World Juniors land in the Twin Cities this December, lighting a hockey-focused season for Minnesota fans as Cortina hosts Olympic action in Milan next February. Bill Guerin, Wild GM, leads Team USA’s Olympic selection while Bob Motzko steers the Gophers, underscoring Minnesota’s deep pipeline. Four Gophers — Brock Faber, Jackson LaCombe, Matthew Knies and Logan Cooley — are among 44 NHLers vying for 25 spots, a sign the state will feed both pro and college rosters during a high-stakes winter.

Depth and history drive the storyline: the 44-player camp includes Olympians like Eichel, Matthews, the Tkachuks, Hughes and McAvoy, and Minnesota’s own talent is at the center of the push. The season could echo 1980’s Lake Placid energy if goaltending and late-game composure align, with a Vikings subplot adding NFL flavor to a year that’s shaping a landmark hockey calendar in Minnesota.