Nokomis Skippers

The **Nokomis Skippers** are a team of the Twin Cities Hockey League, where they have played since joining the league as an expansion team for the 1988-89 season. Based in the Nokomis neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Skippers play their home games at the 500-seat Minnehaha Ice Arena.

## History

For many years, the southern part of Minneapolis, Minnesota has been firmly Minneapolis Millers territory, leading the Mighty Millers to become one of the most elite teams in the MAHL. However, because of the Millers' limited roster space and Southern Minneapolis' aversion to playing for one of their rivals, some solid talent was left without a team to call home. The Mighty Millers had successfully stopped any attempts to launch another team in southern Minneapolis for years, until a new ownership group emerged with enough to get into the Twin Cities League and override the Millers' objections.

The Skippers name is an homage to Lake Nokomis, the neighborhood's namesake.

### Culture

#### Traditions

Skipper fans are known for their tradition of turning their backs to the ice when opposing players are introduced before games.

#### Lets Go Crazy

Since their inception, Nokomis has embraced the song "Lets Go Crazy" by Prince as their unofficial anthem. It is played after every Nokomis goal & win.

Lyrics:

> *"Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today, To get through this thing called life, Electric word life, it means forever and that's a mighty long time, But I'm here to tell you, there's something else, The afterworld, a world of never ending happiness, You can always see the sun, day or night, So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills, You know the one, Dr. Everything'll Be Alright, Instead of asking him how much of your time is left?, Ask him how much of your mind, baby, 'Cause in this life things are much harder than in the afterworld, This life you're on your own, And if de-elevator tries to bring you down, Go crazy, punch a higher floor*
>
>
> *If you don't like the world you're living in, Take a look around you, at least you got friends, Come on lady, for friendly word, She picked up the phone, dropped it on the floor, Ahh, ahh, is all I heard*
>
>
> *Are we gonna let de-elevator, Bring us down, oh, no, let's go*
>
>
> *Let's go crazy, let's get nuts, Look for the purple banana, 'Til they put us in the truck, let's go*
>
>
> *All excited but we don't know why, Maybe it's 'cause we're all gonna die, And when we do, what's it all for, Better live now before the grim reaper, Come knocking on your door*
>
>
> *Are we gonna let de-elevator, Bring us down, oh, no, let's go*
>
>
> *Let's go crazy, let's get nuts, Look for the purple banana, 'Til they put us in the truck, let's go, Come on, baby, let's get nuts, Yeah, crazy*
>
>
> *Let's go crazy*
>
>
> *Are we gonna let de-elevator bring us down, Oh, no, let's go, go crazy, I said let's go, go crazy, Let's go, let's go, go, let's go*
>
>
> *Dr. Everything'll Be Alright, Make everything go wrong, Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill, Hang tough, children, He's comin', He's comin', Comin'*
>
>
>
> *Take me away!"*
>
>

### Rivalry Trophies

#### City of Lakes Trophy

The Skippers compete against their in-city rivals the Minneapolis Bakers, Minneapolis Millers and Twin Cities Vulcans for the City of Lakes Trophy, awarded to the team which finishes the highest in the standings at the end of the season.

Currently, the Millers hold the Trophy, having won it for the first time in 1984 after and holding it the following four years. The Millers lead the all-time trophy series, 5-3-0-0, with the Bakers and Skippers not yet having won it as of 1988.