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Skate It Forward Takes the Next Step

By Jessi Pierce, 10/09/25, 10:45AM CDT

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Skate It Forward Drops the Puck with 11 Pilot Grants and Major Partnership Announcement

The Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Wild Foundation’s philanthropic effort takes a significant stride in strengthening community Hockey with pilot programs and major sponsorship from TRIA Orthopedics.

11 Minnesota community Hockey associations set to receive pilot grants, making Hockey free for first-year players under 8 years old. Credit: Minnesota Wild

Hockey in Minnesota is truly special.

From the volunteers to the coaches, Mites to the pros, the outdoor ice and public rinks, high school Hockey, playing with your buddies, free clinics and crosstown rivalries, State Tournaments, and so much more.

At the heart of it all is one word: community.

Community is what drives the State of Hockey. It’s why Minnesota leads in virtually every category, including participation and development.

“You have that sense of pride in your community,” said Iowa Wild GM Matt Hendricks, a Blaine legend, St. Cloud State Husky, and 12-year NHL player. “Whether you’re watching older guys growing up, or now it’s your turn to wear the jersey, and you get to see the young guys looking up to you.

“I think back to watching those State Tournament games and being in my basement at my parents’ house playing knee Hockey pretending we’re those players on the ice. I wanted to fulfill that dream of someday playing in the state tournament, playing college Hockey, and someday playing professionally.”

Minnesota Wild Vice President Mike Snee, longtime Wild team doctor Joel Boyd, and Iowa Wild GM and Blaine native Matt Hendricks announce a groundbreaking partnership between Skate It Forward and Tria Orthopedics.

A Bold New Initiative

Hendrick’s comments will resonate throughout the entire state. But the Minnesota community Hockey model that Hendricks grew up in must be strengthened as the professionalization of youth Hockey and youth sports continues to spread throughout North America.

Skate It Forward, presented by Tria, aims to do just that.

“Celebrating community Hockey may seem odd, but it really is very unique to Minnesota,” said Mike Snee, Vice President of the Minnesota Wild Foundation and Community Relations. “The Minnesota Hockey community is that magical combination of nonprofit youth associations, vibrant statewide high school Hockey, and something that doesn’t get a lot of attention but is very important — the local ownership of our arenas and significant public investment.

“Those three things allow our sport in our state to be very accessible and very affordable. So we don’t ever want to take community Hockey for granted. And we want to do what we can to make sure that we preserve community Hockey here in Minnesota.”

Anoka Area Hockey Association is one of 11 associations excited to make the first year of Hockey free for 8U families.

11 Associations to Receive Grants

The mission of Skate It Forward, an ongoing philanthropic campaign first introduced at Hockey Day Minnesota in January 2023, is to preserve, strengthen, and celebrate community Hockey. One of the objectives is to grow community Hockey participation in Minnesota by making it easier for first-time players to get on the ice.

On October 6, the Minnesota Wild announced 11 pilot community Hockey associations will receive grants from Skate It Forward, made possible by a new partnership with TRIA Orthopedics. Anoka, Bloomington Jefferson, Delano, Langford Park, Minnesota Sled Hockey, Mounds View, Irondale, Osseo - Maple Grove, St. Paul Capitals, Waseca, Willmar, and Winona were all recipients of a $250 recruiting grant for every first-year player under age eight who registers for the 2025-26 season.

Skate It Forward on Hockey Day Minnesota

Another component of the TRIA partnership will center around Hockey Day Minnesota. Community Hockey families and supporters from across Minnesota and beyond will have the opportunity to contribute to the Skate It Forward initiative on Hockey Day Minnesota, January 24, 2026, with TRIA Orthopedics matching all contributions made on that date.

“There is a movement to have Minnesota shift away from community Hockey and become more commercialized, more travel-focused and therefore less successful and less affordable,” Snee said. “There are other places that used to be a lot like Minnesota and no longer are. And the outcomes in those places aren’t good if you measure them by how many kids are playing the game. So, shame on us if we don’t learn from some of those cautionary tales that have happened and try to do something about them.

“It’s on all of us in the state of Minnesota to make sure that we invite as many kids to play this game as possible. We don’t want to add unnecessary barriers. We hope that by investing in the state, our state will give back, and we can continue to reinvest back into community Hockey and Skate It Forward.”

To learn more about Skate It Forward, including how your nonprofit community Hockey association can apply, please visit skateitforward.org.

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