Minnesota is a hotbed for NHL players, that’s nothing new, whether they were born there or make their offseason home there. Those players from the Land of 10,000 Lakes are banding together this summer in the Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 league that benefits charity and features pretty much every big-name NHLer you can think of, along with other amateurs.
Zach Parise, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan McDonagh and David Backes offer star power and some legitimacy to the league. There are other familiar names like the Lightning’s own Erik Condra… and Matt Carle (but to be clear, neither was born in Minnesota). There’s a familiar head coach too: Ben Clymer, who was part of the Bolts’ Stanley Cup-winning team of 2003-2004. Clymer will coach Condra and Backes, who will serve as that team’s captain. Carle is on a team captained by Brock Nelson.
Check out the full roster here.
Here’s the nitty gritty, from the Star Tribune’s Mike Russo.
Dubbed the Da Beauty League, the league includes three games consecutively each night with the first game starting on most nights at 6 p.m. and the third game ending around 9:45. The games will consist of two 30-minute running halves.
Entry to the each night’s slate of games is $5 per person. Kids shorter than the picture of Dustin Byfuglien are allowed in for free. Season passes can be purchased for just $25.
Why the John Scott Cup? Per Russo:
Da Beauty League has tabbed John Scott as its first “very part-time honorary Commissioner.” From the press release, “Scott is well known for his prowess as an NHL enforcer and recent NHL All Star MVP honor. Scott is a true beauty and the inspiration for Da Beauty League logo.”
The league opens tonight and games take place every Tuesday and Thursday evening until the playoffs, which occur Aug. 9-10. All games will be played at Braemar Arena in Edina, a suburb southwest of Minneapolis.
It’s a bit difficult to handicap a team when there’s only a handful of familiar names on each team. But here’s hoping Condra averages more ice time than the 10:42 he averaged in the 2015-2016 season.
