Tentatively arriving in the spring of 2028: the new Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame.
This hall of fame is not to be confused with the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth. This one is strictly all about Minnesota, says Chief Executive Officer Natalie Darwitz.
"Generations are gonna be brought together and stories are gonna be told every inch of the state," says Darwitz. "Every community has a story to tell and important people that paved the path forward in in the sport of hockey that we're excited to highlight, and grow the game here."
Darwitz was a high school star at Eagan and collegiately with the Gophers. She's also a three-time U.S. Olympian and Hockey Hall of Fame member, so her hockey credentials run deep in the "State of Hockey."
She says the Hall will serve as both a permanent tribute to Minnesota’s deep hockey roots and a dynamic hub for community connection, education and inspiration. According to Darwitz, this place will give you chills.
"I feel like the bar to follow is the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and how they've done things," she says. "And how it's not just, you know, four walls and a bunch of plaques. You go in there and you get goosebumps, you get inspired. We're gonna look to do the same thing."
It'll go beyond just featuring the state's greatest hockey names - there's going to be an an indoor and outdoor ice rink.
But the bigger point for organizers is Minnesota has such a rich history of hockey, that it needs its own Hall of Fame.
At the official launch of the project on Thursday, organizers said that, tentatively, it will arrive in the spring of 2028 with a groundbreaking in June of 2026.
"There's so many legends and so many iconic figures in Minnesota," Darwitz adds. "There's so many people behind the scenes that we're looking forward to highlighting and sharing their story. You know, we want Minnesotans to be proud of this Hall of Fame and to feel a part of it. And to feel valued and have their voice be heard too."
They can't divulge the location just yet, according to Darwitz, but it will be somewhere in the metro area.
“This project is long overdue, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting announcement,” said Minensota's resident hockey legend Lou Nanne. “In my decades-long career in the game of hockey, I think I will know nearly every single individual who will be honored here. It’s an incredible way to recognize the people and stories that make Minnesota hockey so unique and deserving of this kind of permanent home.”
Beyond preserving history, the Hall will focus on growing the game through grassroots development programs, traveling exhibits, youth education initiatives and an Ambassador Program projected to feature 250+ Minnesota-born or developed individuals over the next 12-months.
