SAINT PAUL, Minn.- The National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild, in conjunction with the Xcel Energy Center, the Minnesota State High School League, the Minnesota Boys and Girls High School Hockey Coaches Associations and the State of Hockey, today unveiledThe Eveleth Trophy, a traveling trophy that will be shared by the four Minnesota High School Hockey State Champions starting this year.
The Eveleth Golden Bears won the first-ever Minnesota state high school hockey championship in 1945. The original trophy won by the Golden Bears has been proudly displayed at the historic Eveleth Hippodrome since that first championship nearly 75 years ago. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Girls' Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament and the 75th anniversary of the Boys' Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, Eveleth's original championship trophy will once again be hoisted in 2019 and every year moving forward by Minnesota's best in high school hockey. Now named The Eveleth Trophy, the trophy has been redesigned by Jostens and will become a traveling trophy to be shared by the four Minnesota High School Hockey State Champions each year. Each of the four championship teams will have the opportunity to celebrate with the trophy in their respective communities in the spring or summer, similar to The Stanley Cup.
"The Wild is proud to work alongside our partners to resurrect and celebrate the trophy that started what has become a rich and extraordinary tradition - the girls and boys state high school hockey tournaments," said Minnesota Wild President Matt Majka. "The Eveleth Trophy connects the past to the future and honors the tournament's humble beginnings."
Representatives from the Minnesota Boys and Girls High School Hockey Coaches Association, the Minnesota State High School League, Eveleth-Gilbert High School, the Minnesota Wild, the State of Hockey and Jostens worked together to createThe Eveleth Trophy.
The 2019 Minnesota Girls' State High School Hockey tournament will be held at Xcel Energy Center and TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center, Feb. 20-23. The Wild is hosting a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the tournament tonight against the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports North and KFAN 100.3 FM:
- Members of the Minnesota Whitecaps will sign autographs for fans from 5:45 to 7 p.m. at Section 210
- Jennifer Ginkel, who scored the first goal in the first-ever girls' hockey tournament from Stillwater High School, will participate in This Is Our Ice.
- Jen Jannett, the winning goalie for Apple Valley High School in the first-ever girls' hockey tournament, will announce Let's Play Hockey.
- Natalie Darwitz will be interviewed during the game on Wild Vision.
The 2019 Minnesota Boys' State High School Hockey Tournament will be held at Xcel Energy Center and 3M Arena at Mariucci, March 6-9. The Wild will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the tournament on Sunday, March 3 when it hosts the Nashville Predators at 6:30 p.m. on NBCSN and KFAN 100.3 FM.The Eveleth Trophywill be on display at Gate 4 and Lou Nanne and Willard Ikola will be on hand as part of the 75th anniversary celebration.
"For years, Jostens has had the tradition and honor of celebrating champions at the highest levels of competition," said Chris Poitras, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the company's college and professional sports divisions. "This new high school hockey trophy is a great way to recognize championship performance at all levels, on and off the ice."