MINNEAPOLIS, MINN (KSTP) – The social media post touting the announcement said, “How does this not exist already? Now it will.” If you ask hockey fans around the state, many think a Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame exists, but it doesn’t. A group of organizers announced plans today to establish one.

CEO Natalie Darwitz and President Andrew Heydt are spearheading the effort to establish the Hall of Fame to honor different levels, eras, roles, cities/towns and accomplishments in men’s and women’s hockey around Minnesota. Darwitz was a high school, college and national team star in her playing days and served as a coach or executive at nearly every level of hockey in Minnesota. Heydt has prior experience working with the Wild, Twins, Vikings and Minnesota State University. The project has foundational support from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and they hope to maintain a relationship with the longtime, existing United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth. “This project is long overdue,” Project Ambassador and Minnesota hockey legend Lou Nanne said in a statement quoted on the project’s website. “I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting announcement. In my decades-long career in the game of hockey, I think I’ll know nearly every single individual who will be honored here. It’s an incredible way to recognize the people and stories that make Minnesota hockey so unique and deserving of this kind of permanent home.” Thursday’s announcement included renderings of the planned Hall of Fame site which includes a 30,000-foot museum, Hall of Fame plaques and honoraries, five exhibit wings, a state-of-the-art sunken indoor/outdoor ice rink suitable for high school and college hockey showcase games, an outdoor recreational rink, a 20,000 square foot event space large enough to host ceremonies or concerts, and a hockey-themed bar/restaurant.

The specific location for the 120,000 square foot facility will be announced at a later date, but Heydt said it will be in the Twin Cities metro area. He projected the overall cost at around $70-million. The planned timeline has groundbreaking in Spring 2026 and a planned opening in Spring 2028. The Hall’s Advisory Board is chaired by Kelly Brooks-Paradise, Lou Nanne is the Project Ambassador and former pro hockey players and Minnesota-natives Winny Brodt, Jamie Langenbrunner, Paul Martin and Rob McClanahan are all Board members. Brooks-Paradise’s father Herb Brooks would seem to be a lock to be included in the first wave of inductees once the new Hall of Fame opens, having coached the Gophers, North Stars and the U.S. ‘Miracle on Ice’ team at the 1980 olympics. “I’m honored to serve as the Advisory Board Chair for the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame and to be part of bringing this project to light,” Brooks-Paradise is quoted on the project’s website. “This Hall will celebrate the incredible history of hockey in Minnesota, including my dad’s legacy. I know if he were here today, he’d be so excited to see it all coming together. The list of nearly 100 Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame Ambassadors is a who’s who from the last several decades of the state’s hockey history. For more information, go to the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame website: mnhhof.com