Bride goes to Wild game, eats burger, wins hockey hearts

A Minnesota bride has won the hearts of hockey fans after chowing down a burger in her wedding dress at Saturday's Wild game.

Wild fans Erica Skuta and Lewis Blake attended the game against the Dallas Stars as their "wedding finale."

Blake, a New Zealand resident, had hoped to get on the Jumbotron by holding up a sign that read: "I flew 8,044 miles from New Zealand to be at this game (and to get married)."

But it was another moment that caught the eye of many: Blake dabbed drippings from his bride's chin as she ate a burger.

The video has since gone viral. That "freaked" Skuta out at first, but the attention has been mostly positive, she said.

"I was kind of terrified when I first learned I was eating a cheeseburger on TV," the former Oakdale resident said. "The response has been insane."

Fox Sports North posted the video to its Facebook page, where it was viewed more than 15,200 times. Laura Cole wrote, "This is the most Minnesotan thing ever."

Kevin Spring wrote: "She's a total keeper. … Wild fan, loves burgers, wants to go to the game on her wedding night … and she's stunning! Congrats you two!"

Blake said he already knew how lucky he was. For his wedding gift, Skuta arranged for Blake to watch a Wild practice, which is usually closed to the public.

"It became pretty clear early on in our relationship that we were going to go the distance," he said. "I know how lucky I am."

The video also was posted on the social networking site Reddit with the headline "Canadian Honeymoon," which Skuta said isn't too far off base. Before returning home to New Zealand, the couple will spend their honeymoon hiking and sightseeing along the North Shore to the Canadian border.

Aimee Blanchette • 612-673-1715