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Articles by Heather Rule
Game Recap: Wild 2, Blues 1
Kaprizov scores League-leading 10th goal, Wild edge Blue Jackets October 19, 2026 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Kirill Kaprizov scored his League-leading 10th goal of the season to help the Minnesota Wild defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-1 at Grand Casino Arena on Sunday. Kaprizov scored the game-winning goal at 3:06 of the second period, giving the Wild a 2-1 lead by going short side over Columbus goaltender Cam Talbot’s shoulder with a sharp-angled shot from low in the left circle.
Kaprizov scores League-leading 10th goal, Wild edge Blue Jackets
Minnesota forward extends point streak to six games; Talbot saves 32 for Columbus Blue Jackets at Wild | Recap October 19, 2026 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Kirill Kaprizov scored his League-leading 10th goal of the season to help the Minnesota Wild defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-1 at Grand Casino Arena on Sunday.
Kaprizov scores League-leading 10th goal, Wild edge Blue Jackets
The forward extended his point streak to six games (12 points; seven goals, five assists). Danila Yurov scored, and Jesper Wallstedt made 13 saves as the Wild (6-2-1) remained undefeated at home in four games. Minnesota won for the fourth time in five games. Adam Fantilli scored for the Blue Jackets (3-4-0), and Cam Talbot made 32 saves. The Blue Jackets lost for the third time in four games. Yurov gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 18:12 of the first period.
Stacking the Deck
Offseason acquisitions add experience and depth to a wild team ready to take the next step. October 16, 2026 With a younger lineup on the ice for the Wild’s first preseason game this season against the Chicago Blackhawks, veteran forward Blake Coleman had the night off. Instead, he took in the game at Grand Casino Arena with his wife and young children. While the Wild had their own objectives on the ice, Coleman’s two daughters, ages 6 and 5, were on a mission, too: Find Nordy.
Boldy scores hat trick, Wild hold off late Blues rally
Forward also has assist, Hughes extends point, assist streaks to eight for Minnesota October 16, 2026 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Matt Boldy had a hat trick and an assist for the Minnesota Wild, who held off the St. Louis Blues for a 5-4 win at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday. It was Boldy’s fifth NHL hat trick. “Throughout our whole lineup, everyone was really good tonight,” Boldy said. “Everyone made a difference, which is what you need when guys are out.
Boldy scores hat trick, Wild hold off late Blues rally
It was Boldy’s fifth NHL hat trick. Robert Thomas scored short-handed for St. Louis to cut it to 5-3 at 16:00, and Dylan Holloway made it 5-4 with 15 seconds remaining with Joel Hofer pulled for the extra attacker. Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, Danila Yurov also scored and Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves for the Wild (5-2-1), who won for the third time in four games (3-1-0).
FINAL: Wild 4 - Golden Knights 2
Wild score three in first period, end Golden Knights' winning streak at four October 13, 2026 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild scored three goals in the first period en route to a 4-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights at Grand Casino Arena on Monday. Matt Boldy, Maxim Shabanov, Danila Yurov and Joel Eriksson Ek scored for the Wild, Quinn Hughes tallied two assists and Jesper Wallstedt made 21 saves as the Wild (4-1-1) improved to 2-0-0 at home this season.
Wild score three in first period, end Golden Knights' winning streak at four
Matt Boldy, Maxim Shabanov, Danila Yurov and Joel Eriksson Ek scored for the Wild, Quinn Hughes tallied two assists and Jesper Wallstedt made 21 saves as the Wild (4-1-1) improved to 2-0-0 at home this season. Rasmus Andersson and William Karlsson scored, and Carter Hart made 24 saves for the Golden Knights (5-2-0), which had won their past four games. Boldy gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 11:50 of the first period. He got his own rebound when his initial shot hit off a Vegas defender in the slot.
Kaprizov, Hughes help Wild storm past Bruins
Forward scores twice; defenseman has go-ahead goal, assist October 04, 2026 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Kirill Kaprizov scored twice, and Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist for the Minnesota Wild, who scored four straight to defeat the Boston Bruins 4-1 at Grand Casino Arena on Saturday. Jared Spurgeon also scored, and Jesper Wallstedt made 26 saves for the Wild (2-0-0) in their home opener. “We got scored on early.
