Good Question: Minnesota Wild Playoff Edition
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On Tuesday night's Game 3 of the Wild-versus-Blackhawks series, the Wild reported attendance was a record 19,416. So, Ruth and Greg asked: How does the Wild determine game attendance?
"We get a report at the end of the night that tells us how many tickets were sold and that's the number, like every other sports team, we put out," said Wild spokesman Ryan Stanzel.
Generally, the Wild reports sold-out attendance of just fewer than 18,000, but that can change with more suite tickets, standing-room tickets and seats that are not normally available when that space is being used by camera crews.
Jay from Bloomington asked: How often are the players' skates sharpened?
According to Rick Bronwell, assistant equipment manager for the Wild, skates are sharpened every game. He also says players average between one and three pairs of skates each season.
Tara from Farmington wanted to know: What kind of animal is Nordy, the Wild mascot?
"Nordy's in the eye of the beholder, it's kind of up to your imagination," Stanzel said. "He kind of represents all that Minnesota has, just like the Wild."
According to the Wild website, no one truly knows what kind of animal Nordy is, but legend says he was found skating the frozen lakes and ponds near Eveleth, Minn.
Tom from St. Paul asked: How did the playoff-beard tradition start?
Hockey historians say it first appeared in 1980 when the New York Islanders began their run of four-consecutive Stanley Cup championships.