Youth

Edina wins four titles at 44th Invitational

Details: Last Updated on Friday, 04 January 2013 16:58

By Peter Knutson
Let’s Play Hockey

The 44th Edina Invitational Hockey Tournament was held last weekend at Braemar Arena. It featured several undefeated and highly-ranked teams, giving all squads a chance to benchmark themselves halfway through the season against possible future playoff opponents in the regional or state tournament.

This holiday classic has always played host to some of the best PeeWee and Bantam youth hockey teams in Minnesota as well as teams from out of state. This year featured three teams from outside of Minnesota – one from Oklahoma, one from Colorado and one from Winnipeg. While the tournament ended with many of the top ranked teams taking home the championship, there were still a few upsets. Host association Edina finished the tournament with the most hardware as they ended the tournament with four championships, one runner-up and one third-place finish.

Not your average hockey mom

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 20 December 2012 18:08

By Debbie Kump

When I stepped off the ice after a Squirt practice earlier this season, I met the puzzled stares of parents and players from a neighboring association. I wondered if their confusion stemmed from seeing a mom actually coaching boys’ hockey or from the dark sunglasses I wore under my helmet while indoors.

I have good reason for each: The mountaineering glacier glasses help me cope with a genetic autoimmune disease called iritis that flared in my eyes following my first pregnancy. The bout of iritis left me extremely light-sensitive and prevented my return to a full-time teaching career.

But I coach hockey because I love the opportunity to educate kids outside of the classroom. In fact, coaching landed me a part-time job teaching elementary art because of my prior experiences working with many of these students at the rink.

Out of Africa and into the net

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 13 December 2012 18:07

By Peter Knutson
Let’s Play Hockey

It is not every day you have a girl from Africa on your hockey team. The Minneapolis 12U B Storm got more than they could ask for when Liberia native Martu Zibinski signed up to play hockey this season.

Martu and her brother were adopted from Liberia five years ago and have been living with their family in Minnesota since. They had never been to the United States before their adoption.

Hockey celebrations can boost recruiting efforts

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 20 December 2012 17:55

By Minnesota Hockey

When it comes to recruiting, association members are constantly looking for the best opportunities to expose hockey to new families. Every summer and fall, associations make a major push to reach out to the general public through parade involvement, flyers, advertisements, school visits, booths at events, etc.

While these efforts are critical to not just growing, but maintaining participation in youth hockey, most people outside the typical hockey community don’t start thinking about hockey until, well, winter. Winter weather, especially the cold and ice, is often associated with hockey. Although most associations have been done with registration for quite a while, it is important to continue recruiting efforts during the winter when potential players may actually be the most receptive to trying hockey.

Minnesota Women’s Hockey continues to grow

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 13 December 2012 17:40

By Nancy Wefler
Minnesota Hockey Women’s Director

Minnesota continues to lead the country in the number of USA Hockey-registered female hockey players. Minnesota is also home to the largest women’s hockey league in the country, the Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota (WHAM). WHAM is a non-profit organization operated by a Board of Directors that is elected by registered teams. WHAM has deep roots dating back to its founding in the mid-1970s.