Duluth East graduate (1973) Jean Johnson, now a resident of Minneapolis, was surprised to discover she was the five-millionth fan to attend the storied Minnesota State High School League Boys’ Hockey Tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. League Executive Director Dave Stead met Johnson as she entered the arena and presented her with a number of items to commemorate the occasion.
“I was surprised and thrilled,” said Johnson, who received four season tickets to next year’s tournament as part of her prize package. “It's great for the kids that so many people come to this tournament every year.”
Johnson attended the Thursday, March 11, evening Class AA quarterfinal session with fellow Duluth East classmate and childhood friend Candy Corey. She entered the arena through Gate 1 at 5:42 p.m.
In addition to the season tickets, Johnson received a pair of tickets to Saturday’s championship session, a Minnesota State High School League tournament hat, a duffle bag and some other state tournament souvenir apparel.
Prior to this year’s 66th annual tournament, the cumulative attendance at the State Boys’ Hockey Tournament attendance from 1945 through 2009 was 4,968,007. The tournament has attracted well over 100,000 hockey fans each year since 1992, and has hovered around that attendance mark ever since 1976. Hockey fans from across the nation attend the legendary tournament each year, and people travel great distances to experience what is known as the premier high school hockey tournament in the nation.
St. Paul, Minn. —
