Just a few days ago, thousands of youth players traveled to locations all over the United States to participate in hockey tournaments during what annually has become the nation’s busiest hockey weekend of the year. This week, the place where hockey is such a big deal that it has become known as the State of Hockey gets to celebrate the sport the way only its residents can. 

That’s right, it’s that time of year again.

Saturday, Jan. 25, officially is Hockey Day Minnesota 2025, but in a state where hockey is king, one day simply does not provide enough time for residents to properly give the sport its due. While there will be a full day of hockey games and other related activities Jan. 25 on Hockey Day Minnesota, this year’s 19^th annual celebration in Shakopee, Minn., really got underway on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The 2025 celebration is being held at Valleyfair, an amusement park featuring 75 different rides and attractions located about a 30-mile drive from where the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild play at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. And while the official Hockey Day Minnesota celebration Jan. 25 will be covered live throughout the day by FanDuel Sports Network North, the puck really dropped on this year’s festivities Jan. 22 at 3:30 p.m. CST as host Shakopee High School took on Brainerd in a junior varsity girls game played on an outdoor rink built specifically for Hockey Day Minnesota.

That was the first of 19 games to be played on the Valleyfair outdoor rink in a span of four days. Games include youth teams with girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 14, high school matchups, a women’s NCAA Division I contest and an alumni game featuring former Minnesota college hockey players. Three games were played Wednesday, three more are slated for Thursday, six are planned for Friday and the event culminates Saturday with seven contests.

Saturday’s slate includes a women’s college game in which the University of Minnesota takes on Bemidji State at 11:30 a.m. CST as well as the day’s featured high school varsity boys contest between Shakopee and Maple Grove at 2:30 p.m. Hockey Day Minnesota’s opening ceremonies will immediately precede that contest.

FanDuel Sports Network’s coverage of Hockey Day Minnesota culminates Saturday with an NHL game between the Wild and Calgary Flames from Xcel Energy Center at 6 p.m. Central. The network is providing 16 hours of Hockey Day Minnesota coverage, including three live outdoor games and the Wild-Flames contest. In addition, the regional sports network will show highlights of the other games played during the event while incorporating coverage of other outdoor activities taking place at Valleyfair throughout the day. 

 

The FanDuel North broadcast schedule for the day is as follows: 

8:00 a.m.    Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 kickoff programming

8:30 a.m.    Eden Prairie HS vs. Hibbing HS (boys)

11:30 a.m.  University of Minnesota vs. Bemidji State (women)

2:30 p.m.    Shakopee HS vs. Maple Grove HS (boys)

5:30 p.m.    Wild Live Pregame

6:00 p.m.    Wild vs. Flames

 

The entire Valleyfair venue has been reconfigured and decorated for the Hockey Day in Minnesota celebration. There is an outdoor rink, complete with seating, a VIP tent, player locker room  and a temporary event operations work spaces. Bonfires are located throughout the park to provide opportunities for spectators to warm up outside, and the Mystic Lake Warming House allows attendees to head indoors to dodge the elements and possibly enjoy some of the music that will be provided by DJs and live bands each evening.

There also are exhibitor areas, merchandise stands, an area featuring antique automobiles, food trucks and a Minnesota Wild fan zone.

Hockey Day Minnesota was created in 2007 by the Minnesota Wild to celebrate the game that has helped Minnesota become known as the State of Hockey. The event is held in partnership with FanDuel Sports Network North, Minnesota Hockey and the local host community. All proceeds from the event go to youth and high school hockey programs in Shakopee.

Previous host locations have included Baudette Bay (2007, 2008), Phalen Park (2009), Hermantown (2010), Moorhead (2011), Minnetonka (2012), Grand Rapids (2013), Elk River (2014), St. Paul (2015), Duluth (2016), Stillwater (2017), St. Cloud (2018), Bemidji (2019), Minneapolis (2020), Guidant John Rose MN Oval (2021), Mankato (2022), White Bear (2023) and Warroard (2024).

This year, United Health Care is back as the Hockey Day Minnesota presenting sponsor.

“We are honored to return as the presenting sponsor of Hockey Day Minnesota,” said Brett Edelson, chief executive officer, UnitedHealthcare of Minnesota. “Nothing unites our state quite like hockey, and we look forward to celebrating a day that promotes physical activity and wellness of the community.” 

CLICK HERE for the Hockey Day Minnesota informational website. 

We are very excited to celebrate Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 in Shakopee,” Minnesota Wild CEO Matt Majka said in a release. “Combining the thrill of Valleyfair and the thrill of Hockey Day Minnesota will create a memorable day for everyone involved.”

