WCCO Plays Pond Hockey With 'Wild' Ringer
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Team WCCO braved the elements Saturday for a pair of charity pond hockey games on Lake Minnetonka.
The team ranged in age from 14 to 62, with Esme Murphy's son as the youngest player. And the team happily accepted the help of a quality ringer - former Wild player Mark Parrish.
"This is awesome," Parrish said. "It takes you right back. This is where it all began for all of us."
The wind chill on Lake Minnetonka was minus 15, but it was all for a good cause.
The North American Pond Hockey Championships are a 100-percent charity event, with all proceeds going to Defending the Blue Line, which works to make sure that the children of military members get to play hockey.
The organization provides children with free equipment, camps and grants.
One of Team WCCO's opponents was Team Air Force, who were a formidable squad.
"Just goes to show," Parrish said, "You never [bleep] with our military. Ever."
WCCO's other opponent was the Herb Brooks Foundation, whose mission is to get as many kids on the ice as possible.
Joe Cure from the foundation summed up the day best.
"[It's} everything that's good about Minnesota," Cure said. "It's thousands of people coming together for good, in ridiculously cold temperatures."
Watch the video above to see Team WCCO in action!