MAR 13, 2012 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Craig Leipold, Owner, Minnesota Wild

Posted by James S. Kosmo 
on Mar 13, 2012
 
Sports took center stage as Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold addressed Rotarians even as the roar of college athletes competing nearby in the WCHA hockey tournament spread through downtown and people braced for the onset of March Madness.

The Crowne Plaza was alive as three dozen new faces bolstered the crowd. Nancy McKillips and Jason Bradshaw along with a group of enthusiastic St. Paul Rotarians unveiled the first phase of their Massive Membership March by introducing 35 potential Rotarians with more to come next week.

President Doug Bruce dropped the gavel assistedby:

·         Greeters – Shelly Rucks and Merry Beckmann Butikis
·         Scribe – Jim Kosmo
·         Song Leader – Jerry Faletti
·         Piano – Leon Goodrich
·         Invocation – Carol Bufton
·         Introduction of Guests – Nancy McKillips & Jason Bradshaw
·         FMSC – Clyde Nelson
·         District Check Presentation – Cindy Carlson
·         New Member Introduction – John Romans by Chuck Whitaker
·         PHF Presentation – Doug Bruce
·         Happy Dollars – Jim Kosmo
·         Speaker Introduction – Dan McKeown

Image“I want to bring the Stanley Cup to St. Paul,” announced MN Wild owner Craig Leipold in a convincing declaration. “I promise that we are committed to winning.”

Leipold explained how the team has fallen through a hole in the ice since December when Dan McKeown first approached him to speak at Rotary. At that time the team was in first place, running over every team in the league. The next night a key player went down with injury and two more dropped the following night. By this week only six of the 21 players who were on the roster in December remain.

You can’t win with that many injuries, Leipold said. But, he vowed that change is coming. He anticipates bold moves in the upcoming free agency period and noted that Hockey News named five Wild prospects among the Top 50 Prospects in the league; no other team has more than three and no team has ever had five.

“Minnesota is THE elite community for hockey in the country,” he said. He previously owned the Nashville Predators, and he discovered there is a difference between Minnesota fans and those in communities that are not traditional hockey cities.

“In Nashville people stayed in their seats after the third period waiting for another period. In Minnesota fans call penalties before the referees can do it.”

Although the Twin Cities is a small market sports community, Leipold said the National Hockey Association is the only professional sports organization that has a true salary cap enabling all teams to be competitive. “There are no exceptions. We have the best model in all pro sports.”

Ken Crabb asked if the NHL was considering rule changes in light of recent injuries.

“Yes. In fact, we are working with the Mayo Clinic to come up with baseline testing for concussions.” He said rule changes are coming.

Chuck Standfuss inquired about the plan to realign divisions geographically to reduce travel costs and increase rivalries. Leipold said it was a done deal until the union decided to flex its muscle, but he added that it should happen within two years.

John Guthmann wondered if the proposed “sweetheart deal” to include improvements for Target Center in Minneapolis with the proposed Vikings stadium legislation was a threat to the Excel Center.  Leipold said it was grossly unfair and would cost St. Paul most of the concert business. He said it is wrong for Target Center to receive still more state aid when taxpayers already are supporting it far more than the Excel Center which generates most of its revenue from sales.

Chuck Roach asked if the Winter Classic NHL ice event would come to the Twin Cities.

Leipold assured him that it would. “We’ll get it when we make the play-offs.” He said it would be in either TCF Field or Target Field.