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The most devastating injuries in Minnesota sports history

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The most devastating injuries in Minnesota sports history


The Minnesota Twins skilled ache on Friday when it was introduced that Royce Lewis would endure surgical procedure for {a partially} torn ACL.

The harm is devastating for Twins followers after Lewis had appeared to rebound after tearing his ACL in the identical knee in February 2021. Minnesota sports activities followers will inform you that this is not something new. Over time, there have been quite a few accidents to star gamers creating an encyclopedia of ache.

Kirby Puckett’s eye (1995)

Puckett was the face of the Twins, serving to Minnesota win two World Collection championships and hitting one of many best dwelling runs within the historical past of the game. Even at age 36, Puckett was relied upon heading into the 1996 season to type a potent lineup together with Paul Molitor, Chuck Knoblauch and reigning American League Rookie of the Yr Marty Cordova.

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These plans modified when Dennis Martinez hit Puckett within the face with a pitch on Sept. 28, 1995. Puckett missed the rest of the season with a damaged jaw however the next March, he developed blurred imaginative and prescient in his proper eye.

Puckett was later recognized with glaucoma and the situation pressured him to retire. The 1996 Twins went on to complete ninth in runs scored (twenty fifth in ERA), however it’s truthful to marvel how for much longer Puckett might have performed had he not been injured.

Sam Cassell’s hip (2004)

In 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been within the midst of their best season ever. After incomes the one two playoff sequence victories in franchise historical past and watching Kevin Garnett win the MVP award, an NBA championship was a sensible chance till Sam Cassell broke out the “Massive Balls” dance.

Cassell’s jumper in Sport 2 of the Western Convention Semifinals helped even the sequence with the Sacramento Kings, however whereas he was strutting round like Isuro Tanaka, he injured his hip.

Flip Saunders tried all the pieces to beat the harm — together with utilizing Garnett at level guard through the Western Convention Finals  — however the Timberwolves went on to be eradicated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six video games and raised questions of what might have been.

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Daunte Culpepper’s knee (2005)

After years of being the place the place quarterbacks went to die, the Minnesota Vikings appeared to have discovered a franchise quarterback in Culpepper. With a bazooka for an arm, the physique of a tank and the mobility of a working again, Culpepper was set to turn into Minnesota’s first long-term quarterback since Fran Tarkenton.

That season proved to be the height of Culpepper’s profession, nonetheless, as he tore three ligaments in his knee throughout an October 2005 sport towards the Carolina Panthers.

Chris Gamble’s hit opened an odd saga involving Brad Childress, e-mails and strip malls earlier than Culpepper was traded to the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings would proceed to shuffle quarterbacks till Kirk Cousins signed in 2018.

Francisco Liriano’s elbow (2006)

The 2006 Twins have been a particular workforce that went from 12.5 video games out of first place in late Could to profitable the AL Central on the ultimate day of the common season. 

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A giant purpose for the turnaround was the emergence of Liriano, who went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 28 video games. With Johan Santana on the prime of the rotation, followers dreamed of a devastating 1-2 punch in October till Liriano tore his UCL in August.

Liriano was by no means the identical pitcher. From 2008 till he was traded in 2012, the left-hander went 40-49 with a 4.75 ERA in 134 video games (121 begins) for the Twins.

Minnesota went on to be swept by the Oakland Athletics within the 2006 ALDS and hasn’t received a playoff sport since.

Teddy Bridgewater’s knee (2016)

Very similar to Culpepper, Bridgewater was on his solution to changing into a franchise quarterback for the Vikings. With Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen ready within the wings, Bridgewater was about to get the weapons he did not have throughout his first two years in Minnesota and it might have paved the way in which for a breakout season.

Simply days earlier than the season started, nonetheless, Bridgewater suffered a ugly non-contact harm in observe that tore all three ligaments in his knee and dislocated his kneecap. The surgeon who carried out surgical procedure on Bridgewater referred to as the harm “just like a battle wound” and he would by no means begin a sport for the Vikings once more.

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The harm additionally set off a butterfly impact for the Vikings who traded their first-round decide within the 2017 draft for Sam Bradford. The Philadelphia Eagles would use that decide to pick Derek Barnett, who strip-sacked Case Keenum within the 2017 NFC Championship Sport and the Vikings went on to signal Cousins previous to the 2018 season.

Zach Parise’s again (2016)

The 2016 Wild weren’t a dominant workforce by any means, however they actually would’ve had a greater shot at taking down the No. 1 Dallas Stars within the first spherical of the playoffs had Parise been wholesome. However the Wild star aggravated a again harm through the ultimate days of the common season (that later led to again surgical procedure) and he missed the playoffs. 

Minnesota misplaced the sequence in six video games, although they did stage one of many nice comebacks by rallying from a 4-0 deficit within the third interval to tie the Stars in Sport 6, solely to lose 5-4. 

Had Parise performed the complete sequence wholesome, the Wild positively would’ve had a shot at upsetting the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention. 

Royce Lewis’ knee (2021)

It is arduous to inform if this harm belongs on the checklist, however with how Lewis was taking part in, it might have a devastating impact on the Twins.

