Bonding campaign begins

Minnesota State on Friday will kick off a campaign to drum up support for and increase awareness about the proposed Verizon Wireless Center improvement project that includes hockey arena upgrades and moving the MSU men's and women's teams downtown permanently.

Read more about the initiative, called "Greater Mankato Carries the Puck" on the MSU website here and more details on the VWC project on the Greater Mankato site here and here, but before Friday's game against Michigan Tech at Red Sky Lounge, people will get their first look at and be able to sign a giant puck that will be used in a community advocacy group's presentation at the state capitol later this month.

A peek at the Sanford Center (updated)

I thought I'd bump up this blog post, since I added a few pictures to it. I also wrote a column about the arena, which should appear in Tuesday's edition of The Free Press.

There is plenty of curiosity about what the city of Mankato and Minnesota State will do if and when they remodel the Verizon Wireless Center. For sure, they could take a few cues from what Bemidji's done with the Sanford Center. Here are a few low-quality photos taken Friday and Saturday night:

A video/replay scoreboard hangs over center ice.

A view from the press box, which is also suite level.

The club room/bar overlooks one end of the rink.

The student section is surrounds the glass at one end of the ice.

A view from one of the arena suites.

A concourse wall with interactive video screens.

The in-arena store where you can get BSU gear.

The doors to the Beavers' locker room.

The hallway to the BSU coaches' offices.

The walls are adorned with pictures of NHL players and All-Americans.

BSU's weight room, as seen from outside the arena.

The hall from the bench to the BSU locker room.

Another shot of that hall.

Team photos outside the Beavers locker room.

One of a few walls of fame in the BSU area. NHL guys, All-Americans, etc.

The $8 prime rib sandwich available in the concourse.

Mavericks release '11-12 schedule

Minnesota State released its 2011-12 men's hockey schedule on Tuesday morning, and the Mavericks will play 20 games (including exhibitions) at the Verizon Wireless Center. Here's the schedule, but check back for an update later with some thoughts on next season's matchups:

Oct. 3 — BRITISH COLUMBIA (exhibition)
Oct. 7-8 — @ Rensselaer
Oct. 14-15 — UMASS-LOWELL
Oct. 21-22 — @ Denver
Nov. 4-5 — @ Michigan Tech
Nov. 11-12 — ST. CLOUD STATE
Nov. 18-19 — @ Minnesota Duluth
Nov. 25-26 — ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Dec. 2-3 — @ Minnesota
Dec. 9-10 — ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
Dec. 16-17 — COLORADO COLLEGE
Dec. 30 — USNTDP U18 (exhibition)
Jan. 6-7 — @ St. Lawrence
Jan. 13-14 — WISCONSIN
Jan. 20-21 — NEBRASKA OMAHA
Jan. 27-28 — @ Bemidji State
Feb. 3-4 — MICHIGAN TECH
Feb. 10-11 — @Alaska Anchorage
Feb. 17-18 — MINNESOTA DULUTH
March 2-3 — @ North Dakota