Minnesota Wild center/forward Travis Boyd has spent eight seasons in the NHL, but on Saturday, he got to do something the 31-year-old had never done before: Play for the team he grew up rooting for.
Boyd spent 8:23 on the ice, including being featured in 11 shifts throughout the day, but he didn’t contribute any points. Yet, he still had an unforgettable debut with his new team.
Minnesota Wild’s Travis Boyd had to walk through the snow just to live out his NHL dream
Travis Boyd has already had an adventurous NHL career, playing for four different teams since being drafted in the sixth round in 2011. But for the Hopkins, Minnesota native to make his NHL debut with his hometown Minnesota Wild, Boyd would have to ditch his car and trek through the snow, and he didn’t exactly have his winter boots on.
Sitting in traffic just 21 minutes before Wild warmups began, Minnesota’s team services manager advised getting out of their vehicle and traveling on foot the rest of the way to the stadium.
“Boyder, I think we got to hoof it.”
Minnesota Wild’s team services manager Dominic Hennig to Travis Boyd
Boyd, wearing a suit and dress shoes — without socks — climbed out of the SUV and into the cold Canadian climate, sprinting past the stalled cars waiting in traffic. It may seem like a less-than-ideal experience, but it’s one he’ll never forget.
— Patrick (@Patrick_2421) November 24, 2024
“Dom and I literally had to get out of our car service and run down the street. I had my bag on my shoulder, and Dom was carrying my sticks for me, running through the snowy stuff in a suit and dress shoes on with a bag on my back.
Minnesota Wild’s Travis Boyd on unforgettable NHL debut
It’s funny looking back on it now, and I’m sure I’ll look back on this day as a great day. What a crazy story and 24 hours, but I can say I’ve played a game for the Wild now. It’s childhood dream stuff.”
Boyd was called into action after Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov was ruled out due to injury, along with Marat Khusnutdinov too. Recalled from the Iowa Wild on Friday, Boyd was already in the lineup by Saturday, but his flight didn’t land in Calgary until noon, giving him less than 90 minutes to get to the arena before the game began.
Boyd is still waiting to play a home game for the Wild, but our guess is he’ll have more luck getting to the arena on time for his next go-around.
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