Two Minnesota hockey legends retired this summer with Blake Wheeler and T.J. Oshie calling it a career. Blake Wheeler, from Plymouth, and Warroad’s T.J. Oshie embodied their home state’s hockey tradition from high school rinks to the international stage.
Both were Minnesota High School State Champions, played for the United States during the Olympic games and suited up for over 1,000 NHL games.
Oshie was the first to retire, as the veteran Washington Capitals forward announced the close of his career at the Washington Harbour on June 9. The Harbour was the site of the Capitals’ Stanley Cup Celebration in 2018.
The forward retired after lingering injuries held him out of the 2024-25 season entirely.
Oshie: A Warroad icon and a “True Warrior”
T.J. Oshie was born in Mount Vernon, Washington, and spent his childhood in Everett, but moved to Warroad (his father’s hometown) in 2002 and played on the high school team for three seasons. The skilled forward blossomed into an elite prospect with Warroad, winning two state titles with the team in 2002-2003 and 2004-2005.
Oshie attended the University of North Dakota after his high school career and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award during his final collegiate season in 2007-2008.
The North Dakota product started his career with the St. Louis Blues after being drafted by the organization in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Oshie played a solid role during his seven-year tenure in St. Louis, but will be best-known for his time as a Washington Capital.
The Capitals acquired Oshie as the final piece in a supremely talented team that was struggling to win the Stanley Cup. Oshie ultimately helped push the Capitals to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. Capitals General Manager Chris Patrick reflected on the change Oshie brought to the team when he came in.
“Obviously, an unbelievable career. One of the best players to play in the NHL. One of the most skilled guys I’ve ever seen in the NHL,” Patrick told The Washington Post. “An unbelievable teammate, an unbelievable team guy… To me, he changed the trajectory of this franchise.”
The winger played a crucial role in the Capitals winning the cup, but he was also renowned for his character. Teammate Tom Wilson spoke about who Oshie was as a person in a reflection on Oshie’s career.
“I could be here all night talking about him, the character, the type of person that he is,” Wilson said. “He makes everybody in this room a better person, a better player. He’s a true warrior. He hasn’t taken a shift off in his entire career.”
Oshie had a decorated NHL career, but will perhaps be best remembered for his historic performance in the 2014 Olympic Games. Oshie famously took five consecutive shootout attempts in a preliminary game against Russia. The shootout specialist was successful on four of his six attempts and scored the game-winning goal in the eighth round.
While Oshie played his professional career in St. Louis and Washington, the forward has maintained his Minnesota roots. He founded Warroad Hockey Co., a hockey apparel company, in 2018. Now that he’s retired, Oshie and his family are moving back to Minnesota after spending the last several years in Virginia.
The Oshie’s return to Minnesota will be a boon for the local community as it welcomes back one of its favorite sons.
Oshie ended his career with 695 points in 1010 games. He won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018 and represented the United States in the 2014 Olympic Games.
Wheeler: A strong leader and prolific playmaker
Blake Wheeler announced his retirement on July 19, 2025, after a decorated NHL career that included stops in Boston, Atlanta, Winnipeg, and New York. Wheeler called it a career after his own lingering injuries limited his ice time in recent years.
Wheeler was born in Plymouth, MN, and first attended Wayzata High School before playing his junior and senior seasons at Breck. The forward powered Breck to a Class A State Title in 2003-2004, with Wheeler scoring 11 points in the tournament.
After his high school career, Wheeler played one season for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL, and then attended the University of Minnesota and played with the Gophers for three seasons. The Plymouth native was named an alternate captain during his junior season.
The Phoenix Coyotes drafted Wheeler with the fifth overall pick in the 2004 draft but never came to terms with the forward. Instead, he signed with the Boston Bruins in 2008 and played in Boston for three seasons.
The Bruins traded Wheeler to the Thrashers during their final season in Atlanta. The team relocated to Winnipeg in 2011-12, and Wheeler became an integral part of the Jets after their return to Canada.
Wheeler amassed impressive numbers with two 91-point seasons in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. The playmaking forward even led the league in assists with 68 during the 2017-2018 campaign. In total, Wheeler notched 812 points in 897 games with the Jets.
The former Gopher’s career also included substantial leadership experience. Wheeler was named captain of the Winnipeg Jets for the 2015-2016 season, and the team immediately significantly improved under his watch.
Wheeler captained the Jets to a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2017-2018, the deepest run of the franchise’s history. While the team did not capture the Stanley Cup, Wheeler’s captaincy represented the most prolonged era of winning hockey for the Atlanta and Winnipeg organizations.
Jack Roslovic, a forward who was teammates with Wheeler in Winnipeg, reflected on Wheeler’s leadership during their time together in New York.
“One of the best leaders I’ve played for,” said Roslovic. “Not playing with him, I’ve thought a lot about him throughout my career, the ways that he would do things and the intensity he would bring. Only great things.”
Wheeler left Winnipeg and signed with the New York Rangers in the summer of 2023. Wheeler is Winnipeg’s career leader in points and assists.
Wheeler’s time with New York lasted only 54 games before injuries forced him to retire this summer.
The forward retired with 1,172 games and 943 points in his NHL career, second all-time in points amongst Minnesota-born players behind Hall-of-Famer Phil Housley. He also represented the United States at the 2014 Olympic Games as T.J. Oshie’s teammate.
Together, T.J. Oshie and Blake Wheeler leave behind more than just impressive stat lines; they leave a legacy that embodies the tradition of Minnesota hockey. Both players embodied the values of hard work, leadership, and community at every level. From the High School State Tournament to the Olympic Games, Oshie and Wheeler showcased what it means to represent the State of Hockey.
