(Brought to you by Gillette. Because sooner or later, even the
 guys from ZZ Top are gonna have to shave.)
 
 
The two characters I present here are fictional. Do they pass the
"Minnesota-Only" litmus test, therefore becoming worthy of
donning those maroon-and-gold "M's" and having to put up with
Charley Hallman and Sid Hartman?
 
YOU MAKE THE CALL!
 
GOPHER TO-BE #1: Bengt Larsen is a native of Sweden who played
that country's equivalent of midget hockey under the same coach
who guided Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg. Through an exchange
program, he ships himself and his collection of ABBA, Roxette and
Ace of Base tapes to Edina, Minnesota, where he enrolls as a
junior and leads EHS to the state hockey title, and turns his
teammates on to that groovy Euro-sound. Over the summer before
his senior year, he gets a phone call from a guy named Mark, who
is an assistant coach for the local college team...
 
GOPHER-TO-BE #2:
Johnny "Sky" Yuma, 14, was born and raised in Hibbing,
Minnesota. He's been on skates ever since he was two, which has
really torn up the rugs in his house, and has bled Gopher Gold all
his young life. He's been a standout all through his youth hockey
career, and looks forward playing in the State tournament once he
enters high school. But the summer before ninth grade, his father
announces that his company is shipping him to the Boston area, in a
new office out on Rte. 128.  The family can't afford to keep
Johnny in-state by sending him to Blake, Breck, or Minnehaha
Academy, but since Massachusetts has a strong high school hockey
system, he'll still get a chance to play. Johnny helps pack for the
move, never losing sight of his dream of someday being a "Man of
Gold."
 
 
These two players both have Gopher State connections. But are
those connections strong enough to let them become part of the
Pride On Ice?
 
YOU MAKE THE CALL!