Kaprizov, Hughes help Wild storm past Bruins
Jared Spurgeon also scored, and Jesper Wallstedt made 26 saves for the Wild (2-0-0) in their home opener. Tanner Jeannot scored, and Michael DiPietro made 26 saves for the Bruins (2-1-0) in his third NHL start and first since Jan. 23, 2022, with the Vancouver Canucks. Jeremy Swayman started in goal on Friday in Boston’s 4-3 overtime win at the Winnipeg Jets. The Bruins took a 1-0 lead 1:53 into the first period when Jeannot scored from low in the left face-off circle.
Wild, reporters announce Jessi Pierce Media Beauty Award
NHL.com writer, three children died in house fire in March September 28, 2026 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild and team reporters announced the launch of the Jessi Pierce Media Beauty Award on Monday, honoring the memory of former NHL.com independent correspondent Jessi Pierce and her three children, Hudson, Cayden, and Avery.
Stramel healthy, aiming to win spot with hometown Wild in traning camp
That's only natural, considering the 21-year-old forward was born in St. Paul. But if Stramel wants to make that dream a reality, he knows he's going to have to make a statement when training camp begins this week. "That’s for sure a goal of mine,” Stramel said last week during the team’s prospect camp. “I’m going to have to bring it in camp and hopefully show them what I’m capable of.
Boldy bringing confidence, winning expectations to Wild
Forward enters season with elevated expectations after Olympic gold medal win, career-best campaign August 26, 2026 BRAINERD, Minn. -- The sun was shining on a gorgeous summer day at Cragun’s Legacy Courses in Brainerd, Minnesota, but one could forgive Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy if any goose bumps appeared on his arms while he was asked about winning an Olympic gold medal.
Lee 'pretty pumped' to play in Winter Classic with Mammoth
Forward didn't realize Utah had outdoor game on schedule until signing in free agency August 18, 2026 EDINA, Minn. -- Anders Lee said signing with the Utah Mammoth as a free agent on July 1 made perfect sense for him because it's a team and city that "checks all the boxes." What he soon found out was that there was another box he didn't even know existed.
Nelson looking forward after ‘crazy year’ with Avalanche, Olympic gold
Forward had 65 points in 1st full season with Colorado, extended family legacy with Team USA August 13, 2026 EDINA, Minn. – Brock Nelson marked his first full season with the Colorado Avalanche with milestones and success on the NHL and international stages. He recorded 65 points (33 goals, 32 assists) in 81 regular-season games, skated in his 1,000th career NHL game and made history winning an Olympic gold medal.
Blueger hoping to help spark turnaround for new-look Maple Leafs
Veteran forward part of ‘clean slate’ after signing 2-year contract August 06, 2026 EDINA, Minn. -- Teddy Blueger is looking forward to being part of the new-look Toronto Maple Leafs and playing in the spotlight of that market. The forward from Latvia is already familiar with playing in Canada, having spent the past three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks.
Blake brings Stanley Cup to community center in Minnesota
Fans line up to see Hurricanes forward, trophy in Eden Prairie July 30, 2026 EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Stanley Cup reached Minnesota, with fans so eager to see it that some lined up hours before its scheduled arrival with Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake. “It’s crazy. You don’t really realize how cool it is until you get to actually do it and have the day,” Blake said Thursday after posing for photos with fans next to the Stanley Cup in the lobby of the Eden Prairie Community Center.
Blake brings Stanley Cup to community center in Minnesota
Fans line up to see Hurricanes forward, trophy in Eden Prairie July 30, 2026 EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – The Stanley Cup reached Minnesota, with fans so eager to see it that some lined up hours before its scheduled arrival with Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake. “It’s crazy. You don’t really realize how cool it is until you get to actually do it and have the day,” Blake said on Thursday after posing for photos with fans next to the Stanley Cup in the lobby of the Eden Prairie Community Center.
Remembering David La Vaque
Heather and David La Vaque in the press box at Grand Casino Arena during the Minnesota state high school boys hockey tournament in March 2026. Churning out multiple stories and sidebars a day during a Minnesota state high school hockey tournament requires skill and multitasking. The second game of the day has already started when you’re riding the elevator back up to the press box after talking to coaches and players from the first game.
Schmidt high on Mammoth taking step forward as Stanley Cup contender
Defenseman excited to play with Lee, Trocheck, watch youthful core continue to mature July 16, 2026 EDINA, Minn. -- Nate Schmidt, no stranger to experiencing Stanley Cup Playoff atmospheres with fledgling organizations, said he's hoping to help the Utah Mammoth take the next step toward a sustained run as a Cup contender this season.
