MPD issues safety alert ahead of Gopher appearance at hockey championships

The Minneapolis Police Department is warning residents and business owners near the University of Minnesota campus to prepare for rowdy hockey fans this weekend.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey team is chasing its first NCAA championship since 2003, and police expect big-game excitement and gorgeous spring weather to draw big crowds to Dinkytown and Stadium Village.

“With outside temperatures expected to be in or near the 70s, residents and visitors flock outside to enjoy the vibrant neighborhoods of Dinkytown, Stadium Village and greater Southeast Minneapolis,” 2nd District Crime Prevention Specialist Abdirashid Ali said Thursday. “This is especially true if the Gophers advance to the championship game.”

On Thursday, the Gophers beat Boston University 6-2 in the Frozen Four. They will face the winner of the other semifinal game between Michigan and Quinnipiac on Saturday. It will be the Gophers’ first championship game since 2014.

Ali reminded business owners to review training with their staff on how to deal with disruptive or suspicious activity and avoid serving alcohol to under-21s. He also suggested making sure businesses have adequate security to control the crowd.

MPD also encouraged landlords to monitor rental agreements in noisy gatherings and monitor their properties with staff and security.

Tony’s Diner has been in Dinkytown since 2002. In fact, the day the building was purchased, Gopher mens hockey won it all.

“I got here the next morning and thank God everything was fine. The place didn’t burn down,” said Tony Nicklow, owner of Tony’s Diner.

The team won the championship again the following year. Nicklow remembers that night.

“It was just total mayhem. I’ve never seen anything like it. The kids were going crazy, the fans were going crazy, and it was fun until it wasn’t fun,” he said. “The police came and things got out of hand.”

Junior Carter Jerde sends this message to his fellow students and Gopher men’s hockey fans:

“You can have fun, but don’t just go around breaking up unnecessary stuff,” Jerde said.

Even as the hockey team seeks its sixth championship, Nicklow hopes all fans have a responsibility to celebrate the season.

“Have fun, celebrate, enjoy the moment, but remember this is a home for a lot of people and we want to keep it that way,” Nicklow said.