What is the USA Special Hockey Classic? - A fun fall hockey festival hosted by USA Hockey in a different city each year. Teams come from across the country for a weekend of hockey games, social, and fun activities.  

Who is participating? - This event is optional for MSH players and volunteers to participate. We will create skill level based teams by who registers to play. Other special hockey teams from around the country will be attending also!

When is the event? - November 15-17, 2024. The game schedule will be released at a later date.

Where is the event? - Super Rink, Blaine, MN

What activities will there be? - Saturday evening social event.  Players are free!  Others can purchase tickets to get in.  There will be a taco bar, music, games, photo booth and the Wild game on the big screen.

Minnesota Hockey is working on volunteers. 

More information is here:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44ADA82DA0F85-52723846-minnesota

The MSH Teams are listed below.  USA Hockey labels Tier 1 (A) as Cheetahs, Tier 2 (B) as Tigers and Tier 3 (C) as Lions.

The schedule is also listed below.  It is not how we expected.  More games are on Friday than on Saturday. 

Team Check in:

• Check in will begin for teams at 0700 on Friday, November 14th. 
• Enter the National Sports Center Rink main doors and walk up the stairs to the second level (there is an elevator to the left of the entrance if needed). The check in table will be at the top of the stairs. 
• Please have 1 person check in for your entire team. They will receive the swag bags for the team and tickets for the social. Arena monitors will have the schedule of the games and locker room assignments for the weekend.

Equipment storage:  There will not be equipment storage at this event. Players will be expected to take their gear with them after their games.

Wild games:  The Minnesota Wild will be playing games on Thursday, November 13th and Saturday, November 15th. If anyone is interested in attending, links to pre-sale tickets can be found here.

https://am.ticketmaster.com/wild/promotional-page?id=ODY5

Program:  Our program is digital and online!  You can find it by scanning the QR code found around the arena.

Saturday Night Social:  The social will take place on Saturday night from 5p to 9p. All rostered players, coaches and managers will receive a free meal ticket at registration. Tickets will be required and extra tickets for friends and families are available for purchase; $15 in advance (see link below), $20 at the event. Kids under 3 eat free.

• Dinner will be served from 5p; to 7:30p: Taco Bar
• Cash bar will be available (beer, wine and seltzer)
• Dress like a MN WILD player. Photo op with gear and backdrop for fun photos!
• DJ and dancing to begin at 6p
• Quiet areas will be available for those needing to take a “sensory break”.
• WILD game will be on at the event
• Games, games, games (cornhole/bags)

Advance social event ticket sales:  To purchase Extra social event tickets in advance, please use the following link:  https://minnesotahockey.sportngin.com/register/form/480736982

Apparel:  Apparel for the event will be onsite and available to purchase

Photos:  Photographers will be onsite on Saturday and will get action pics. They will be uploaded to a drop box that will be shared with each team after the event. Team photos can be taken on the ice on Sunday after each team's last game.

Volunteers:  Volunteers will be there all weekend and can be identified by the red shirts. Need something? Look for a volunteer.

Rink map:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16notFTLlj4zpQq_L6seRwUm_x89TZ9Cb/view?usp=sharing

Looking for fun things to do while you are here. https://www.minneapolis.org/calendar/

Certified Coach and Team Managers have been assigned specific teams, but this does not have to always be the case.  We will need help from everyone to make this event successful for all.  If you see a team needing some help in the locker room, on the bench or the ice, please don't hesitate to step in and help!

If you take a close look at this schedule MN Special Hockey is participating in almost every scheduled game at this festival.  Because of that MSH Leadership would appreciate as much help as possible.  Luckily all the games are on Rink 1 and 2.  Please communicate with the MSH Leadership on when and where you can help!

Please use this links to indicate whether or not you will be attending your teams games.  If we are short players (especially goalies), we may ask someone else to step in to help.  We also want to make sure we have enough Coaches for each game.  There are some overlaps, so we may need need all the help we can get on the benches!

Polars:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r9yLFnjPBo9fQ4iGNqVGnqWLiu8Ea8lfEZ596JkXZI0/edit?usp=sharing

Stingers:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tBEIqxfz451EruAujpTaH3y5x637J5XSn5VnmRt_9Yg/edit?usp=sharing

Rams:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JqbpVttR7IViPBqAF9dgTTtPn3q0ZPYy_XkUsJnCedU/edit?usp=sharing

Eagles:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mNds35v-QlNxAbXJF38-QCCGmGs9XNJ-eurHxA85oUs/edit?usp=sharing

Wildcats:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1edUACrya34LRGv7KA3HeMbFD8o2bamn81Q7J3WzwEt8/edit?usp=sharing

Raptors:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1asuoGHii3uzW2kX6Bvw3DfVVjpSqFghbPgb4T-ErQUM/edit?usp=sharing

Muskies:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NHrPWC8pBVUspP9Rd2B_pX6cvbXcgctPFmB1DQ5o0XI/edit?usp=sharing