2026 USA Hockey Player Development Camps
The 2026 USA Hockey Player Development Camps for boys kick off on June 25 in Amherst, N.Y., and for girls on July 13 in Oxford, Ohio. The camps are for players ages 15 to 18, and will run through August, with a focus on development while also serving as evaluation camps for various international teams. Every game from the 2026 USA Hockey Player Development Camps is live streaming exclusively on USAHockeyTV.com.
2026 All-Minnesota Girls Golf Player of the Year: Minnetonka’s Ruby Reding
For the Minnesota Star Tribune June 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM Lightning and golf courses aren’t the best pairing. But a weather delay in the area during the final round of the Class 3A girls golf tournament led to a quick check of the scores for the leader, Ruby Reding, something she doesn’t do much. “Well, I never look at the leaderboard,” Reding said. “But I think when we hit the rain delay, I talked to my friend Abby from Maple Grove, and I said, ‘OK, where am I at?’ Because I didn’t know.
2026 All-Minnesota Boys Tennis Player of the Year: Soren Swenson from Mounds View
For the Minnesota Star Tribune June 15, 2026 at 12:19 PM Sporting his white “MV Tennis” shirt, green shorts and blue Nerf-branded headband that only makes an appearance for the state final, Mounds View junior Soren Swenson completed the déjà vu sequence by winning back-to-back singles state championships this season. The one constant, other than his play on the court, is that blue headband. It’s a very important piece of the championship mojo.
Roiland wins Class 3A individual title; Heritage Christian’s Class 1A team title is the first team title in school history
By Heather Rule and Joe Gunther For the Minnesota Star Tribune On the last hole of his final round, among a tight leaderboard, William Roiland of Elk River was trying to stay calm and not get too upset about his bogey. As he walked toward the clubhouse and chatted with his coaches, the final group of leaders was finishing on the 18th hole. A missed putt there secured the winning result for Roiland. “I saw my teammates start running toward the cooler to grab water,” Roiland said.
Minnetonka leads Class 3A girls golf team standings; Ruby Reding No. 1 among girls individuals
For The Minnesota Star Tribune June 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM Class 3A The No. 1-ranked Minnetonka girls team, which won the title in 2024, leads by 15 strokes after the first day of the state tournament Tuesday. The Skippers shot a cumulative 294 to Maple Grove’s 309.
Written Rule of Sports
Taylor Heise was one of three players the Minnesota Frost protected in Phase 1 of the expansion process. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) As PWHL teams grapple with losing players to double the number of expansion teams as a year ago, the process for filling those rosters is different and complex throughout its six phases. At the end of Phase 1 Wednesday afternoon, existing teams like the Minnesota Frost submitted their Player Protection Lists with three players.
Wayzata claims fourth consecutive Class 2A boys tennis title; SPA wins fifth straight Class 1A crown
By Joe Gunther and Heather Rule The Minnesota Star Tribune The decisive match lasted more than 2½ hours, with No. 1 singles players Santiago Sanchez of Edina and Ethan Turunen of Wayzata dealing with cramps throughout the final set. The team score was tied 3-3 and all eyes were on Sanchez, a junior, and Turunen, a sophomore, in the Class 2A boys tennis championship.
Exciting season gets Wild over the hump, still short of ultimate goal
Kaprizov is one of the top scorers in the playoffs May 19, 2026 The sting of the Game 5 and Second Round series loss to the Colorado Avalanche was still fresh for Minnesota Wild players a couple of days later. After winning a playoff series for the first time in 11 years, the Wild lost to the Avalanche in five games in the next round, abruptly ending their season after being one of the top teams in the NHL in 2025-26.
Written Rule of Sports
Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield (left), and alternate captains Lee Stecklein (middle) and Kelly Pannek (right) meet with the media on May 14, 2026 at Tria Rink following their 2025-26 season. Minnesota’s PWHL franchise has experienced a lot of firsts across three seasons. The first record-setting crowd in its inaugural home game in January 2024, all of the individual player milestones and becoming the first Walter Cup Champions, in back-to-back fashion.
Frost Season Ends in Montreal
Heather's love for watching hockey started when the Minnesota Wild came to town in 2000. Before that, she caught a few Minnesota Moose games as a youngster, and more recently she's kept up with the Austin Bruins and Fargo Force. She's a freelance journalist who previously worked as a news reporter in Austin and Fergus Falls, Minn. She enjoys watching sports and closely follows the Wild, Minnesota Twins, IndyCar Series, tennis and prep sports.
