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3D animated envelope, bullhorn, notification icon and ribbon stating Breaking News: MSH Newsletter January 22, 2025

Newsletter January 22, 2025

By MSH, 01/22/25, 12:15PM CST

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In this issue:

1.      Hockey Without Limits Camp 2025 - Registration Closes at Noon January 24th 

2.   2025 Diversified Hockey Night at Minnesota Wild  - Registration Closes January 24th 

3.   Information and Registration for the Special Hockey International Festival - Registration Closes January 26th

4.   Special Hockey Tournament in Madison, Wisconsin - Registration Closes February 5th

5.   Hockey Day Minnesota in Shakopee - Volunteers Still Needed


1. Hockey Without Limits Camp 2025 - Registration Closes at Noon January 24th

It's time for the 5th annual Hockey Without Limits Camp!

The Minnesota Wild is excited to host this event on Monday, February 17th at the John Rose Oval in Roseville (2661 Civic Center Dr, Roseville, MN 55113).  This is a free camp dedicated to providing an inclusive hockey experience in which new and current players of all ages, abilities, races and ethnicities play the game of hockey together.

Minnesota Special Hockey will have one hour of ice (likely half-ice) sometime between 10:00am and 1:00pm on Monday, February 17th. (We do not know the exact time of the skate but will update registrants as soon as we receive the information).  A maximum of 40 Special Hockey players and volunteers are allowed for this event.  

As a reminder, this event was originally created by Matt Dumba who is no longer on the Minnesota Wild.  Even though Matt will not be attending, the Wild are happy to announce that Freddy Gaudreau has taken over this event!  Other Wild players have been encouraged to attend but their presence is not guaranteed.

  • Registration closes on Friday, January 24th at Noon.  No late registrations will be allowed.  (This is a very quick registration deadline but we just received this information and that is the deadline set by the Wild.)
  • Please do not register unless you are sure you can attend this event.
  • This is open to both players and volunteers.  A couple of coaches are required for this event so coaches are encouraged to register if they can attend.
  • Players will receive a jersey.  Volunteers will not receive a jersey.
  • If there are too many people that register, a drawing will be held.  Everyone will be contacted on Saturday, January 25th.

2. 2025 Diversified Hockey Night at Minnesota Wild - Registration Closes January 24th

Once again this year, MN Wild Special Hockey players and families have the opportunity to participate in the Minnesota Diversified Hockey Night at a Wild game in St. Paul.  This is a terrific opportunity for us to spread the word about Special Hockey.  Special Hockey players will have a chance to sell programs, give players a fist bump, ride the Zamboni, or perhaps be on the Wild bench during warmups.  (Special Hockey will not be skating at intermission this year). If you register and are chosen to participate, you are committing to attend the Wild game. 

Event Details:

Date:  Thursday, February 6th.  Arrive no later than 4:30pm.  This is the time when everyone who wants to participate in any of the activities must arrive to get into the arena. Late arrivals may miss out.  The game starts at 6:30pm.

Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN

What:  MN Wild vs. Hurricanes

What are the activities available to Special Hockey players?

Program Sales - need 14 total sellers (includes one family member/guardian per player if applicable)

Bench Buddies - 4 players between ages 5-12.  Bench Buddies will be on the Wild bench during warmups. (must wear a helmet but these are provided by the Wild if you don't want to bring your own)

Fist Bump - 2 players between ages 12-17.  Players will give fist bumps to Wild players outside their locker room.

Zamboni riders - 8 players/family member/guardian randomly selected from those selling programs

Please note that registering for this event does not guarantee that you will be participating.  If more register than spots available, we will have a drawing.

Minnesota Special Hockey is only given a limited number of tickets into the game.  The players doing the Fist Bump and Bench Buddies will receive 2 tickets each.  (We can't guarantee any locations of where these seats are in the rink, they are usually very random seating). Program sellers will not get tickets but will receive vendor passes giving them access to the arena.  Program sellers will be able to access a suite when they are done working to enjoy the rest of the game.

