UPDATE: Heritage Hockey Classic game postponed after hockey sticks allegedly stolen

SUNDAY 12-29 UPDATE:

According to the Duluth Police Department, at approximately 10:50PM on Saturday, December 28th, officers located a male walking with a few of the missing items in the 100 block of E 3rd Street. The male stated he located the items behind CHUM.

The male involved did not match the description of the suspected individual.

Officers recovered the items and are making arrangements to return them to their rightful owners. This incident remains an active and ongoing investigation.

ORIGINAL 12-28 REPORTING:

Mankato West Hockey announced on social media that they had to postpone their game with Anoka during the Heritage Hockey Classic in Duluth on Saturday, December 28, after their hockey sticks were allegedly stolen overnight.

The Mankato West Hockey posting to X saying, “Today’s game with Anoka has been postponed and will be made up later this season. Our Varsity stick bag was stolen off the bus overnight and we didn’t have sticks to play our game. Can’t make it up. Stunning, really. JV gutted out a 3-2 victory with 8 players!”

The Duluth Police say the theft occurred in the 200 W Block of 1st Street. They are actively investigating the situation and are not releasing any additional information at this time.

The Essentia Duluth Heritage Center has responded on Facebook, putting out the following statement:

“We are aware of this theft of property and are assisting the team and law enforcement with trying to locate and recover their stolen sticks. This incident happened while the team bus was parked overnight at their hotel. If you have any information, please contact the Duluth Police Department so we can try and obtain a positive outcome for the Mankato West players and families.”