The Wild announced that the team will open training camp in Grand Forks, North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena on September 20th because the Xcel will not be back to "normal" after hosting the Republican National Convention at the beginning of September. I sort of thought the X might not be ready on time, but I wasn't sure of the exact timeline.

Wild Assistant general manager Tom Lynn is quoted as saying, "Ralph Engelstad Arena is one of the finest hockey facilities in the world, and outside of our home in the Twin Cities, we could not imagine a better venue for starting our training camp in 2008."

I have been to REA before (I promise to post more about that tomorrow) and agree that it is a fine facility, but I have to say I am shocked that the Minnesota Wild didn't work out a deal to keep hockey in the Twin Cities. Mariucci? Blaine? White Bear . . .they have options. Are there any Wild fans out there that are offended that the Wild choose North Dakota? I know they play preseason games there and that the facility is one of a kind, but I am also very loyal to St Paul and the Twin Cities in general...hmmm....