Woodbury Native Jake Guentzel Named USHL Rookie of the Year

Guentzel, 18, notched 73 points (39 goals, 44 assists) in 60 regular season games.

The United States Hockey League on Friday announced that Woodbury native Jake Guentzel is the 2012-13 USHL Rookie of the Year. The designation was determined by a vote of USHL coaches and general managers, according to a release from the hockey league. Related: Woodbury Hockey Player on List of Prospects for 2013 NHL Draft Guentzel, 18, notched 73 points (39 goals, 44 assists) in 60 regular season games, ranking sixth overall in USHL scoring. He also had a 21-game point streak, tying the record for the USHL since 2002 (the Tier 1 era), according to the release. His point total also equaled a scoring record for his team, the Musketeers, in the Tier 1 era. “Obviously the hockey world has been long aware of Jake's talents—it runs in the …

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Woodbury Hockey Player on List of Prospects for 2013 NHL Draft

Woodbury's Jake Guentzel is No. 80 on this year's list of North American hockey prospects.

Jake Guentzel, of Woodbury, is No. 80 on this year's list of North American hockey prospects, according to the NHL Draft Prospect Rankings on NHL.com. There are separate lists for European skaters, North American goalies and European goalies. Guentzel played high school hockey at Hill-Murray School, and he played for the Sioux City Musketeeers in the United States Hockey League. He is committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha. This year's draft will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., starting on June 30. The draft lottery was held at 7 p.m. Monday. RELATED:   Like Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our free newsletter

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Skating Rinks, Warming Houses Now Open in Woodbury

The city announced the news Thursday.

With the exception of Shawnee Park, Woodbury’s outdoor skating rinks and warming houses are open for the season. Shawnee Park is expected to open Friday, according to a note from the city’s InTouch system. The city will continue to flood the rinks in an effort to achieve “optimal and safe ice conditions.” The rinks are open from the end of December through the end of February, depending on weather. There are five warming houses in operation at outdoor skating rinks: The city maintains unsupervised skating rinks at Pioneer Park and the Tamarack Nature Preserve. School Days (District 833) Colby Lake, Evergreen West, Kargel, Ojibway and Shawnee: 4-9 p.m. Saturday Colby Lake, Evergreen West, Kargel and Shawnee: noon to 8 p.m. Ojibway: Closed  …

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Check this Out: Help the Woodbury Boys Hockey Team

The 13th annual golf tournament to benefit the Woodbury High School boys hockey team is set for Aug. 20.

Those looking to support the Woodbury High School boys hockey team can tee it up at Prestwick Golf Club on Monday, Aug. 2. The Woodbury Royals boys hockey team, Blue Line Club and Prestwick recently announced plans for the 13th annual Woodbury Boys High School Hockey Golf Tournament.  “This event is for WHS alumni, hockey fans, future Royals, supporters and all golfers,” organizers said in a release. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year!” At Prestwick on Aug. 20, there will be a shotgun tee off at 1 p.m. with registration beginning at noon. Both golfers and non-golfers can participate with the following fees, and people are encouraged to bring extended family for the dinner. Tickets for golf and dinner cost $125 each and include 18 …

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Link: Braedon Hyland Hockey Foundation Raises Funds For Young Skaters

The scholarship fund was established in memory of late East Ridge student Braedon Hyland, who died from injuries he sustained in an Oct. 10, 2011, crash in Afton.

Woodbury Public Safety Part Of Hockey Fundraiser For Cystic Fibrosis

The city is taking donations as police, firefighters and EMS personnel gear up for March 3-4 event.

Members of Woodbury’s Public Safety Department will take their game to the Schwan’s Super Rink in Blaine March 3-4 to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research. The Woodbury Warriors will once again join emergency personnel from across the state for the hockey event. The two-day tournament was the brainchild of former Woodbury firefighter-paramedic Andy Peter, who after learning of his niece’s diagnosis combined his love for hockey and commitment to family into a charitable venture that generated more than $10,000 in its first year for Cystic Fibrosis research.  Created in 2010, the Checking for Cystic Fibrosis Tournament has grown to host 16 teams this year representing public safety organizations from around the Twin Cities and elsewhere …

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Woodbury Girls Win 'Teddy Bear' Season Finale

Royals beat Raptors 3-0 Friday night during game to honor late East Ridge student Ann Haering.

The Woodbury girls hockey team beat cross-town rival East Ridge 3-0 Friday night in both teams' final game of the season. The game was also a celebration in honor of late East Ridge student Ann Haering—fans of both teams tossed teddy bears onto the ice after Woodbury scored its first goal. The stuffed animals will be donated to the Children's Lighthouse of Minnesota in Haering's honor.

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Photos: Skate With The Woodbury Royals

Following a ribbon cutting for new high school hockey locker rooms, the Woodbury High School boys team skated around a rink at Bielenberg with some local youngsters.

After Saturday's ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new locker rooms at the Bielenberg Sports Center, the Woodbury High School boys hockey team held its annual "Skate with the Royals" event.   All ages and skill levels were welcome to skate with the boys. Coach Wes Bolin and the team played games with the skaters, pulled them around the ice and hung out with the young skaters. Afterward, the players were available to autograph team posters for the kids. If you have photos from the event, upload them to this story or email them to kris.janisch@patch.com.

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A Point Of Pride In Woodbury

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new locker rooms for Woodbury and East Ridge hockey teams was held Saturday at the Bielenberg Sports Center.

“Pride” was the word of the day Saturday as local hockey fans, city officials, players and parents showed up for a ribbon cutting for the new locker rooms at the Bielenberg Sports Center. The new locker rooms—which serve the Woodbury High School boys and girls hockey teams and the East Ridge girls hockey team—were a community effort. The city of Woodbury and District 833 provided the bulk of the $350,000 tab for the addition, and local hockey clubs kicked in $45,000. Parents also helped find donations for materials and construction work at the new hockey digs. “This has always been a tremendous facility,” said Dewey Wahlin, president of the Woodbury Blue Line Club. “This just puts a little bit of icing on the cake.” “It’s awesome,” said …

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Woodbury Close To Settling On Architect For Bielenberg Expansion

Meanwhile, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new locker rooms at the sports complex is slated for this weekend.

Woodbury is closing in on finding an architect for the coming multimillion-dollar expansion of the Bielenberg Sports Center. The Woodbury City Council on Jan. 18 got a brief overview of the latest news about the project, which calls for replacing the sports center’s dome with a brick-and-mortar facility. A citizen’s task force has been formed to solicit feedback from major user groups, said Bob Klatt, Parks and Recreation director for Woodbury. It’s a similar group to the one formed when Bielenberg was originally built in 1994, he said. The city will also get input from stakeholders who aren’t part of the task force, as well. At Wednesday night’s meeting, the city is expected to select from one of six firms for architectural and …

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