Kirill is an ‘ultra competitor’
Kaprizov is one of the top scorers in the playoffs May 13, 2026 Turning the page from winning the first playoff series for the franchise in more than a decade to starting a new series against the league’s top team in Colorado could be considered a tough task. But after two games in Denver, the teams had three full days before Game 3 at Grand Casino Arena. It was a much-needed break, and a physical and mental reset. That didn’t stop Kirill Kaprizov from keeping hockey on the brain. “Oh yeah.
Written Rule of Sports
The Minnesota Frost and Montreal Victoire shake hands after a 2-1 Montreal win in Game 5 of the Walter Cup Semifinals on May 12. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) Minnesota’s chance to start PWHL history as a three-time Walter Cup Champion ended with a loss in this year’s semifinals to Montreal. The Victoire defeated the Frost 2-1 in Tuesday’s decisive Game 5 at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec in a similar game-sheet script to some of their other victories this season.
Written Rule of Sports
Maddie Rooney has 10 career playoff wins, more than any other PWHL goaltender. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) Update: The decisive Game 5 of the semifinal series between the Minnesota Frost and Montreal Victoire has been postponed due to player safety concerns related to illness. It was originally scheduled to be played at 6 p.m. CT at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec. The PWHL announced the postponement at 3:39 p.m. CT on Monday.A new date for the game has not been announced yet.
Written Rule of Sports
Maddie Rooney has 10 career playoff wins, more than any other PWHL goaltender. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) One winner-take-all game will determine if the 2026 Walter Cup Final is a rematch of last year or if a top-seeded team will finally win a series and reach the championship for the first time. The Minnesota Frost and Montreal Victoire will face off at 6 p.m. CT Monday night at Place Bell in a decisive Game 5 after the teams split two games at each other’s home rink earlier in the series.
Stanley Cup Puck Holder is the Work of a Fan
If the playoffs are the main course of a hockey season, perhaps it’s fitting that the Minnesota Wild’s journey to securing a wooden puck holder shaped like the Stanley Cup started with an appetizer: Charcuterie boards. Marcus Foligno first noticed the wooden charcuterie boards made with the Minnesota Wild logo, red line and blue lines at the Wild Foundation’s Whiskey and Wine events. The team signed them for fans to bid on during the auctions.
Written Rule of Sports
Lee Stecklein and Sidney Morin celebrate one of Morin’s two goals in Game 4 on May 8, 2026 in St. Paul (Photo courtesy of PWHL) ST. PAUL --- Sidney Morin is playing with confidence. When she has the puck on her stick lately, she hasn’t been afraid to shoot it. That’s meant good things for the Frost. In Game 4, the veteran player provided the tying and go-ahead goals for the Frost with their season on the line. “These big moments don’t scare me,” Morin said.
Written Rule of Sports
Hayley Scamurra celebrates giving Montreal a 2-1 lead in the second period of Game 3. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) ST. PAUL --- The Minnesota Frost have been here before. Adversity in the playoffs, being down in a series. They know what it’s like to be down but never out, as Taylor Heise put it. “It’s not always nice to feel that,” Heise said. “That means your back’s against the wall.
‘Volleyball here is just a dream’ for Stephanie Samedy
‘Volleyball here is just a dream’ for Stephanie Samedy By Heather Rule / ProVolleyball.com Pedro Mendes just missed out on coaching Stephanie Samedy at the University of Minnesota, when he arrived as an assistant coach in 2022 a year after the volleyball standout wrapped up her collegiate career. But in his role as head coach and general manager of MLV Minnesota, Mendes will get his chance to coach Samedy on the professional level.
Written Rule of Sports
Marie-Philip Poulin, from one knee, has a smile on her face after scoring the winning goal in triple overtime of Game 2 on May 5, 2026. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) Is anyone surprised? For the seventh consecutive playoff game, including twice this season, the Minnesota Frost reached overtime. It’s also the fourth time in six games this season that Montreal and Minnesota went past regulation. And guess who had the game-winner? Marie-Philip Poulin. Her goal was the only one in a 1-0 game.
