Locked-out NHLers Get Kicked Off SLP Ice

Guess locked-out NHLers are going to have to learn to share the St. Louis Park Rec Center.

Michael Russo, Minnesota Wild beat writer for the Star Tribune, reports that a figure skating instructor by the name of Marla booted a handful of pros off the ice Tuesday morning, claiming it was her time to skate with 8-year-old Sophie Ford during a private lesson.

“That’s seems to be the general attitude in figure skating these days,” locked-out Wild bruiser Matt Kassian said jokingly. “It’s very much about control and power, and she definitely had both of those going for her. She was serious.” 

(Russo has a number of other great quotes and quips. Click here to read his full piece)

Minnesota Wild players such as Zach Parise, Matt Cullen, Cal Clutterbuck and Josh Harding, plus other NHLers including Dustin Byfuglien and Paul Martin, have been skating at the Rec as part of the Octagon pro hockey camp the past few weeks. 

St. Louis Park varsity coach Shjon Podein works for Octagon part-time as a player agent and as a family advisor for top amateurs.

If a lockout drags on, Octagon players could continue to skate in St. Louis Park through the fall, the Pioneer Press reports. The NHL season is scheduled to start on Oct. 11, and while no games have been cancelled yet, recent history suggests that cancellations could come—the entire 2004-05 season was lost due to a lockout.

If you happen to snap any photos of NHL stars at the Rec, feel free to share them in our Neighborhood Gallery.

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