Mankato West hockey team’s stolen stick bag recovered by police

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NEWARK, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: A general view of a hockey stick and puck during the game at the Prudential Center on November 25, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images)

MANKATO, Minn. (FOX 9) - Police say they have recovered items stolen from the Mankato West varsity hockey team that forced them to cancel a weekend tournament game.

Equipment stolen

What we know: Scarlet Hockey says the team’s varsity stick bag was stolen off the bus overnight during the weekend, and they didn’t have sticks to play their game against Anoka at the Heritage Holiday Classic in Duluth. The JV team skated to a 3-2 win with just eight players in their place.

Items located

Update: Authorities say an officer on patrol saw a man walking in the 100 block of East 3rd Street around 10:50 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28, with "a few of the items."

The man said he found the items, and police say he didn’t match the description of the person suspected in the theft, but he was booked for an unrelated warrant by authorities.

Police say they are making arrangements to return the items, and the theft remains an active investigation.

So far, the team says it's unclear how many sticks were recovered or their condition, and a GoFundMe has been created to help recoup some of the expected losses.