ST. PAUL, Minn. – If there’s one thing that sums up Minnesota’s passion for hockey it’s the Minnesota Wild Anthem.
The team plays the song at every home game after the first period.
The lyrics were the brainchild of the late John Olson, who founded Olson ad agency. It was his job to help brand the Minnesota Wild when professional hockey returned to Minnesota in 2000.
“The words capture the craziness of the passion we have in this state for hockey,” said Matt Majka, the Chief Operating Officer of the Minnesota Wild. “It’s a little quirky and a little campy.”
The song debuted during the 2000-2001 season. The team tried it out on the crowd with a kids choir.
“We worried about the song,” said Majka. “It’s a little known sports secret if you put a kid out there they can’t be booed or made a fool of.”
Fans all around the state embraced the song and the meaning behind it.
“Getting the Wild back meant so much to so many people.” said Derek Bitter, Group Creative Director for Colle & McVoy. Bitter worked on the song while employed at Olson. “When the wild came back in and those words came to life, it really resonated with people.”
The song continues to resonate with fans.
“Here we are fifteen years later, it’s still beloved,” said Majka.
WILD ANTHEM
We were raised
With the stick
And a pair of blades
On the ice we cut our teeth
We took our knocks
In the penalty box
Our mother was the referee
This sport was here
Before we came
It will be here when we're gone
The game's in our blood
And our blood's in the game
Lay us down under
A frozen pond
We will fight to the end
We will stand and defend
Our flag flying high and free
We were born the child
Of the strong and Wild
In the State, the State of Hockey
A big blue line runs around our state
A line that can't be crossed
The day they try to take this game
Is the day the gloves come off
We will fight to the end
We will stand and defend
Our flag flying high and free
We were born the child
Of the strong and Wild
In the State, the State of Hockey.