Minnesota Wild Surprise Rochester Mustangs in Youth Hockey Spotlight Game

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) It was a night the Rochester Mustangs will never forget.

Graham Arena was packed with families and fans as the Minnesota Wild presented the Peewee Teams matchup against Waseca as the Youth Hockey Spotlight Game.

This is the Wild’s sixth season of these games as they look to grow and promote the game in Minnesota by bringing NHL experience to youth teams. The players’ locker rooms were decorated with name tags, they had jerseys to wear during the game and more gifts to make them feel like professionals.

Totally surreal moment, just trying to take it all in. “It was so amazing to walk through those doors, everyone was there, to come into the locker room and see all this oh so much fun,” Aiden Hookey said.

Along with decorations, the Wild brought mascot Nordy, national anthem singer John deCausmeaker, PA announcer Jim Carroll, and honorary coaches former Wild players Wes Walz and Stephane Veilleux.

To walk in the locker room and see their nameplates with their names on them and just all the bells and whistles that go with that, I mean win or lose, it doesn’t matter. “It’s a night these kids will never forget,” Wes Walz said.

A Chuck-a-Puck was also held, with proceeds shared between the Rochester and Waseca Youth Hockey Associations.

For a local connection, Dan and Jen OHara announced the Lets Play Hockey!

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