With baseball season winding down, it’s time to look forward to my next favorite season: Hockey Season.

The Minnesota Wild will take the ice at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow against the Chicago Blackhawks in the season opener. The Wild are looking to expand on last year’s success and find their way back to the playoffs for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

I’m excited for the upcoming season. The team is returning its core of players with the biggest off-season deal coming in the trade of goalie Manny Fernandez to the town notorious for recruiting former Minnesota star athletes--Boston. The Wild shouldn’t feel the sting too bad considering it’s got a top goalie and a talented, young prospect.

The thing about the Wild is you can always know what to expect--win or lose. Hard Work. Coach Lemaire will have those guys skating their butts off on the ice, playing good, solid hockey. Maybe if the team can find the net a few more times, there may be a division title in the balance. I can dream.

And if I get tired of the Wild, there’s the Gophers who kick off the regular season Oct. 19 versus Colorado College.

You know, one of the great things about hockey? It ends just in time for my next favorite season to start: Baseball Season.