Man Arrested in $12,000 Theft of Mankato West Hockey Sticks

You can file this one under, 'Only in Minnesota.' Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad, but we are the State of Hockey after all.

Back on December 28th in Duluth, the Mankato West boys hockey team was scheduled to face Anoka in the Duluth Heritage Hockey Classic -- only to find that the teams hockey sticks valued at $12,000 had been stole off the teams bus.

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Some things would only be stolen in Minnesota. Ruby Slippers, fishing lures, Sweet Martha's cookies, and now -- hockey sticks.

The theft forced the Mankato West Scarlets to withdraw from the holiday tournament.

So who would do such a thing? My first guess was the Anoka Tornadoes hockey team. Nope. What about the other tournament teams. Duluth Denfeld? Nope. Owatonna? Not the Huskies. Oh, I know. It was probably Apple Valley. No again.

As it turns out, Duluth Police have arrested a 23-year-old dude for the 'stick-up.' Cole Saice has been charged with aiding and abetting attempted theft in St. Louis County court.

The DPD recovered more than thirty sticks valued at more than twelve grand, making this odd criminal fiasco a felony.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help the team and players raise money for new sticks before Duluth Police recovered the stolen lumber.