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Per the Wild, the location of HDM 2014 will be announced tomorrow during the Wild pregame show on FSN. Anyone have an educated (or uneducated for that matter) guess on the location? If you could choose the location where would you want to have HDM 2014?

It will be in Elk River, I think they were waiting on the NHL schedule and getting a date. Opponent and other teams involved also needed to be set up.

alcloseshaver wrote:It will be in Elk River, I think they were waiting on the NHL schedule and getting a date. Opponent and other teams involved also needed to be set up.

I heard they were waiting for a confirmation from Tony Sarsland if he would be the keynote speaker at the banquet?

Confirmed on the Wild pre-game show on FSN. Excellent choice.

Awesome

The "pit" will be an incredible scene with 2000 fans surrounded the sheets of ice. Protected from any weather. Excellent venue choice.

Rumor out there that Edina was approached about playing Elk River but Giles is not that interested in it. Would be great to have to ex NHLer's have their teams face off. The venue will be unique and allow for a big crowd. Have the Wild play Pittsburg and bring in Martin and Crosby for an appearance?

Elk River vs Roseau

Duluth East vs Hill Murray

Is that official? If so that looks to be some great matchups.

nahlscout99 wrote:Elk River vs Roseau

Duluth East vs Hill Murray

Follows the trend, if they went to the AA runner-up after Edina turned them down. Good match-ups, though.

As for the venue? While the site might have historic significance, nobody is going to mistake it for scenic Pokegama Lake...



Here's Elk River's sales pitch for hosting the event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WOga61ZAgw

I was thinking downtown on the river would have been a more interesting and fun choice. Bars, restaurants, etc.

The pit is walking distance from downtown. I appreciate the scenic lake take but this venue will be great and is close to the metro. No chance of the wind blown lake game this year that was endured.

alcloseshaver wrote:The pit is walking distance from downtown. I appreciate the scenic lake take but this venue will be great and is close to the metro. No chance of the wind blown lake game this year that was endured.

True, but there was also near 100% chance of playing outdoors on good ice up there. Don't suppose that upgrading to an outdoor refrigerated sheet was part of Elk River's proposal?

No artificial ice in the plans, at the mercy of Mother Nature. Using the Mississippi might be a problem since it doesn't freeze over very often at the confluence of the Elk and Mississipi in downtown ER.

Elk River Vs Stillwater Official

alcloseshaver wrote:Elk River Vs Stillwater Official

That's great to hear thanks...who are the other teams?

Where did you see this as official al? Gordie Roberts vs Phil Housley

I heard ER announced it at their end of season banquet.
Rochester Lourdes is one of the 4 teams, not sure who they are playing though. Does anyone have the 4th team?

I heard it was Cloquet vs Rochester Lourdes

Hockey North wrote:I heard it was Cloquet vs Rochester Lourdes

No offense to next years squad, but why Lourdes? Why this year when they could have had a good team any of the last 4 years

Venue and teams come nowhere close to what Grand Rapids did on Pokegama. If ER vs Stillwater is accurate, I can already hear the emphasis being on two former NHL players and not kids/amateur hockey. I'd vote for Hockey Day being played every year up north.

alcloseshaver wrote:Rumor out there that Edina was approached about playing Elk River but Giles is not that interested in it. Would be great to have to ex NHLer's have their teams face off. The venue will be unique and allow for a big crowd. Have the Wild play Pittsburg and bring in Martin and Crosby for an appearance?

Giles is a smart dude. Why risk one of your players getting injured on a sheet of lousy ice? I'm not sure what's harder to believe, that they're playing this game as far south as Elk River, or that this annual farce still takes place. Getting back to our roots, with $500 skates and $300 sticks. Oh boy, I just love nostalgia. More like fauxstalgia.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:Giles is a smart dude. Why risk one of your players getting injured on a sheet of lousy ice? I'm not sure what's harder to believe, that they're playing this game as far south as Elk River, or that this annual farce still takes place. Getting back to our roots, with $500 skates and $300 sticks. Oh boy, I just love nostalgia. More like fauxstalgia.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:

alcloseshaver wrote:Rumor out there that Edina was approached about playing Elk River but Giles is not that interested in it. Would be great to have to ex NHLer's have their teams face off. The venue will be unique and allow for a big crowd. Have the Wild play Pittsburg and bring in Martin and Crosby for an appearance?

Giles is a smart dude. Why risk one of your players getting injured on a sheet of lousy ice? I'm not sure what's harder to believe, that they're playing this game as far south as Elk River, or that this annual farce still takes place. Getting back to our roots, with $500 skates and $300 sticks. Oh boy, I just love nostalgia. More like fauxstalgia.

Oh and Hill Murray with unlimited recruiting and the ability to create super teams are bringing us back to our hockey roots... Oh the irony