This year’s slate of game features a variety of teams, age groups and levels of play. The varsity high school boys contests Saturday include Shakopee (13-5-1), ranked 10^th in our latest MHR Minnesota AA High School Rankings, taking on No. 16 Maple Grove (9-6-1), and 15^th-ranked Eden Prairie (8-7-2) facing off against Hibbing (12-10-0), which is ninth in the Minnesota A Rankings.

On Wednesday, Rosemount (18-2-0), the No. 9 Minnesota Boys AA team, took on 40^th-ranked Eastview (8-8-0), while the Rosemount girls (14-7-0), No. 12 in the Girls AA rankings, faced No. 21 Lakeville North (10-8-1).

Thursday is Girls Day at Valleyfair, with three varsity high school matchups, including AA No. 24 Northfield (11-8-2) vs. No. 2 A Orono (13-5-3), No. 22 AA Prior Lake (13-8-1) facing No. 17 Eden Prairie (9-13-0) and No. 32 Shakopee taking on No. 39 Brainerd (6-13-3).

Friday’s high school slate features fifth-ranked Boys A Orono (9-7-2) vs. seventh-ranked Delano (8-9-0) and No. 19 Lakeville South (9-8-0) against No. 34 Prior Lake (7-9-2)

In addition, the third-ranked University of Minnesota women take on Bemidji State Saturday morning. Other games Saturday include Shakopee Bantam AA, ranked 12^th in the Week 18 MHR Minn-Kota Boys AA Rankings, playing No. 23 Eagan, and No. 32 Shakopee Bantam A facing off against No. 53 Blaine. On Friday, 10^th-ranked Shakopee Peewee A plays 20^th-ranked Orono.

“We are thrilled about the matchups and expect competitive hockey being played throughout the weekend here at one of Minnesota’s most iconic locations,” Stacey Langemo, Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 Chair, said when announcing the matchups.

Here is the complete daily schedule for this year’s festivities:

 

Hockey Day Minnesota Daily Schedule

Wednesday – Open from 2:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. CST

Games:

Shakopee vs. Brainerd (junior varsity girls, 3:30 p.m.) 

Lakeville North vs. Rosemount (varsity girls, 5:30 p.m.)

Eastview vs. Rosemount (varsity boys, 7:30 p.m.)

 

Entertainment:

8 p.m. AJ the DJ in the Warming House

 

Thursday (Girls Day) – Open from 2:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. CST

Games:

Northfield vs. Orono (girls varsity, 3:30 p.m.)

Prior Lake vs. Eden Prairie (girls varsity, 5:30 p.m.)

Shakopee vs. Brainerd (girls varsity, 7:30 p.m.)

 

Entertainment:

8 p.m. IV Play live music in Warming House

  

Friday – Open from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CST

Games:

Shakopee vs. Alexandrea (youth girls 10U “A,” 11:30 a.m.)

Shakopee vs. Orono (youth boys PW “A,” 1:00 p.m.)

Orono vs. Delano (varsity boys, 3:30 p.m.)

University of Minnesota Alumni vs. Collegiate Alumni (5:30 p.m.)

Lakeville South vs. Prior Lake (varsity boys, 7:30 p.m.)

Shakopee Black vs. Prior Lake Gold (youth boys, Bantam “B,” 9:30 p.m.)

  

Mental Health & Addiction in Sports: A Conversation with Minnesota Hockey Greats

11:30 a.m. at Shakopee High School Auditorium

 

Entertainment:

8 p.m. Jake Nelson Music in Warming House

 

Saturday (Hockey Day Minnesota) – Open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CST

Games:

Eden Prairie vs. Hibbing (varsity boys), 8:30 a.m. 

University of Minnesota vs. Bemidji State (women, 11:30 a.m.)

Shakopee vs. Maple Grove (boys varsity, 2:30 p.m.) 

Shakopee vs. Maple Grove (boys junior varsity, 5:00 p.m.) 

Minnesota Wild vs. Calgary Flames (6 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center)

Shakopee vs. Eagan (youth boys, Bantam “AA,” 7:15 p.m.)

Shakopee vs. Blaine (youth boys, Bantam “A,” 9:00 p.m.)

 

Opening Ceremonies: 2:15 p.m.

 

Entertainment:

8 p.m. BG Leighton Music in Warming House

 

Ticket Information

Tickets for Hockey Day Minnesota must be purchased online. Fans can buy daily passes or passes for up to four days.

 

Parking Information

There is parking on site at the Valleyfair and Route 76 Area for $25. Parking must be purchased in advance. Free parking with shuttle service also is available at Mystic Lake Casino, while parking with a $6 shuttle ride is available at Eden Prairie Southwest Transit Station.