This isn’t corporate sports media. This isn’t fluff. Howie Sports is Independent. Local. Unfiltered. Fifty years in the game — telling you who’s hot, who’s not, and who needs a swift kick in the butt.
I’ve put my money where my mouth is. I’ve bought Twins tickets for decades. My taxes also helped pay for Target Field — along with three other Minneapolis stadiums: the Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Center for the Timberwolves, and the University of Minnesota’s football stadium.
“This is more than just coverage. It’s a place for fans to connect, celebrate, and experience the thrill of high school sports like never before.” -- Chris Carr, who’s running point on Strib Varsity
Houston shows up Saturday afternoon to see if the foundation is as wobbly as it looks on paper.
The same folks who used to grumble when the Bulldogs only made the Frozen Four are now pretending a seventh-place finish in the NCHC is just the league being “tough.” That’s not tough. That’s losing dressed up in an alibi.
And that’s Sandelin’s magic trick. No slogans, no gimmicks. Just a quiet confidence that the right kids — his kids — can still win the biggest games on the biggest stage. You just have to trust the process. And, maybe more importantly, trust your backyard.
So here we go. Game 1 of the Preseason of Prayer. QB1 J.J. McCarthy gets the start. The hype machine is revved up. The fanbase is ready. And the Vikings are rolling the dice with a rookie quarterback, a patchwork roster, and a hope-filled shrug. It’s a very Vikings thing to do.
“We have a lot of experienced returners this year in a lot of skill positions and a line that wants to set the tone.” Hawks coach Mike Zagelmeyer
The three-day, off-ice orientation camp brings together players and staff from all levels of Canada’s national programs. The event includes team-building activities, presentations and planning sessions ahead of the 2025-26 international season.
Whitlock might be the league’s last blue-collar folk hero — playing for free so his younger teammates can earn more. “I just want the other guys to get paid and have a shot at their dreams,” he said. “I play because I like it.”
This isn’t the final payday — it’s the one that tees up the monster deal. And if he keeps trending up, someone’s going to open the vault.
“Oh, my biggest strength is my speed. Knowing how to hit gaps, vision, and just being a playmaker. Being a dog. My size doesn’t stop me from doing anything.” -- K.J. Felder Jr.
The event marked the 99th running of the Arrowhead, widely regarded as the region’s signature amateur match-play tournament. Ridgeview’s firm greens and classic layout again proved a worthy stage, offering players a stern test over three days of competition.
Now it’s about whether this roster — a blend of hungry youth and hardened leaders — can break through the ceiling that’s held the franchise in place for nearly a decade. If they do, Kaprizov stays. If they don’t, buckle up.
