Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild are an NHL hockey team from St. Paul, Minnesota. Their gritty physicality and strong off-ice personalities have made them a popular team nationwide. One of the newest teams in the league, the Wild have developed a reputation as a rowdy, tough team to play against.¹

The Wild have used goal songs like Crowd Chant and Shout.² Since 2017, the team has encouraged fans to bring water from local ponds and lakes that serve as hockey ice in the winter. The tradition, called “This Is Our Ice,” involves pouring the water onto the rink at the Wild’s home venue of Grand Casino Arena, adding it to the surface of the ice.³

Visit AXS to get your Minnesota Wild tickets and see the team live.

The Minnesota Wild’s first season was in 2000, after their founding in 1997. They were the first team from Minnesota since the North Stars became the Dallas Stars in 1993. To honor their predecessors, the Wild logo incorporates the North Star.⁴

The Wild’s mascot is Nordy, an unspecified “wild animal” resembling a mix between a wolf, a bear, and a big cat. Nordy’s first appearance was in 2008.⁵

While the Wild have never won a championship, they have had some impressive seasons, with two 5th-place finishes. The team has made it to the second round of the playoffs twice.⁶

The Minnesota Wild’s home venue is Grand Casino Arena, formerly Xcel Energy Center, in St. Paul, MN. The arena opened in 2000 after an estimated $170 million construction project. The first event held at the arena was a match between the Wild and the Anaheim Ducks, which the Wild won 3-1.

At 650,000 square feet, the arena seats over 20,000 visitors. The highest recorded concert crowd was in 2003 when Shania Twain performed for an audience of 20,554. In addition to floor-level seating, the arena offers a suite level, a club level, and a press box level.⁷

Get hockey tickets at AXS to experience this impressive venue in person.

Although the Wild have not earned any of the NHL trophies as a team, several players have won individual awards for their achievements. The team’s awards have been for accomplishments both on and off the ice, including good character as well as hockey playing.⁸

Some of the team’s standout award winners include:

• Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy (2013, 2015): Devan Dubnyk and Josh Harding were recognized with this award for sportsmanship, perseverance, and dedication to the sport.⁹
• William M. Jennings Trophy (2007): Goaltenders Niklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez won the trophy for the Wild, having the fewest goals scored against them in the 2006-2007 season.¹⁰
• King Clancy Memorial Trophy (2019, 2020): Mathew Dumba and Jason Zucker earned this award for embodying leadership and making humanitarian contributions in their community.¹¹

The NHL hockey season lasts about 8-9 months, running from the preseason in September to the finals in June. During the offseason, teams trade players and prepare for the next season’s draft.

Score your hockey tickets at AXS to see the Minnesota Wild demonstrate their grit and determination on the rink.

Sources:

1. The Wild Have Become the People's Team - Hockey Wilderness
2. Minnesota Wild Goal Songs - Hockey Goal Songs
3. Wild Unveils New 'This Is Our Ice' Tradition - NHL
4. Minnesota Wild - EBSCO
5. Nordy - NHL
6. Minnesota Wild Season by Season Record - NHL Records
7. Guest Services - Grand Casino Arena
8. Player Awards - NHL Records
9. NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Winners - NHL
10. NHL William M. Jennings Trophy Winners - NHL
11. NHL King Clancy Memorial Trophy Winners - NHL
12. Minnesota Wild - Know Rivalry