Most people may know Minnesota's nickname to be the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". However, in the hockey world, it has a different moniker.
Minnesota is often referred to as the "State of Hockey" in the sporting community. Placed along the Canadian border, Minnesota is known for producing top hockey talent in the states, as well as having a massive fan base for the sport.
While the nickname is well-known among hockey fanatics now, it's only been around for a little over two decades. So what's the history behind the unique nickname?
The Sporting News explains the meaning behind why Minnesota is called the "State of Hockey,"
Why is Minnesota called the 'State of Hockey'?
Minnesota holds the nickname the "State of Hockey" because no one produces hockey players quite like the state does.
Hockey players have been coming out of Minnesota for years, but the moniker was not established until the early 2000s. When the NHL granted the state an expansion team just years after the Stars franchise left for Dallas, the Minnesota club created the term "State of Hockey" as a marketing campaign.
What started off as a catchy slogan to increase fans' interest in the new club took on a form of its own. Now, the "State of Hockey" phrase is more so associated with Minnesota than just the Wild franchise.
And it's a perfect fit, with a number of the great American players hailing from the area.
While the state has just one professional team in the Wild, there are six Division I collegiate programs in the state: Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State, Bemidji State, St. Cloud State and St. Thomas. For six consecutive years, a school from Minnesota has played in the NCAA Tournament championship game.
One of the more underrated parts of Minnesota hockey is at the high school level. The state championship games are held at the Xcel Energy Center, the home of the Wild, every year for all levels. The fan turnout is always impressive, as the state never fails to pack the barn for the high school championships.
NHL players from Minnesota
According to QuantHockey, no state has produced as many NHL players as Minnesota.
There have been 303 players in the NHL from Minnesota. That's nearly 100 more than the next closest state, which is Massachusetts with 216.
In the 2022-23 season, there were 59 Minnesota players that played in at least one NHL game. Michigan had the second-most with 37.
There are plenty of notable names that have come from the state of hockey. Greats like Neal Broten, Phil Housley, David Backes, Jamie Langenbrunner and Dustin Byfuglien were all produced from Minnesota.
Looking at current players, Islanders forwards Zach Parise, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee all hail from the state. Jets forward Blake Wheeler, Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh and Canucks forward Brock Boeser also are natives of Minnesota.
When looking at younger players, Rangers defensemen K'Andre Miller and Ryan Lindgren, and Stars goalie Jake Oettinger were born in the state as well.