Written Rule of Sports
Kelly Pannek and Marie-Philip Poulin prepare for a faceoff in Game 1 of the semifinals on May 2, 2026, at Place Bell. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) The Minnesota Frost finally have a 1-0 series lead in a playoff series after the 5-4 overtime win against the Montreal Victoire over the weekend. That game included a bit of everything, including a high-scoring result that isn’t always the case in playoff hockey. The Frost played four games with 2-1 scores in last year’s Walter Cup Final, after all.
Written Rule of Sports
Taylor Heise carries the puck in the April 22 game in Seattle when she recorded her only multi-goal game of the season. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) Taylor Heise has said a variation of this quote at least a few times after the first and second Walter Cup Championships she’s helped Minnesota win in the PWHL: “We’re the only ones that have experienced this type of win.” “Now after year two, it’s the same way,” Heise told Written Rule of Sports last week ahead of the playoffs.
Round 2 Playoff Preview
The Wild face another divisional foe in the Colorado Avalanche. May 03, 2026 Grand Casino Arena was rocking at the start of Game 6 against the Dallas Stars. When Quinn Hughes scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, the noise level ramped up even more. By the time Matt Boldy scored a pair of empty-netters and the seconds ticked down to zero, the arena was in a frenzy of playoff euphoria that Minnesota Wild fans hadn’t experienced for 11 years.
Written Rule of Sports
The Minnesota Frost celebrate a 5-4 overtime victory in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series against the Montreal Victoire on Saturday afternoon at Place Bell. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) The Minnesota Frost have already shown that this year is different, and that might be a good thing. Even though they ultimately want the same result as the last two years: A Walter Cup Championship.
Round 1 Series Recap
The Wild’s stars carried them past the Dallas Stars for a 4-2 series victory May 02, 2026 Rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is only 23 years old and in his first full season with the Minnesota Wild. But he knew the history. He knew how much a playoff series victory would mean to the franchise and the entire State of Hockey.
Reason to Believe | Minnesota Wild
Wild players are excited for the opportunity that awaits them in front of the home crowd. April 30, 2026 Brock Faber wasn’t even a teenager the last time the Minnesota Wild had a chance to close out a playoff series on home ice. The then-12-year-old from Maple Grove was probably watching when the Wild defeated the St. Louis Blues at home in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2015.
Written Rule of Sports
Kendall Coyne Schofield and Montreal’s Tamara Giaquinto battle for the puck during a game at Place Bell on Jan. 4, 2026. (Photo courtesy of PWHL) The Minnesota Frost enter the Walter Cup Playoffs on a four-game losing skid. They’ve done that before, with a five-game losing streak in 2024. The difference this time? The Frost had already clinched a playoff spot and are the No. 3 seed, not No. 4. Oh, and they’re still the only franchise to have won a league championship.
Boldy has ‘it factor’
The Wild forward produces in the playoffs after his banner hockey season. April 27, 2026 Time was ticking down to the end of the first overtime period in Game 4. Matt Boldy was in the corner of the Dallas end battling for the puck. Boldy got free as Kirill Kaprizov sent the puck toward the blue line. Jared Spurgeon sent a shot toward the net just as Boldy was in the perfect spot to tip it past goaltender Jake Oettinger for the overtime winner to tie the playoff series at two games apiece.
Shrink the Special Teams Margins Original
Wild will look to cash in on power-play chances in Game 4. April 25, 2026 Jesper Wallstedt has played a solid game in net to start his Stanley Cup Playoff career, despite he and his Wild teammates coming out on the losing end of the last two results. He said after Game 3 that the Wild played well enough to win against Dallas. Unfortunately for Minnesota, bounces don’t always go the way of a better team in a tight playoff series.
Brock Star: Brock Faber has showcased his growth as a young NHL defenseman
April 24, 2026 Brock Faber’s first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal tied Game 2 in Dallas 1-1 in the first period. He ended the night by doubling his goal total, scoring his second of the night to get the Wild within a goal in the third period. The pair of goals was an individual milestone, especially for a defenseman. “It doesn’t really matter unless you win, right?” Faber said after the game. “It’s on to the next [game].” Spoken like a true competitor in the heat of a Stanley Cup Playoff Series.
Back home to ‘reset’ as playoff series intensifies
The Wild split the first two games in Dallas with a pair of competitive efforts. April 22, 2026 The Minnesota Wild almost couldn’t have drawn up a better Game 1 to start the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the road against the Dallas Stars, scoring the most goals in franchise history to open a playoff series and getting goals from four different players in a 6-1 victory. But it was only one game in a seven-game series. Just like a 4-2 loss in Game 2 was also only one game.
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