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Lewis got here into this season with out taking part in an organized sport in two years. In a small pattern, Lewis confirmed no in poor health results, hitting .300 with two dwelling runs in 12 video games with the Twins earlier than getting damage.

If there is a silver lining, Byron Buxton recovered after a string of accidents to turn into a celebrity when on the sphere. At age 23, there’s potential for the same final result for Lewis, however with him now out for no less than the following yr, the stress is on Minnesota to discover a solution to re-sign Carlos Correa or discover one other new beginning shortstop. 

Observe: Adrian Peterson’s torn ACL in 2011 is a notable harm, however he bounced again with an MVP season in 2012, thus rendering it not devastating. 



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Minnesota

Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota

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Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota


Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota – CBS Minnesota

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The new year signals the start of new laws taking effect in Minnesota, which will impact Minnesotans’ health, wallets and safety.

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports


Nicole Hensley made back-to-back saves in the shootout and the Minnesota Frost earned their fourth straight victory with a 4-3 win over the New York Sirens on Sunday in Newark, N.J.

It was the fourth time in seven all-time meetings that a game between the teams was decided in OT and the second this season. New York won the season opener in St. Paul, Minn.

Kendall Coyne Schofield scored two first-period goals to stake the Frost to the early lead and Taylor Heise beat Kayle Osborne, who relieved starter Abigail Levy in the New York net to start the second period, two minutes in to make it a 3-0 lead.

WATCH l Heise scores shootout winner:

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Minnesota captures shootout win over New York to remain on top of PWHL standings

Taylor Heise’s fourth round shootout goal turned out to be the difference as the Minnesota Frost defeated New York Sirens 4-3 Sunday in New Jersey.

But Osborne did not allow another goal in regulation and wasn’t seriously challenged in overtime while the Sirens staged a comeback. Brooke Hobson and Elizabeth Giguere each scored in the second period and Alex Carpenter pounced on a loose puck and lifted a shot over Hensley’s shoulder from deep in the face-off circle to tie the game midway through the third period.

Hensley was brilliant in overtime, turning away four close-in, open shots by the Sirens (2-1-1-1), two of them on breakaway chances.

Minnesota (4-0-1-0) got goals from Denisa Křížová, Grace Zumwinkle and Heise in the shootout. Noora Tulus and Carpenter each converted in the shootout for New York, but Hensley came up with a save on Sarah Fillier before stopping the final two shooters for the Sirens.

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Hensley finished with 33 saves on 36 shots to earn the win. Osborne made 18 saves on 19 shots over her 45 minutes in goal for New York. Carpenter’s two-goal effort lifted her past Coyne Schofield and into the league lead with four goals in her first five games and she now has a league-leading seven points.

WATCH l Sirens’ Fillier, Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry:

New York Sirens’ Sarah Fillier, Alex Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry

Host Anastasia Bucsis puts newest teammates and linemates to the test to determine if their chemistry on the ice, translates off it.



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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years

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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years


A northern Minnesota airport with an unusual claim to fame is closing after 70 years of operation.

The Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport near Roseau is the only airport with a paved runway crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

The border airport opened in 1953 to expedite customs processing for air travelers and was regularly used by hunters and anglers flying to Canada.

The Piney Pinecreek airport has the only paved runway crossing the US Canada border.

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Initially, the airport had a grass runway that ended at the border, but in 1978 a runway expansion added a paved runway that extended into Canada.

Customs agents would meet travelers on either side of the border.

But declining usage and significant impending repair costs led to the decision to close the one of a kind operation, said Ryan Gaug, director of the Minnesota Department of Transportation aeronautics office.

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“We know that the pavement condition has declined significantly over the years and will need a reconstruct most likely in the next one to three years,” said Gaug.

Short-term costs to bring the facility up to safety standards is estimated at $3.8 million.

Piney-Pinecreek is the only airport owned by MnDOT, and it is operated in collaboration with the Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba.

A Canadian official said the local government could not raise the money to pay its share of the planned improvement costs and Piney officials ended the joint operations agreement.

Gaug said an estimated 200 airplanes a year use the facility, far lower than traffic at similar sized facilities.

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There are six airports on the U.S.-Canada border, but Piney-Pinecreek is the only one with a paved runway.

“It’s always been the No. 1 fun fact that I’ve shared with friends, family, coworkers, colleagues here at MnDOT,” said Gaug.

“It’s a tough decision to close an airport ever, but the evidence was all there that now was the time,” he said.

concrete with black stripes

MnDOT officials said the runway at Piney Pinecreek border airport needs a costly reconstruction.

Courtesy MnDOT

There are no local airplanes based at the airport.

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“It’s very sad for the community to lose its airport,” said Marlin Elton, a local resident who served on the airport commission and helped maintain the facility for 30 years.

Elton said the closure hasn’t raised concerns in the community because “if you don’t fly, it won’t affect you. The ones who will be affected are the pilots who use it.”

Gaug said MnDOT reached out to pilots and aviation groups to gauge support for keeping the airport open but found “there just isn’t a strong user base for this airport and that also led to not a strong local support fighting to keep this airport.”

The final day of operations for the Piney-Pinecreek airport is Dec. 26.



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