The Minnesota Mullets and Steele County Blades will hit the ice in the clean, cold winter air of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, on January 12, 2025. They will compete at the St. Louis Park Recreation Outdoor Center, an outdoor rink with a roof over the ice surface and stands to protect the rink from the elements. This marks the second time since 2022 that the Mullets and Blades have played in an outdoor game, as they also played that year as part of the overall Hockey Day Minnesota festivities.
Hockey, of course, started as an outdoor sport and the Mullets and Blades – both members of the USPHL Premier’s North Division – are looking forward to continuing that tradition, sub-freezing temperatures be darned. This will not only be a fun opportunity to get back to the game’s roots for the players, but also for NCAA, AAU and ACHA scouts to see a pair of teams with several skilled players ready to bring their talents to the college hockey game in 2025-26 or beyond. The USPHL Premier saw more than 250 NCAA, ACHA and AAU college commitments from their 2024-25 players, while also seeing more than 10 Premier alumni making NCAA Division I commitments.
“I’m very excited to get back outdoors in an incredible facility and with a great organization in the Steele County Blades. We played a few years back during Hockey Day Minnesota and it was an amazing experience for the players, their parents, the coaches and each organization’s staff, fan base and community. It’s going to be an awesome day,” said Mullets Owner, General Manager and Head Coach Chris Walby, whose team typically plays at Augsburg Ice Arena, also home to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s Augsburg University.
The Blades, who regularly play in Owatonna, Minn., at the Steele County Four Seasons Centre, are also excited for the chance to feel the midwinter chill on their faces as they fly around the ROC ice.
“We couldn’t be more excited to revisit our outdoor series with the Mullets. Coach Walby has been working tirelessly to find the perfect venue to host us and has done so with the St. Louis Park Recreation Outdoor Center,” said Nick Adamek, General Manager and Head Coach of the Blades. “Hockey Day Minnesota was such a blast and we look forward to allowing our players, staff, and fans the opportunity to experience it all over again. Roll Blades!”
Minnesota Mullets: For information on player opportunities, please contact Chris Walby at [email protected] or call 608-354-1735. Also visit the website MulletsHockey.com.
Steele County Blades: For information on player opportunities, please contact Nick Adamek at [email protected] or call 651-398-1370. Also visit the website SCBladesHockey.com.
