32 Backstrom25 Belanger47 Bergeron24 Boogaard96 Bouchard15 brunette8 burns26 foster10 Gaborik29 Harding5 johnsson9 koivu20 miettinen11 nolan2 reitz55 schultz51 Sheppard41 skoula19 Veilleux12 Weller3 Zidlickymajor dates in wild his<strong>to</strong>ryApr. 10, 2003 <strong>Minnesota</strong> defeats Colorado Avalanche,4-2, in its first-ever playoff game. FilipKuba scores first-ever playoff goal andDwayne Roloson backs<strong>to</strong>ps win.Apr. 6, 2003 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> finishes 2002-03 seasonin sixth place in Western Conference witha 42-29-10-1 record and 95 points. Point<strong>to</strong>tal ranks second all-time among thirdyearteams.Apr. 23, 2003 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> qualifies for Stanley CupPlayoffs for first time in franchise his<strong>to</strong>ry.Feb. 6, 2003 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces contract extensionsfor Jacques Lemaire, Mike Ramseyand Mario Tremblay.Jan. 18, 2003 Nick Schultz named <strong>to</strong> Topps/NHL Young-Stars Game.Jan. 16, 2003 Marian Gaborik named <strong>to</strong> Western ConferenceAll-Star Team.Sep. 4, 2003 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> name Tom Lynn AssistantGeneral Manager/Hockey Operations andTom Thompson Assistant General Manager/PlayerPersonnel.Aug. 2, 2002 <strong>Minnesota</strong> Sports & Entertainmentnames Pamela Wheelock Senior VicePresident and Chief Financial Officer.Mar. 11, 2002 Marian Gaborik becomes first <strong>Wild</strong> player<strong>to</strong> be named NHL Player of the Week afterscoring eight points (7-1=8), includinga League-leading seven goals in fourgames.Feb. 1, 2002 Marian Gaborik named <strong>to</strong> Topps/NHLYoungStars Game.Jan. 23, 2002 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> names Barry MacKenzieCoordina<strong>to</strong>r of Player Development.Nov. 8, 2001 Goaltender Dwayne Roloson makes afranchise-record 53 saves as the <strong>Wild</strong>beat the Bruins in Bos<strong>to</strong>n 5-3. The <strong>Wild</strong>does not register a shot on goal in thethird period for the first time in franchisehis<strong>to</strong>ry, while the Bruins take 22 shots.Nov. 4, 2001 One-millionth patron attends <strong>Minnesota</strong><strong>Wild</strong> game.Sep. 28, 2001 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces creation ofthe 10,000 Rinks Foundation, a nonprofi<strong>to</strong>rganization that raises moneyfor youth hockey and other communitygroups.Jul. 13, 2001 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> reaches the 16,000 markin season tickets.May 21, 2001Apr. 8, 2001Mar. 28, 2001Jan. 10, 2001Jan. 8, 2001Jan. 5, 2001Dec. 12, 2000Nov. 26, 2000Nov. 5, 2000Oct. 22, 2000Oct. 11, 2000Oct. 6, 2000<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> names Hous<strong>to</strong>n Aerosprimary developmental affiliate.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> completes inauguralseason, losing <strong>to</strong> Colorado 4-2 at home.Wes Walz scores his seventh short-handedgoal and ninth short-handed point <strong>to</strong>set the individual expansion team record.Manny Fernandez named winner ofthe 2000-01 Pontiac-GMC Star Award.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> establishes an NHL expansionteam attendance record with its39th consecutive sellout against Phoenix.The <strong>Wild</strong> finish the season with 41 consecutiveregular season sellouts, an NHLexpansion team record of 751,452 fansand an average of 18,329 per game.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> increases its homeunbeatenstreak <strong>to</strong> nine games, settingan expansion team record with a 3-0 winagainst Washing<strong>to</strong>n.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> names Thomas SteenHead European Pro Scout.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> extends its unbeatenstreak <strong>to</strong> eight games when Filip Kubascores franchise’s first home OT goal <strong>to</strong>defeat Detroit 3-2.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> ties NHL record for penaltyshots by an expansion team withthree penalty shots in a season. AnttiLaaksonen is unsuccessful in his attemptagainst Patrick Lalime of Ottawa.Antti Laaksonen tallies first-ever hattrick in franchise his<strong>to</strong>ry in a 4-2 homewin against Vancouver.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> notches first-ever roadvic<strong>to</strong>ry, beating Calgary 3-2 on AnttiLaaksonen’s OT goal.Goalie Jamie McLennan records the firstshu<strong>to</strong>ut in team his<strong>to</strong>ry, s<strong>to</strong>pping 24shots in a scoreless tie at home againstFlorida.<strong>Minnesota</strong> makes Xcel Energy Centerregular season debut vs. PhiladelphiaFlyers. Game ends in a 3-3 (OT) tie. DarbyHendrickson scores the first <strong>Wild</strong> goal atXcel Energy Center.