Wild Notes: Louie Nanne, Charlie Coyle, Mathew Dumba & More

As the Vikings' preseason begins to wind down and millions descend upon the Minnesota State Fair, it only means that hockey season is on the other side. And for a couple Wild prospects, it already has begun. The Swedish Elite League (where Johan Gustafsson and Daniel Gunnarsson play) has already begun its preseason while a few others have begun their junior and collegiate camps.

As you enjoy your Monday, here are a few things that aren't big enough for their own post yet bigger than a quick line in an upcoming link dump. We'll pick up the First Round Bust Top-20 Minnesota Wild prospects later today with #18 and maybe another thought or musing.

Louie Nanne starts off Canadian adventure with an OT winner
Penticton began the defense of their RBC Cup last week with three intra-squad scrimmages to get back in form along with some cohesion - only four players return from last year's team - and the middle one was all Nanne. The 7th round pick this year scored two goals, including the OT winner, to send Blue home victorious over White 4-3.

Penticton have an exhibition game Thursday before starting the regular season September 7th.

Charlie Coyle going to Toronto for NHLPA rookie showcase
Tuesday will be the fourth annual NHLPA rookie showcase where players get photographed for their first trading cards and other memorabilia-related items. All 30 teams are represented in the showcase with Minnesota sending top prospect Charlie Coyle.

Why Coyle instead of FBJ Mikael Granlund? The Twin Cities to Toronto is a shorter flight than from Finland.

Red Deer begins training camp
2012 first round pick Mathew Dumba's Red Deer Rebels began training camp Saturday, as they try to rebound from an injury-riddled season. Besides a series of preseason games starting September 1st, the Rebels open their WHL campaign Friday September 21st against Calgary.

Sunday (Sunday Sunday) Radio
After a month-long absence, there was plenty of Wild talk on MSP radio Sunday morning. General Chuck Fletcher made his way through the sports talk circuit at the State Fair, speaking to both Tom Pelisserio and Jim Souhan at 1500ESPN, Dan Barriero on KFAN and "close personal friend" Sid Hartman on WCCO. All three appearances concerned Minnesota and a possible NHL lockout.

In addition, Wild radio host Kevin Falness joined Henry Lake on KFAN Sunday afternoon to talk more puck.

Clayton Stoner & Nate Prosser at the Fair
To continue the Minnesota State Fair theme, Clayton Stoner and Nate Prosser will be at the the great Minnesota get together tomorrow from 2-3 pm at the Defending the Blue Line booth. Good news if you're there, bad news if you're one of the many international readers.

ESPN ranks Wild uniforms 32nd out of 122 teams
Last week Paul Lukas of the ever-popular UniWatch ranked all 122 NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL sports teams in order of their jerseys. The Wild, whose jerseys are polarizing, ended up as the top Minnesota team and 32nd overall. Lukas wrote:

Almost every design move by this franchise has been a winner, from the primary logo (love the North Star as the bear's eye) to the handsome script on the alternate uni. The circular logo on the home uniform feels a bit forced -- it's a little presumptuous for a team to go old-school when it's existed for only a dozen years -- but it's still a good-looking design. Whoever's running the graphics program here, keep it up.

Minnesota finished 8th in the NHL. The other Minnesota teams finished 119th (Vikings), 115th (Timberwolves) and 71st overall (Twins).

Ryan Jones Interview
Nashville Predators blog On The Forecheck interviewed former Wild draft pick Ryan Jones. Jones, of course, was traded for Marek Zidlicky (remember that guy?) and presently plays for the Edmonton Oilers.