On most winter nights at the Hastings Civic Arena, you will find youth hockey players lugging gear through the lobby, parents juggling coffee cups, and a few familiar faces in the stands. On Friday, Feb. 13 though, something felt different.
The Minnesota Wild had rolled into town.
The occasion was a Youth Hockey Spotlight game, a special event that turned a regular 12U B matchup into a full-scale NHL-style experience. The Hastings 12U B girls hosted Park of Cottage Grove 12U B, and when the final horn sounded, Hastings skated away with a hard-earned 1-0 victory. But for many in the building, the score felt almost secondary.
The Wild’s Hockey Partnerships Manager, Gabby Illing, summed it up before the puck dropped.
“We're at the Hastings civic arena for a youth hockey spotlight game. We're doing two of these this year, and this one is a special matchup between Hastings and Cottage Grove 12 U B. We bring the entire Minnesota Wild in game experience to these communities.”
That meant more than a few banners and some extra music. The Wild’s PA announcer Adam Abrams, anthem singer John deCausmeaker, team DJ, mascot Nordy, and on-air personality Kevin Gorg were all part of the show. A videographer followed the action to capture the night from start to finish.
Illing said the idea is simple, give young players a memory they will carry for years.
“I played hockey all the way through college, and I can only imagine if I showed up to the arena and the lobby was packed for me and my team, that's something that you're never going to forget.”
For the players, the surprise began well before they stepped onto the ice.
About two months earlier, Hastings Hockey Board President Curtis Garrett received a call that caught him off guard.
“About two months ago, I got get a random phone call saying, hey, please reach back us out to us. We want to extend something pretty special out to your association.”
The Wild randomly select a few associations each year, focusing on B-level teams. This time, Hastings was chosen.
Garrett said the toughest part was not planning the event, but keeping it quiet.
“The biggest and most difficult thing was keeping it a top secret, which was tough. There was only a few select of us that were able to know what was going on.”
The team thought they were headed to a dryland practice. Instead, a limousine arrived. The girls piled in, drove around town for photos, and still had no idea what was waiting.
“They showed up, and they started filing out of the limo and getting high fives from their friends and family,” Garrett said. “As they came into the lobby, they go, we have no idea what's going on, but this is awesome.”
Inside, the transformation was complete.
Each player had a customized jersey with her name and number stitched on the back and a Youth Hockey Spotlight logo on the front. Lockers were arranged like an NHL setup, complete with nameplates and neatly laid-out gear. Rally towels marked the Wild’s 25th anniversary.
Garrett described the scene.
“The wild came in and set up the locker rooms like it was an NHL game. So, all of their equipment has been set out and laid out. They had no idea that that was taking place.”
Up in the stands, the surprise hit just as hard. Parents and fans packed the lobby and rink, creating a buzz more often associated with varsity matchups.
“I had a couple of comments like, Oh my gosh. We've got more people here than we do, like a big varsity, varsity game on a Hockey night,” Garrett said.
The evening also featured two special guest coaches with deep Minnesota hockey roots.
Behind the Hastings bench stood Erica McKenzie, a Hastings Raiders graduate and former girls hockey standout who returned home for the night. McKenzie now works with the Minnesota Wild and did not hesitate when asked to help.
Before the game, she reflected on walking back into the rink where she once played.
“Yeah, it's so great. I mean, it's always fun being back in this barn, and it's a super special place to play.”
The memories came rushing back, especially in the locker room.
“I was saying I haven't been back in that locker room for the varsity girls since I was playing, so it's fun to come back and be part of it.”
She even pointed out her old seat to the current players.
“I pointed to the girls, told them exactly where I sat for three years.”
Across the ice, Park of Cottage Grove had its own hockey legend behind the bench, Natalie Darwitz. A Minnesota women’s hockey icon and Olympic gold medalist, Darwitz has long been one of the most recognizable names in the sport. She works closely with the Wild as a female ambassador, often leading youth programs and community events.
Illing said both coaches were natural fits.
“Erica works for the Minnesota Wild so she's easily accessible to us and is just very prone to doing things in the community. So, she's always an easy one and a great one to work with, especially when it's in her hometown. And then Natalie Darwitz is one of our female ambassadors. She always jumps at the opportunity to help at these community events.”
For the players, having two accomplished women in the game leaning over the boards added another layer to an already special night. It was a visible reminder of where hockey can take you.
Still, McKenzie kept her message simple.
When asked if she had any secret plays to beat Park, she smiled.
“I think the biggest thing, what we said is, have fun. This a once in a lifetime opportunity tonight, and go out, have fun in battle, work hard, and if you do that, I think hopefully we'll come out on top.”
The game itself was tight from start to finish. Both teams skated hard, fueled by the crowd and the big-game atmosphere. Music thumped between whistles, the anthem echoed through the arena, and interviews awaited after the final horn.
In the end, Hastings found the lone goal it needed. The 1-0 win sparked cheers, high fives, and a celebration that felt a little bigger than a regular-season contest.
Afterward, the Wild’s crew gathered footage and photos that will live on in highlight videos and social media posts. But the real takeaway, according to those involved, will not be measured in clicks.
It will be measured in memories.
For one night, 24 young players stepped into an NHL-style spotlight. They rode in a limo, walked into a packed arena, pulled on custom jerseys, and heard their names announced as if they were pros.
And somewhere down the road, when they think back on their youth hockey days, this game at the Hastings Civic Arena will likely rise to the top of the list.