Prep Hockey Championship Draws More Fans Than A NHL Game

Saturday afternoon and into the evening fans were streaming into the Xcel Energy Center for the championship games being played in both classes of Minnesota's State Boys' Hockey Tournament. It was the number of fans that showed up to watch the Class AA Championship game that had the rest of the nation in awe.

Minnesotans of all types love hockey, whether it's professional hockey, prep hockey, or amateur hockey, it doesn't matter what form it takes, chances are if there is a puck sliding around on the ice it will draw a crowd.

For years, Minnesotans have been packing the stands to watch the championship rounds of hockey that are played during the state boys' hockey tournament, and this year was no different.

The Warroad Hockey Co posted this attendance stat Saturday night from the Class AA Championship game that saw Stillwater taking on Moorhead in a thriller that was won by Moorhead 7-6.

According to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), it was a record-breaking crowd of 20,491 fans! Wow, that's basically the population of my hometown of New Brighton, all packed into the X just to watch hockey!

If you are curious, that number, 20,491, is higher than the average attendance at a NHL game this season. What is the average attendance at an NHL game so far in 2024-2025? According to Sound of Hockey, which tracks the attendance at NHL games:

"The NHL has just passed the midpoint of the 2024-25 season, making it a great time to check in on attendance across the league. Overall, the NHL continues to experience growth in attendance, with numbers increasing since the last check-in at the quarter mark. As of Jan. 10, the league-wide average attendance stands at 17,443—its highest average at this point in the season since 2012-13."

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The MSHSL championship season rolls along with state girls basketball being played this week, and next week the state boys basketball tournament will be played out, and when that ends it puts a bow on the prep Winter sports season, here in the land of 10,000 lakes.