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

(Bemidji, MN June 21, 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. All are welcome.

Fox Sports North's (FSN) Kevin Gorg will be the Master of Ceremonies and will interview representatives from the Minnesota Wild, local dignitaries, and participating coaches. The Wild's mascot, Nordy, will be on hand to entertain the crowd, along with other local mascots. Each of the ten participating teams will have players present in team jerseys to add to the excitement. The Bemidji High School Marching Band will provide musical entertainment, including a performance of the Wild's State of Hockey Anthem!

Help "Pack the Plaza" in front of Paul & Babe for the announcement. Fans are encouraged to wear Bemidji jerseys, Bemidji spirit wear, or Bemidji colors to the announcement ceremony which will be live streamed on FOX Sports North's Facebook, Twitter and Youtube channels and shown during the networks Twins broadcast starting at 1:00pm.

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. The first official Hockey Day Minnesota Bemidji merchandise will also be on sale.

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 FOX Sports North's Kevin Gorg and representatives from the participating teams and the Hockey Day Minnesota Bemidji local organizing committee.

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, Affinity Federal Credit Union, City of Bemidji, Coca-Cola of Bemidji, Ross Lewis Sign Company, Gold sponsors JC Custom Welding, First National Bank Bemidji, Marco, Media sponsors Bemidji Pioneer, R.P. Broadcasting, Lakeland PBS, Buyline, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, PBTV, Coyote 102.5 FM, Silver sponsors Amity Graphics, VisitBemidji, Widseth Smith Nolting, Arrow Printing, MJ Architectural, Bemidji Dental, Country Inn and Suites Bemidji, Dick's Plumbing & Heating, Bronze sponsor Krigbaum and Jones, Ben Brovold, Tru-Star Federal Credit Union 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

Kevin Gorg, reporter for Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Twins telecasts, has been with FOX Sports North since 2003.

Gorg has been behind the mic for many memorable sports moments on FOX Sports North, conducting postgame interviews after the Minnesota's Wild's dramatic win in game seven of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Colorado in 2014 and in Detroit after Jim Thome hit his 600th home run in a Twins uniform, to name a few. He is also part of the team that helped develop and grow the network's popular "Hockey Day Minnesota" television event, and has served as an analyst for many of the televised outdoor games since the event was established in 2007.

A Minnesota native, Gorg attended Burnsville High School where he played goalie for the 1985 state champion hockey team. He went on to play at the University of St Thomas and in the USHL minor league. He has been an active as a coach in the community since 1993 and served as head coach for the University of St. Thomas Women's team from 1998-2002. Gorg loves golfing, horse racing and going to the movies. He has three daughters, Katarina, Madelynn and Annika.