The annual “hockeypalooza” known as Hockey Day Minnesota is returning on January, 23, 2010 for its fourth year of treating puck-fanatics to nearly an entire day of non-stop coverage of their favorite sport. Six high school teams, two Division 1 college teams, and the NHL’s Minnesota Wild are slated to participate in five games for which Fox Sports North will provide state-wide television coverage.

A joint announcement by officials of the Wild and FSN on Monday, June 22 took place in Hermantown, Minn., the chosen location for the ever-popular outdoor contests among high school teams which traditionally kicks off the event. Hermantown, however, has the distinction of hosting the first outdoor triple-header in Hockey Day Minnesota history.

Hopkins and perennial Class A power Duluth Marshall will square off at 10 a.m. in the first of two boys games. The defending boys state champion Eagles of Eden Prairie then take center stage when they battle the Hawks of Hermantown at 1:30 p.m. and a girls match-up between the Duluth Northern Stars and the Proctor-Hermantown-Marshall Mirage caps off the outdoor festivities at 4:30 p.m.

Focus shifts to the Twin Cities for the remainder of the evening as the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers “welcome” the St. Cloud State Huskies to Mariucci Arena for a 5:00 p.m. face off while the Minnesota Wild will be host to an opponent yet to be determined at the Xcel Energy Center at 8:00 p.m.