A new energy is on the ice at the Maple Grove Community Center.
The Maple Grove Energy began its first season in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League in September, replacing the now disbanded Wildcats franchise. This new collection of former high school hockey players ages 18-20 are working to improve their skills in the USA Hockey Tier III league. They have aspirations of moving on to play small-college hockey.
Cal Ballard, the former goalie coach for the Wildcats, was approached by league officials about starting a new team as the Wildcats exited. His first pick was to keep a team right here in Maple Grove.
“It was obvious to stay here,” says Ballard, the Energy’s director of hockey. “The rink and the facilities are fantastic. The people that we work with are great and accommodating for us.”
As an expansion franchise, the Energy have taken their lumps in the inaugural season, but Ballard envisions a team that provides an opportunity for local kids to have a stepping stone to get in front of scouts and coaches in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
“We would like to get the kids in the area … so they don’t have to leave when they graduate high school,” Ballard says. “They have a venue in Maple Grove to fine-tune their skills and to get into college.”
The Energy, which got their name from the Great River Energy windmill in town, has five home games remaining on Feb. 3, 15, 18, 24 and 25.
Energy tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and free for children under age 5. Games start at 7:05 p.m. at the Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Rd. For more information, call 651.246.3425 or go to the team's website.
