North Stars, Wild Alumni Hold First Practice Before Stadium Series
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Part of outdoor hockey for the Minnesota Wild next month is a bonus feature.
The Wild and North Star alums against the Blackhawks alums as part of the 2016 NHL Stadium Series. That means it's time to get back in playing shape. Mike Max was at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday for the team's first official practice.
Want to feel old? This is Neal Broten's grandson, Max, skating at Xcel Energy Center. He was there with grandpa and other North Star and Wild alumni in preparation for the outdoor alumni game next month.
"I always said when I was playing pro I wanted to play at about 192 (pounds). I played at about 170 and now I'm about 192 so I'm going to see what it feels like," Broten said.
And this is an opportunity to go back in time. To relive Met Center and Chicago Stadium, when the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota North Stars used to get together, many times in the NHL Playoffs.
The opponent: The Chicago Blackhawks alumni, which brings back memories of Glen Sonmor going after a fan at Chicago Stadium. Incidents that once seemed common in the era are now just good memories.
"It was fun and you know it grew. When I first came in in 1977 it was pretty good, but then as years progressed, so did the rivalry," Brad Maxwell said.
And this time, this group will be coached by Lou Nanne and Tom Reid.
"We did just eat the other night at the St. Paul Pool and Yacht Club so that was on our agenda. That was on our agenda, one of the first stops, so that was important," Reed Larson said.
The site: TCF Bank Stadium, which means another cold front could come in. And for this group, let's just say the stakes are not so high. The goals have been reduced.
"Don't get hurt is the No. 1 goal. Don't land on my head or something or go to the hospital at 3 o'clock. But it should be fun. We'll let the puck do the work, we'll pass the puck. Everybody knows how to play so it'll be awesome," Broten said.
