Hockey Day Minnesota Bemidji 2019 Announcement Ceremony Sunday, July 1 at 11 a.m. at Lake Bemidji Waterfront

(Bemidji, MN May 29, 2018)- The Hockey Day Minnesota – Bemidji 2019 Announcement Ceremony will be held on Sunday, July 1 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lake Bemidji Waterfront. Representatives of the Minnesota Wild, Fox Sports North, and the teams will be on hand as the date and participating teams for Hockey Day Minnesota Bemidji 2019 are revealed. All are welcome.

The announcement ceremony will be preceded by a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser from 8-10:30 a.m. in the Bemidji Jaycees Water Carnival Tent also at the Lake Bemidji Waterfront. Cost is $8 per person with children 5 & under free. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee. All proceeds go to Bemidji High School (BHS) Girls Hockey. Tickets are available from any BHS Girls Hockey player or at the door. Games and activities will also be held during the fundraiser.

Following the announcement ceremony, Minnesota Wild's mascot, Nordy, will be the Grand Marshall of the Bemidji Jaycees Water Carnival parade at 1 p.m. and he will be joined in the parade by representatives from the participating teams and the Hockey Day Minnesota Bemidji local organizing committee.

According to the Minnesota Wild, Nordy is A WILD animal born in the north woods of the Iron Range, Nordy was found skating the frozen lakes and ponds near Eveleth, MN. While no one truly knew what sort of Wild animal he is, it was clear that Nordy encompassed the true spirit of the Wild. So in 2008, Nordy proudly accepted the offer to become the mascot for the Minnesota Wild. He stays true to his "up north-y" roots but has moved into his own lair at Xcel Energy Center so he can be closer to his favorite hockey team. Nordy wears the number 18,001 to represent his place as a member of The Team of 18,000. To date, he has the largest number ever allowed on an NHL jersey! Nordy lives for hockey and is one of the last players to still sport his "hockey hair" mullet. He loves to visit kids and get high fives but be careful...he can be a rascal and play jokes on anybody!

Hockey Day Minnesota Bemidji 2019 is made possible in part by the support of local business sponsors including local title sponsor Sanford Health, Emerald Sponsor Ottertail Power, Diamond sponsors Kraus Anderson Construction, Neilson Foundation, and Paul Bunyan Communications, Platinum sponsors Edgewater Group, Bemidji Chrysler Center, Norbord, Dondelinger GM, Flat-Crete, TransCanada, Gold sponsors JC Custom Welding, Wells Technology, Media sponsors Bemidji Pioneer, R.P. Broadcasting, Lakeland PBS, Buyline, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, PBTV, Coyote 102.5 FM, Silver sponsors Amity Graphics, VisitBemidji, Arrow Printing, MJ Architectural, Bronze sponsor Krigbaum and Jones, David Eichstadt, and Supporter sponsor Bank Forward. If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact Tracy Pogue at (218) 766-6625.

Hockey Day Minnesota originated in 2007 by the Minnesota Wild to celebrate the game that has made Minnesota the State of Hockey. Bemidji's festivities will be part of a day-long television event broadcast on FOX Sports North, designed as a celebration of the game from peewees to pros. It is produced in partnership with FOX Sports North, Minnesota Hockey and the respective local community that serves as host each year. Previous locations include Baudette Bay (2007, 2008), Phalen Park (2009), Hermantown (2010), Moorhead (2011), Minnetonka (2012), Grand Rapids (2013), Elk River (2014), St. Paul (2015), Duluth (2016), Stillwater (2017), and St. Cloud (2018). For more information, visit http://www.wild.com/hockeyday