Gear Up Minnesota! grants announced

The Gear Up Minnesota! hockey equipment grant program has awarded starter hockey equipment grants to the following 24 youth hockey associations in Minnesota: Alexandria Area Hockey Association, Apple Valley Hockey Association, Bemidji Youth Hockey Association, Bulldog (St. Peter) Hockey Association, Chisago Lakes Hockey Association, Cook County Amateur Hockey Association, Crookston Blue Line Club, Duluth Heights Hockey Association, Forest Lake Hockey Association, Johnson Como Hockey Association, Leech Lake Area Youth Hockey Association, Litchfield/Dassel/Cokato Youth Hockey Association, Long Prairie Hockey Association, Mankato Area Hockey Association, Moose Lake Area Hockey Association, North Metro Youth Hockey Association, Perham Area Youth Hockey Association, Richfield Youth Hockey Association, River Lakes Hockey Association, Roseau Youth Hockey Association, Sauk Rapids Youth Hockey Association, Sibley Area Youth Hockey Association, Stillwater Amateur Hockey Association and the Winona Area Youth Hockey Association.

“It is exciting to see hockey continue to grow in Minnesota,” said Amy Woog Patnode, Executive Director of the Minnesota Wild Foundation. “We admire the many volunteers throughout the state that fuel this growth and look forward to supporting this initiative for years to come.”

Over $60,000 of starter hockey equipment grants will be contributed to these hockey associations as an incentive to attract new participants to their program. The Gear Up Minnesota! grantees were selected from a large pool of applications from local hockey associations across the state.

“We were very impressed with the passion and enthusiasm that so many of the associations demonstrated in their applications,” said Michael Benoit, President and CEO of Total Hockey. “All of us at Total Hockey are proud to support them in growing this great game!”

“We are thrilled that we were selected to receive a Gear Up Minnesota! grant,” said Joy Michalicek, a volunteer with the Duluth Heights Hockey Association. “Providing equipment to first year skaters is a proven method of attracting new families to hockey.”

2012 Gear Up Minnesota! grant information will be available in the fall.  Please visit www.minnesotahockey.org for more information.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Minnesota Hockey for this story.