FARGO, N.D. -- No one will ever confuse Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer with a hockey player.

Third baseman and Canada native Corey Koskie is the club's resident hockey player -- having spent his youth as a goaltender in Manitoba.

During an impromptu hockey skills contest Thursday during the student program for Wahpeton, N.D. Middle School, it was Cuddyer at the net while Koskie beamed shots from the gym floor at about 20 feet away.

Out of 10 shots, Koskie managed just one goal.

"I had bad equipment," Koskie determined. He was able to get the final shot in the goal between Cuddyer's legs to save some face.

"For someone who's never held a hockey stick in my life, I almost shut him out," Cuddyer bragged. "The last one was a gimme."

During a ticket giveaway to one student, mayhem almost ensured when an overzealous Twins mascot T.C. tripped and fell into the audience of sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the bleachers.

"When I looked up, his tail was higher than his legs," TV broadcaster Dick Bremer later commented.

Koskie considered the incident to be one of the most memorable moments.

"That was a pretty good one," he said.

Later at a stop at the Nelson Dodge and Polaris dealership in Fergus Falls, Minn., Koskie, Cuddyer and T.C., took a snowmobile out for a spin. No one tried anything stupid but it was probably a good thing General Manager Terry Ryan wasn't around as a witness.

Koskie and T.C. hopped on the machine and sped off like old pros. It was another first experience for Cuddyer, who appears to have some previously unknown winter sport skills in his Virginian blood. He wasted no time hitting the gas and even took some jumps off a couple of moguls.

"That was unbelievable," Cuddyer said of his maiden ride. "I took the jump and it scared me at first. So I took it a second time."

It won't take long for Koskie and Cuddyer to get back to work. Both have been staying fit throughout the off-season.

"I started the month after the season finished," said Koskie, who is assured a place in the starting lineup. "I do weights and a little more cardio this year."

The future is less certain but very bright for Cuddyer. He will be competing for the starting right field spot with Dustan Mohr and Bobby Kielty.

"I'm definitely looking forward to getting back to Florida and getting my body prepared to try and win a job at Spring Training," said Cuddyer, who lives in Fort Myers during the off-season. "When I get back, I'll start swinging again and shag fly balls. I'll continue to do strength training and cardiovascular work like I've been since the week after the season ended."

The Northwest leg concluded its run in Fargo. Before the evening event, there were stops at Bethany Homes for seniors and another Dodge dealership. The night program at Speedway’s was before a packed house of more than 700 people for hot stove league talk and of course, autographs. It was the largest and one of the most enthusiastic receptions of the week -- a fitting end to a successful tour.

Whether it's autograph signings, picture taking, or snowmobile rides, Twins Winter Caravan always gives fans a chance to see the players in a different light.

"It lets them see us on a personal level, instead of just guys in a uniform," Cuddyer said. "I also get to see and learn about the people out here and how they live and deal with things like the cold weather."

After four days and approximately 1,500 miles of travel through 15 towns, it was finally back home to Minneapolis. The grind of long travel wasn't the easiest, but the players were energized by the hospitality of Twins loyalists.

"It was fun," Koskie said. "It was enjoyable getting to spend time with the fans."

And that's what it's all about.