The summer heat in Edina, Minnesota, carried a familiar buzz as the final games of the State of Hockey league unfolded on the ice of Braemar Arena.
A nostalgic final chapter
Freddy Gaudreau, once a mainstay of the Minnesota Wild and later a Seattle Kraken center, dazzled the crowd with a slick deke that left defenseman Nate Schmidt spinning in his wake.
The spectacle was more than a showcase; it was a charity‑driven reunion that brought together a mix of former NHL talent, Seattle Kraken alumni and rising stars from the PWHL Seattle Torrent.
Fans packed the stands, lining up for autographs after each match, while families of the players took the opportunity to spend precious time together before the next season.
This year’s edition marked the swan song of the Da Beauty League, a tradition that has, for ten years, blended competition with community service, and its conclusion reflects a broader shift toward prioritizing family during the offseason.
Players such as Ryan Lindgren, Ben Meyers and Lleyton Roed, alongside PWHL standouts Hanna Murphy, Anna Wilgren and Emily Zumwinkle, contributed to a weekend that blended skill, nostalgia and philanthropy.