EDINA, Minn. — Da Beauty League is back and it's one of da biggest shows in town.
Featuring 28 NHL players and numerous other pro and college players, this recreational hockey league opened its season at Braemar Arena. Last season was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
Players like Nick Bjugstad and Jason Zucker participated in this 4-on-4 exhibition, kicking off the new season Wednesday night. Also on rosters are NHL names like Brock Nelson, Mike Reilly, Brock Boeser, K'Andre Miller, Nate Schmidt and Erik Haula.
For some of these players this was the biggest crowd they've played in front of in almost two years. The NHL concluded the 2019-20 season from a bubble with no fans, and many cities were extremely limited with the number of fans allowed for the abbreviated 2020-21 season.
It's also a chance to reconnect with friends and former teammates, as many of the players have roots or ties to the Minnesota hockey community.
Da Beauty League runs for the next month. They play on most Mondays and Wednesday, and will host a championship game on Aug. 25. Tickets are $15, and are available on Da Beauty League website.