Jacques Lemaire-coached club fought back from a 3-1 series deficit in Round One to stun the Colorado Avalanche, headlined by captain Joe Sakic and 2003 league MVP and scoring leader Peter Forsberg. Andrew Brunette’s overtime winner in Game Seven capped off the amazing comeback.
With forwards Marian Gaborik and Wes Walz leading the offence, the Wild then made history by rallying from 3-1 down again versus Vancouver in the second round. The excitement ended when Minnesota got swept in the conference finals by Anaheim, but it was still a feat to remember.
6) Housley enters IIHF Hall of Fame (2012)
Someday, someone may surpass Phil Housley as the all-time leading NHL scorer among Minnesota-born players. But considering that the current active leader – fellow Twin Cities native Brock Nelson – is more than 600 points behind this smooth-skating defenceman (1,232 points), who knows when that will be?
Housley won a silver medal at the 2002 Olympics and appeared at six IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, among other international feats. He also coached the 2013 U.S. World Junior team to gold in Ufa, Russia. After his 2012 IIHF Hall of Fame induction in Helsinki, he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
7) Perfect Gophers rule NCAA women’s hockey (2013)
The history of Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s hockey is full of superstar performers from Natalie Darwitz to Abbey Murphy. However, it’s tough to top a record of 41 wins and zero losses, and that’s exactly what the Gophers amassed 41 wins and zero losses in 2012-13. It was the first perfect season in NCAA women’s hockey history.
Backstopped by Finnish Olympic goalie Noora Raty, led defensively by the hard-shooting Megan Bozek, and spearheaded offensively by 2013 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Amanda Kessel, this Brad Frost-coached team had it all. They defeated Marie-Philip Poulin’s Boston University in the Frozen Four to win their second straight national title.
8) Minny boys earn double WJC gold (2024, 2025)
The State of Hockey takes great pride in its native sons, and winning two straight World Juniors is a rare privilege. Versatile forwards Oliver Moore (Mounds View) and Danny Nelson (Maple Grove) totalled eight points apiece in the U.S.’s thrilling 2024 and 2025 runs.
6) Housley enters IIHF Hall of Fame (2012)
Someday, someone may surpass Phil Housley as the all-time leading NHL scorer among Minnesota-born players. But considering that the current active leader – fellow Twin Cities native Brock Nelson – is more than 600 points behind this smooth-skating defenceman (1,232 points), who knows when that will be?
Housley won a silver medal at the 2002 Olympics and appeared at six IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, among other international feats. He also coached the 2013 U.S. World Junior team to gold in Ufa, Russia. After his 2012 IIHF Hall of Fame induction in Helsinki, he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
7) Perfect Gophers rule NCAA women’s hockey (2013)
The history of Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s hockey is full of superstar performers from Natalie Darwitz to Abbey Murphy. However, it’s tough to top a record of 41 wins and zero losses, and that’s exactly what the Gophers amassed 41 wins and zero losses in 2012-13. It was the first perfect season in NCAA women’s hockey history.
Backstopped by Finnish Olympic goalie Noora Raty, led defensively by the hard-shooting Megan Bozek, and spearheaded offensively by 2013 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Amanda Kessel, this Brad Frost-coached team had it all. They defeated Marie-Philip Poulin’s Boston University in the Frozen Four to win their second straight national title.
8) Minny boys earn double WJC gold (2024, 2025)
The State of Hockey takes great pride in its native sons, and winning two straight World Juniors is a rare privilege. Versatile forwards Oliver Moore (Mounds View) and Danny Nelson (Maple Grove) totalled eight points apiece in the U.S.’s thrilling 2024 and 2025 runs.
Moore is currently an NHL rookie with Chicago, while Nelson captains the University of Notre Dame. But no matter where their hockey careers take them, they’ll always look back with fondness on their golden moments in Gothenburg and Ottawa.
9) Frost win first two PWHL titles (2024, 2025)
The PWHL’s popularity is skyrocketing in Canada. South of the border, it’s the Minnesota Frost who are setting the standard for professional women’s hockey.
Buoyed by captain Kendall Coyne Schofield and playoff scoring leader Taylor Heise, the Frost defeated the Boston Fleet in a five-game final to win the inaugural 2024 Walter Cup. In 2025, all four final games against the Ottawa Charge remarkably went to overtime, but the Frost prevailed again with Liz Schepers’ 2-1 winner on home ice.
10) Minnesota talent helps U.S. win WM gold (2025)
The U.S. hadn’t won an IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship since 1933, but the 92-year drought finally ended in Stockholm this year with a 1-0 gold-medal win over Switzerland. Minnesota-born players on the roster included NHL blueliners Jackson LaCombe (Eden Prairie) and Brady Skjei (Lakeville) and backup goalie Hampton Slukynsky (Warroad).
Will the Americans skate to gold again at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich and Fribourg with more Minnesota talent? Stay tuned.
9) Frost win first two PWHL titles (2024, 2025)
The PWHL’s popularity is skyrocketing in Canada. South of the border, it’s the Minnesota Frost who are setting the standard for professional women’s hockey.
Buoyed by captain Kendall Coyne Schofield and playoff scoring leader Taylor Heise, the Frost defeated the Boston Fleet in a five-game final to win the inaugural 2024 Walter Cup. In 2025, all four final games against the Ottawa Charge remarkably went to overtime, but the Frost prevailed again with Liz Schepers’ 2-1 winner on home ice.
10) Minnesota talent helps U.S. win WM gold (2025)
The U.S. hadn’t won an IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship since 1933, but the 92-year drought finally ended in Stockholm this year with a 1-0 gold-medal win over Switzerland. Minnesota-born players on the roster included NHL blueliners Jackson LaCombe (Eden Prairie) and Brady Skjei (Lakeville) and backup goalie Hampton Slukynsky (Warroad).
Will the Americans skate to gold again at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich and Fribourg with more Minnesota talent? Stay tuned.