Babe The Blue OX

MASCOT, ENFORCER, LEGEND, AND CHIEF FUN OFFICER

Long before the Minnesota Blue Ox ever took the ice in Coon Rapids, Babe was roaming the forests, lakes, and frozen tundra of the North Star State alongside the legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan. Standing several stories tall with a bright blue hide visible from miles away, Babe helped carve Minnesota’s landscape, dragging pine forests across the north woods, creating lakes with his mighty hoofprints, and blazing trails from Bemidji to the Twin Cities.

According to Minnesota folklore, Babe eventually grew tired of pulling logs and wandering the wilderness. His heart belonged somewhere else.

The rink.

Some say Babe discovered hockey on a frozen pond outside Brainerd during a January blizzard. Others claim he wandered onto an outdoor sheet near Coon Rapids and immediately started throwing checks into snowbanks. Either way, the result was the same—Minnesota gained its most beloved hockey fanatic.

While modern league rules prevent Babe from officially suiting up, hockey historians throughout the state still credit him with introducing several unwritten Minnesota hockey traditions: protecting your TEAMmates, finishing every check, standing for the National Anthem, and never backing down from a challenge. Stories passed down through generations claim that many of Minnesota’s toughest players learned the meaning of grit simply by hearing tales of Babe around campfires in the North Woods.

Today, Babe proudly serves as the official mascot of the Minnesota Blue Ox, bringing Northwoods toughness, Minnesota pride, and game-day energy to every home game at Coon Rapids Ice Center. With a thick Minnesota accent, a sarcastic sense of humor, and an unwavering loyalty to the State of Hockey, Babe can be found rallying fans, celebrating goals, chirping opponents, and reminding everyone that hockey isn’t just a game in Minnesota—it’s part of who we are.

When he’s not leading Blue Ox fans, Babe enjoys ice fishing on Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, hunting in the fall, cheering on local hockey teams, debating the best walleye spots in the state, and consuming enough tater tot hot dish to feed an entire lumber camp. He remains convinced that Minnesota winters build character, that every kid should spend time on an outdoor rink, and that no road trip is complete without stopping at a small-town hockey arena.

From Coon Rapids to Crookston, Duluth to Fairmont, and everywhere in between, Babe represents the values that make Minnesota special: hard work, resilience, community, humility, and an enduring love of hockey.

Whether he’s leading the crowd during a playoff run, welcoming future Blue Ox players, or creating a little Northwoods chaos between periods, Babe stands as a symbol of everything the Minnesota Blue Ox aspire to be.

If you hear a booming “You Betcha!” echo through Coon Rapids Ice Center, Babe is probably nearby.

And if the opposing team hears it?

They’re already on thin ice.

JOE RUHLAND

PLAY BY PLAY AND GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE LEADER

Joe Ruhland an experienced Momentum Strategist and play-by-play announcer, brings a contagious energy and excitement to each game he calls. He has an extensive radio and tv portfolio that started as a student at St. Cloud State University. The youngest of ten, in a family that grew-up in southwest Minnesota, when Joe was not playing sports, he spent much of his calling games to himself in the living-room, when his older siblings were not watching American Bandstand.

Following college Joe spent his next five years working in Colorado as a Play-by-Play announcer/PR & Media Relations Director with the New York Rangers organization and a consultant with Team USA Hockey in Colorado Springs.

While with the Rangers during his three-year stint, he was key resource in the start-up of their IHL top-development team in Denver, which also included hosting a hockey talk show on KBYG-AM, a 50,000 watt sports network. Phil Esposito was the GM of the New Yorks Rangers during this time and led the league with 48 recall and reassignments throughout the 1988-89 season. Marcel Dionne, Ron Duguay, Mike Richter, Tony Granato, Peter Laviolette were a few of the players that circulated between Denver and New York.

It was during his time with Team USA Hockey, Joe became more familiar with leadership and neuroscience performance and the impact of MPO, Mindset Predicts Outcomes training implemented at the Olympic Training Center for many athletes.

Also, while in Colorado, Joe would call college football games for PrimeSports network as well as Public Address announcer at McNichols Sports Arena for NHL exhibition games and pre-Olympic Team USA Hockey games hosted in Denver.

Joe returned to Minnesota when he took a role with Medtronic in CRM Sales and Leadership Training, which also allowed him to continue enhance his broadcasting skills over the course of the past couple of decades.

Currently, Managing Partner of YourTime Performance Agency, he has continues to strategize and lead leadership and sales launches for medical, healthcare, software companies and Momentum based performance initiative for sports franchises and businesses as well.

You may hear him during telecast for QCTV sporting events or college sports across the radio waves. He continues his passion for hockey and in his call as he has the ability to recognize when key momentum-based moments are about to take place during our Blue Ox games.

Listening and catch the Joementum this season during his Blue Ox Hockey broadcast.

AUSTIN COOPER

PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER | USPHL LEAGUE STATS

My name is Austin Cooper and I’m 19 years old. Growing up I played a little bit of everything; Hockey, Football, Baseball, and Basketball, I enjoyed playing Baseball and watching Hockey.

As I got older I started getting into bowling and golf. Lastly I make sure that whatever I’m going to commit to, I do it with 110%.

I love helping those in need, getting others involved and most importantly giving someone another reason to see tomorrow.

I’m excited to join the blue ox not only to be on the game day crew but to get to know everyone inside and around the blue ox community.

TIM BROWN

GAME DAY HELPER

‘Browner”, Tim never played hockey growing up, but picked it up in his adult years as the game always intrigued him. The position he choose is intriguing as well.  Goalie.  He started coaching 4 years ago for the Coon Rapids Youth Hockey Association to share his passion for the game. He joined the Blue Ox year one to help with our game day festivities. He loves the high energy at the Blue Ox games and how involved the team is in the community.  Getting to know the players on a personal level is pretty cool as well, especially the players from Europe!

In his real life, Tim has worked at Federal in Anoka for 1o+ years and enjoys spending time camping with his wife Michelle in their new RV during the Summers and Fall.

Stop and say hello to Tim at the next Blue Ox game, he enjoys getting to know all our the wonderful Blue Ox fans and their families. 

TIM LEACH

GAME DAY SECURITY

Retired from the Postal Service after 30 years – and has since worked security for various sporting and music events events here around the Twin Cities!  “Leacher” was raised in South Saint Paul played and coached youth ice hockey for many years. Now he enjoys watching the greatest sport in the world and is an avid Blue Ox fan!

Let’s Go Boys!  Be sure to stop Tim at a game and say hello!  He loves meeting all of our awesome Blue Ox fans!

FRED CRIMMINS

GAME DAY MILITARY VETERAN

Fred played hockey as a youth and was a Goalie. He was a practice goalie for Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Massachusetts. After not getting anywhere with hockey, Fred enlisted in the Air Force where he became a helicopter mechanic and was selected to be a Flight Engineer. Fred retired from the Air Force in 1996 after 21 years. After which he immediately got back into hockey and the rest is history.

• Hockey Coach, 1996 – 2010 North Metro Youth Hockey Association, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
• Head Coach, Boy’s Junior Varsity Ice Hockey 2007-2010
• North Metro Stars High School Co-op Team
• Head Coach, Boy’s Junior Gold Ice Hockey 2007-2011
• Totino Grace High School
• Certified USA Hockey Coaching Level 4
• Bachelor’s Degree, Occupational Education, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, 1982
• Graduate, West Bridgewater High School, West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 1973

Be sure to stop Freddie at a game (if you can) and say hello!  He loves meeting all of our awesome Blue Ox fans!