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> makes NHL regular seasondebut at Mighty Ducks of Anaheim,losing 3-1. Rookie Marian Gaborik scoresthe first-ever goal in <strong>Wild</strong> his<strong>to</strong>ry in thesecond period.Sep. 29, 2000Sep. 19, 2000major dates in wild his<strong>to</strong>ryFirst-ever hockey game in Xcel EnergyCenter is played as the <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>beat the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 3-1,in a preseason contest.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> plays in first-ever preseasongame vs. San Jose at the RoseGarden in Portland, Oregon. Game endsin 3-3 (OT) tie.Inaugural <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> Training Campbegins for 2000-2001 NHL season.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> names Todd McLellanCleveland Lumberjacks head coach.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces foundingpartnership agreement with Wells Fargo.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces Xcel EnergyCenter enhancements.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> participates in the NHLEntry Draft in Calgary.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> unveils official roadsweater at NHL Entry Draft.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> participates in the NHLExpansion Draft in Calgary.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> names Jacques Lemairefirst-ever head coach.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> and Xcel Energy announcelong-term naming rights partnership;New Saint Paul Arena <strong>to</strong> benamed Xcel Energy Center.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> unveils inaugural seasonlogo.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> wins coin <strong>to</strong>ss, elects <strong>to</strong>choose third overall in NHL Entry Draft.Concrete poured for Xcel Energy Center’sice floor.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces cable partnershipagreement with Fox Sports Net.Parade Ice Garden named inauguraltraining facility for the <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> names Cleveland Lumberjacksof the International HockeyLeague (IHL) primary developmental affiliate.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> signs forward SteveAronson <strong>to</strong> first player contract.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> officially joins the NHL.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> names Tom Lynn Direc<strong>to</strong>rof Hockey Administration and Legal Affairs.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> names Laura Day VicePresident of Corporate Partnerships,148 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 149Sep. 7, 2000Aug.1, 2000Jul. 17, 2000Jul. 6, 2000Jun. 25, 2000Jun. 24, 2000Jun. 23, 2000Jun. 19, 2000Jun. 15, 2000Jun. 12, 2000Jun. 1, 2000May 26, 2000May 18, 2000May 17, 2000May 10, 2000May 4, 2000May 1, 2000Apr. 24, 2000Apr. 21, 2000Steve Griggs Vice President of Cus<strong>to</strong>merSales and Service, Matt Majka Vice Presiden<strong>to</strong>f Marketing and Bill RobertsonVice President of Communications andBroadcasting.Mar. 20, 2000 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> celebrates 12,000th seasonticket.Feb. 29, 2000 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces agreementswith Volume Services America <strong>to</strong> provideall concession food service and with MorrisseyHospitality Companies, Inc. <strong>to</strong> providepremium food service in Xcel EnergyCenter.Feb. 28, 2000 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces agreementwith WCCO Radio (830 AM) as club’s officialflagship radio station.Feb. 10, 2000 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces agreementwith KMSP Fox 9 as the club’s exclusiveover-the-air broadcast partner.Jan. 12, 2000 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces Club LevelSeats sold out in Xcel Energy Center.Fall 1999 Xcel Energy Center enclosed.Nov. 18, 1999 <strong>Minnesota</strong> unveils official <strong>Wild</strong> homesweater at Roseville Skating Center.Nov. 5, 1999 Tod Leiweke named first-ever Team Presiden<strong>to</strong>f <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>.Nov. 1, 1999 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> host “Topping Off” Celebrationat Xcel Energy Center.Sep. 17, 1999 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> purchases his<strong>to</strong>ric <strong>Minnesota</strong>Club building <strong>to</strong> house club’sbusiness offices.Sep. 15, 1999 Tom Thompson named Chief AmateurScout; Guy Lapointe named Coordina<strong>to</strong>rof Amateur Scouting.Sep. 13, 1999 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> hosts U.S. WEST Face-Off ’99 NHL preseason between the NewYork Rangers and the Phoenix Coyotesat Target Center generating $27,500 for<strong>Minnesota</strong> youth hockey programs.Sep. 2, 1999 Doug Risebrough named first-ever ExecutiveVice President/General Managerof <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>.July 15, 1999 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces all 64 suitesfor sale in the Xcel Energy Center are soldout.June 8, 1999 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> unveils Marketing Centerfor premium seating.Mar. 25, 1999 <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> hosts 1999 PattyKazmaier Memorial Award Dinner inSaint Paul.Table of contents Hockey Operations <strong>Wild</strong> THings The Players Team His<strong>to</strong>ry Team Records Playoff His<strong>to</strong>ry The NHL
