Minnesota Wild Asking Fans To Contribute To Ice At Xcel Energy Center

The Minnesota Wild are asking their friends for a hand, well, more specifically some water. As part of the NHL team’s new “This is Our Ice” campaign, fans are encouraged to collect water from their local lakes and ponds to be combined as part of the ice sheet at the Xcel Energy Center ahead of the 2017/18 season.

Fans are invited to “Flood the Rink” on Sept. 16 by bringing their collected water in portable containers (maximum of three ounces) and placed in a Zamboni located outside Gate 1 from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The collected fan water will then be filtered the following day to help create the ice in preparation for the upcoming NHL season.

“Every winter, when our ponds and lakes freeze over, a rebirth happens as we embrace the frozen beauty of our state,” Wild President Matt Majka said in a release. “Lake bays become our hockey home, and everywhere you turn, kids young and old play pick-up hockey. That’s what ‘This Is Our Ice’ is all about — inviting fans throughout the State of Hockey to bring a piece of their hometown hockey heritage to our arena.”

A limited number of containers will be provided to fans each day at Wild booth during the Minnesota State Fair from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4. Wild season ticket holders will receive containers by mail.

Prior to the 2017/18 home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Wild will hold a special ceremony highlighting the “This is Our Ice” campaign.

“Growing up playing hockey in Minnesota, I felt a sense of camaraderie that I believe is unique to this state,” Wild forward Zach Parise said in a release. “It’s not just hockey players who are a part of the game. It’s every Minnesotan who has picked up a stick. It’s our families, friends and communities. That’s what This Is Our Ice means to me — the feeling that we are all contributing to the legacy of hockey in Minnesota.”

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Michael LoRé

Sports Editor

Michael has been obsessed with sports since he started playing recreationally when he was 5 years old. Realizing he couldn't make it as a professional athlete and was a decent enough writer, the lightbulb went off: sports journalist. After honing his craft at the University of Delaware, Michael has covered anything and everything from scholastic field hockey to the World Series. Born and raised in New Jersey, Michael now lives in New York City, having worked most recently for New York City FC and the NHL. His favorite sport is soccer.