ST.PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS – The National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild has announced that fans can once again decide which Minnesota city will be named the Capital of the State of Hockey.
Voting began Aug. 29 and will continue throughout the NHL regular season. The winner of the annual Capital of the State of Hockey contest, presented by TRIA Orthopaedic Center, will be announced April 7 when the Wild hosts the Phoenix Coyotes in the team’s final regular-season game. Fans can view the tournament bracket and place their votes by clicking on the State of Hockey link on the home page of www.wild.com.
The competition sets International Falls and 31 other cities from across the state head-to-head in a tournament between the Housley Bracket (metro communities) and the Broten Bracket (non-metro).
Defending champion White Bear Lake, given a bye to the final round, will take on the winner in the championship matchup.
Five new cities join this year’s contest, replacing those that received the fewest votes last year.
Anoka, Burnsville, Minnetonka, Osseo and Roseville make up the rookie competitors, while 2010 champion Roseau – defeated by White Bear Lake in 2011 – returns as well.
The five cities that were eliminated are Alexandria, Genoa, Hallock, Twigg and Silver Bay.
Voting in the opening-round contest between International Falls and Cloquet begins Monday.
The final round of voting between the 2012 winner and 2011 champion White Bear Lake will begin April 2 with the title to be announced April 7.
