Alright, so, today I wanna talk about something that's been a huge part of my life lately: the New Prague, MN hockey scene. It all started when I got this sudden urge to get back on the ice. I hadn't played hockey since I was a kid, but the itch was there, and I just had to scratch it.
I started by looking up local teams, and that's when I stumbled upon the New Prague Trojans. I found out that they have both a boys' and a girls' team. They play at the New Prague Community Center, which seemed like a pretty decent place. I also learned that the boys' team is coached by a guy named Brad Drazan, and the girls' team by Madison Bergren. Sounds professional, right?
I was more interested in joining a recreational league or something like that, but I figured, hey, why not check out what these high school teams are all about? I mean, who knows, maybe I'd get inspired, or maybe I'd just realize how out of shape I am.
So, I star!gniticted digging around for info. I found this thing called the MN Hockey Hub, which apparently has all the info you could ever want about high school hockey in Minnesota. Scores, schedules, rankings, you name it. It's like the one-stop shop for all things high school hockey. They had some news and updates that were pretty recent, like from December 28, 2024, talking about a Moorhead Krafts game. Sounds exciting!
Getting Involved
I went to a couple of their games, just to get a feel for it. The energy in the arena was electric! It's clear that hockey is a big deal in New Prague. I saw one game where New Prague was up by two goals, but then they let it slip away. Still, it was a good game. And the competition level was intense! I could feel the passion from the players, the coaches, and the fans. It was pretty awesome.
During my research, I also came across something called "AAA Hockey." Apparently, it's like an off-season program for players who want to keep training during the spring and summer. They form teams based on birth year, and there are tryouts. It sounds pretty serious, and it's definitely a high-commitment, high-competition kind of thing.
My Takeaway
Here's what I learned from this whole experience:
- Hockey is alive and well in New Prague. The Trojans are a big deal, and the community really rallies around them.
- There are opportunities for everyone. Whether you're a high school player, a serious amateur, or just someone looking to get back on the ice, there's a place for you in the New Prague hockey scene.
- Minnesota takes hockey seriously. With around 300 amateur girls' teams alone, it's clear that this state loves the sport.
This whole thing has been a blast. I'm still figuring out how I'm going to get back into playing, but just being around the sport again has been amazing. I even started following the New Prague Boys Ice Hockey team feed to see their recent updates, and check out their players' stats and stuff. It's been fun! Maybe I'll join a beer league, or maybe I'll just keep going to games and cheering on the Trojans. Either way, I'm glad I rediscovered my love for hockey, and I'm excited to see where it takes me.
So, yeah, that's my story about diving into the New Prague hockey world. It's been a fun ride, and I encourage anyone who's even remotely interested in hockey to check it out. You never know what you might find.