32 Backstrom25 Belanger47 Bergeron24 Boogaard96 Bouchard15 brunette8 burns26 foster10 Gaborik29 Harding5 johnsson9 koivu20 miettinen11 nolan2 reitz55 schultz51 Sheppard41 skoula19 Veilleux12 Weller3 ZidlickyJan. 5, 1999Oct. 1998Sep. 30, 1998Sep. 24, 1998Jun. 23, 1998Jun. 17, 1998Jun. 1998major dates in wild his<strong>to</strong>ry<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces 26-year partnershipagreement with the <strong>Minnesota</strong>Amateur Sports Commission (MASC). The<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>-MASC partnership marksthe first partnership of its kind betweena private sec<strong>to</strong>r professional sports teamand a public sec<strong>to</strong>r amateur sports organization.Pouring of Xcel Energy Center foundationbegins.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> announces the largestcrowd ever for an NHL preseason gamein the state of <strong>Minnesota</strong> with 18,294tickets sold for U.S. WEST Face-Off ’98,featuring the Phoenix Coyotes vs. DallasStars at Target Center. More than$45,000 donated <strong>to</strong> <strong>Minnesota</strong> youthhockey programs.<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> Grass Roots HockeyInitiative <strong>launch</strong>ed with the naming ofAlana Blahoski, Neal Broten and KarynBye as Grass Roots Hockey advisors.Xcel Energy Center Groundbreaking Ceremonyhosted in Saint Paul.Xcel Energy Center design announced.Saint Paul Civic Center deconstructionbegins.Apr. 10, 1998Jan. 22, 1998Dec. 19, 1997Dec. 3, 1997Nov. 20, 1997Jun. 25, 1997The State of <strong>Minnesota</strong> agrees in legislation<strong>to</strong> fund $65 million of the $130 millionproject costs for Xcel Energy Centerin St. Paul.The new NHL team is officially named the<strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>. The unveiling occurredin front of a sellout crowd at his<strong>to</strong>ric AldrichArena.Jac Sperling named Chief Executive Officerof the <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>.Martha Larson named Chief FinancialOfficer (CFO) of the <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>, becomingthe first female CFO in NHL his<strong>to</strong>ry.Six finalists named for new NHL franchise:<strong>Minnesota</strong> Blue Ox, <strong>Minnesota</strong>Freeze, <strong>Minnesota</strong> Northern Lights,<strong>Minnesota</strong> Voyageurs, <strong>Minnesota</strong> WhiteBears and <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong>.The National Hockey League announcesthat <strong>Minnesota</strong> Hockey Ventures Group,LP has been awarded an expansionfranchise <strong>to</strong> begin play in the 2000-01season.All-time wild accolades and awardsLESTER PATRICK TROPHY(Presented by the NHL and USA Hockey since 1966 <strong>to</strong> honor arecipient’s contribution <strong>to</strong> ice hockey in the U.S.)Bob Naegele, Jr. (2008)Jack Adams Trophy(The NHL coach adjudged <strong>to</strong> have contributed the most <strong>to</strong> histeam’s success.)Jacques Lemaire (2003)Frank J. Selke Trophy(The NHL forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensivecomponent of the game.)Wes Walz (2003 – finalist)william M. jennings award(The NHL goaltender(s) having played a minimum of 25 gamesfor the team with the fewest goals scored against it.)Niklas Backstrom & Manny Fernandez (2007)MBNA ROGER CROZIER SAVING GRACE AWARD(The goaltender having played a minimum of 25 games withthe NHL’s best save percentage)Dwayne Roloson (2004)Niklas Backstrom (2007)NHL All-StarsMarian Gaborik (2003)Filip Kuba (2004)Dwayne Roloson (2004)Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n (2007)Marian Gaborik (2008)NHL All-Star AwardsMarian Gaborik (2003 – Fastest Skater)Marian Gaborik (2003 – Second Star)NHL youngstarsMarian Gaborik (2002)Nick Schultz (2003)Pierre-Marc Bouchard (2004)Olympians2006Marian Gaborik; SlovakiaMikko Koivu; Finland (silver)Filip Kuba; Czech Republic (bronze)Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n; USADaniel Tjarnqvist; Sweden (gold)nhl three stars of the weekPlayers of the WeekMarian Gaborik (10/21/02)Marian Gaborik (3/4/02)Dwayne Roloson (12/15/03)Manny Fernandez (12/26/05)Niklas Backstrom (First Star – 12/19/06)Niklas Backstrom (Third Star – 12/2/07)Marian Gaborik (First Star – 12/23/07)Marian Gaborik (First Star – 1/13/08)150 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 151Table of contents Hockey Operations <strong>Wild</strong> THings The Players Team His<strong>to</strong>ry Team Records Playoff His<strong>to</strong>ry The NHL
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