Meet The Man Behind Hockey History At Xcel Energy Center
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Minnesota has a rich hockey history as the first recorded game was played way back in 1895.
WCCO's Bill Hudson spent the day with a man whose job at Xcel Energy Center is to keep track of all the lore.
Any fan who has taken in a game at Xcel Energy Center has seen the wonderful displays devoted to Minnesota hockey history. But there's one room holding history you probably haven't seen.
Roger Godin is like a walking talking hockey history book. Because as team curator it's his job.
"We've provided more players to the NHL than any other state," Godin said.
More than 200 Minnesotans have made it to the NHL and in 1934, White Bear Lake's Doc Romnes was first of them to win the cup with the Blackhawks.
"And they barely made it to the playoffs, taking out two opponents and then ended up beating Toronto for the Stanley Cup," Godin said.
But there's one place at Xcel Energy Center that only former players get to see. The Alumni Room displays include a tribute to Minnesota's Dave Langevin. He hoisted the cup an incredible four times.
Roger says preserving hockey history is special, but there's plenty of room here for a lot more of it.
"I'd be happy to help with Prichard and Campbell when they bring it down here," Godin said.
The Stanley Cup actually was hoisted here in Minnesota back in 1991. Unfortunately it was the Pittsburgh Penguins who were doing the celebrating.