The social media post touting the announcement said, “How does this not exist already? Now it will.”

If you ask hockey fans around the state, many think a Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame exists, but it doesn’t. A group of organizers announced plans today to establish one.

CEO Natalie Darwitz and President Andrew Heydt are spearheading the effort to establish the Hall of Fame to honor different levels, eras, roles, cities/towns and accomplishments in men’s and women’s hockey around Minnesota.

Click the video box on this page to watch comments at the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame launch ceremony from CEO Natalie Darwitz, President Andrew Heydt, Project Ambassador Lou Nanne and Advisory Board members and former pro hockey players Winny Brodt, Paul Martin and Jamie Langenbrunner

Darwitz was a high school, college and national team star in her playing days and served as a coach or executive at nearly every level of hockey in Minnesota. Heydt has prior experience working with the Wild, Twins, Vikings and Minnesota State University.

The project has foundational support from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and they hope to maintain a relationship with the longtime, existing United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth.

“This project is long overdue,” Project Ambassador and Minnesota hockey legend Lou Nanne said in a statement quoted on the project’s website. “I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting announcement. In my decades-long career in the game of hockey, I think I’ll know nearly every single individual who will be honored here. It’s an incredible way to recognize the people and stories that make Minnesota hockey so unique and deserving of this kind of permanent home.”

Thursday’s announcement included renderings of the planned Hall of Fame site which includes a 30,000-foot museum, Hall of Fame plaques and honoraries, five exhibit wings, a state-of-the-art sunken indoor/outdoor ice rink suitable for high school and college hockey showcase games, an outdoor recreational rink, a 20,000 square foot event space large enough to host ceremonies or concerts, and a hockey-themed bar/restaurant.

Photos courtesy Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame

The specific location for the 120,000 square foot facility will be announced at a later date, but Heydt said it will be in the Twin Cities metro area. He projected the overall cost at around $70-million.

The planned timeline has groundbreaking in Spring 2026 and a planned opening in Spring 2028.

The Hall’s Advisory Board is chaired by Kelly Brooks-Paradise, Lou Nanne is the Project Ambassador and former pro hockey players and Minnesota-natives Winny Brodt, Jamie Langenbrunner, Paul Martin and Rob McClanahan are all Board members.

Brooks-Paradise’s father Herb Brooks would seem to be a lock to be included in the first wave of inductees once the new Hall of Fame opens, having coached the Gophers, North Stars and the U.S. ‘Miracle on Ice’ team at the 1980 olympics.

“I’m honored to serve as the Advisory Board Chair for the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame and to be part of bringing this project to light,” Brooks-Paradise is quoted on the project’s website. “This Hall will celebrate the incredible history of hockey in Minnesota, including my dad’s legacy. I know if he were here today, he’d be so excited to see it all coming together.

The list of nearly 100 Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame Ambassadors is a who’s who from the last several decades of the state’s hockey history.

For more information, go to the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame website: mnhhof.com

The following is the official press release from organizers of the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame:

MINNESOTA HOCKEY HALL OF FAME LAUNCHES LEGACY PROJECT CELEBRATING STATE’S STORIED HOCKEY HERITAGE

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame (MNHHOF) today announced the launch of a landmark legacy project honoring the athletes, coaches, officials, teams and contributors who have shaped the state’s unmatched hockey tradition. 

Led by Chief Executive Officer Natalie Darwitz—three-time U.S. Olympian and Hockey Hall of Fame member—the Hall will serve as both a permanent tribute to Minnesota’s deep hockey roots and a dynamic hub for community connection, education and inspiration. 

“Minnesota has an unrivaled amount of success and passion when it comes to hockey. This project will finally give our game the permanent home it deserves,” said Darwitz. “We’re celebrating the full journey of hockey in our state, from kids just learning the game to legends at the highest level. Every community in our state has a story worth telling.” 

The MNHHOF, an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is backed by a diverse Advisory Board of some of Minnesota’s most celebrated hockey figures, an Ambassador Program featuring more than 100 men and women who have made a lasting impact on the game in Minnesota, and foundational support from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. 

“The Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame is an important legacy project that will celebrate and preserve the state’s rich hockey history for generations to come,” said Jamie Dinsmore, President and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame. “We’re excited to support their launch and look forward to seeing this vision come to life as a place where the stories, achievements, and people who shaped Minnesota hockey are honored.” 

The MNHHOF will be more than a museum. The space will operate as a 120,000+ square-foot interactive destination. Plans include a 30,000-square-foot museum with a Great Hall and five exhibit wings, a state-of-the-art sunken ice rink, a 20,000-square-foot performance hall, a hockey-themed restaurant and bar, and signature event spaces. 

Cutting-edge technology will immerse fans in the game through 360-degree digital experiences and hands-on exhibits where visitors can skate, shoot and relive historic moments. 

Beyond preserving history, the Hall will focus on growing the game through grassroots development programs, traveling exhibits, youth education initiatives and an Ambassador Program projected to feature 250+ Minnesota-born or developed individuals over the next 12-months.  

“This project is long overdue, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting announcement,” said hockey legend Lou Nanne. “In my decades-long career in the game of hockey, I think I will know nearly every single individual who will be honored here. It’s an incredible way to recognize the people and stories that make Minnesota hockey so unique and deserving of this kind of permanent home.” 

The MNHHOF plans to break ground in June 2026 with a grand opening in May 2028, positioning it as a premier tourism and cultural destination in the Twin Cities and beyond. 

For more details, visit mnhhof.com

For Related Stories: College Hockey  College Sports  High School Hockey  Hockey  Minnesota Wild