Additional tickets are available for purchase here: Single Game Tickets | Minnesota Wild | Minnesota Wild

Registration deadline is Friday, January 24th - no exceptions.

Everyone who registers will be contacted about their assignments by Monday, January 27th. 

Register here: https://mnspecialhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/169242616


3. Information and Registration for the Special Hockey International Festival- Registration Closes January 26th

The 2025 SHI Festival will be held again in Rockland, MA (just south of Boston) April 24-26, 2025.   MSH is planning to have 3 teams participate in this festival which would include playing in four (4) games (Game schedule is unavailable at this time).  Additional teams may be added depending on the numbers of MSH players that register.

Details:

Given the travel time and cost to secure bus transportation between Minnesota and Massachusetts, MSH will not be providing bus transportation.  However, there is a $300 travel stipend for each MSH player that participates with MSH in the SHI Festival. These funds will be paid after the festival is complete.  Only MSH players who participate in all of their team's MSH games in the SHI festival are eligible to receive the $300 travel stipend.

Players under 18 are required to travel with a parent or legal guardian, or someone that the parent agrees is responsible for the player.  Players over 18 are not required to travel with a legal guardian, but it is highly recommended and encouraged.  Players participating in this event will need to agree to follow the MSH Player Code of Conduct and fill out the MSH Travel Agreement. 

Several adult organizational leaders will attend to help ensure everything runs smoothly from a communications standpoint, team coordination, etc.   These volunteers are NOT MSH CHAPERONES.  Each player, parent, family member and legal guardian are responsible for their own behavior and expected to represent MSH in a respectful manner.

COST:

Registration:  There will be a $50 non-refundable fee charged at the time of registration.  This fee will be used to cover tournament registration and expenses for any meals that are provided by MSH.  Additional fees may be requested once information is received from SHI about their banquet.

Scholarships: If a player hasn't attended the SHI tournament in the past due to travel being cost prohibitive, scholarships may be available to assist in the player's cost of attending the event.  To qualify for a scholarship, a player must not have attended an SHI tournament in the past, must have a financial need for the scholarship, and must have actively participated in and completed at least two full seasons with MN Special Hockey. 

Hotel:  Three nights of hotel stay is approx. $175 + tax per night.  Players can coordinate with each other to share rooms if desired.  Once you register for this event, you will be emailed the information to book your hotel.  Everyone is required to stay in the same hotel, per festival policies. 

Transportation:  MSH will not be providing any transportation during the festival.  Everyone who attends will be responsible for their own transportation.

Meals:  Some of the meals will be provided by MSH.  Most meals will be the player's/family's responsibility.

SHI Banquet:  This year’s banquet will be held at Dave & Busters on Opening day (April 24th) from 5-8 pm.

Please fill out the registration form (ATHLETE ONLY) by clicking the link below.  You MUST use the link below.  Please do not register to travel with us unless you can commit.  MN Special Hockey pays for the team registration and if a player registers, and then cancels, it can become a problem with our scheduling and the game scheduling for the festival.  If you are a Certified Coach and would like to attend, please reach out to Tia Graves directly.

If you have any specific questions not answered above contact tia.graves@mnspecialhockey.org.  More festival information will be conveyed when received from the festival coordinators.

Registration deadline is Sunday January 26, 2025.  NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

Register here:  https://mnspecialhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/340590557

 


4. Special Hockey Tournament in Madison, Wisconsin - Registration Closes February 6th

Wisconsin Timber Wolves Special Hockey is hosting a regional tournament in Madison, Wisconsin on March 8-9, 2025 and has invited Minnesota Special Hockey players to participate!

Games will be mid-morning to early evening on Saturday, March 8th and will end by 2:00pm on Sunday, March 9th.  All players will have 2 games on Saturday and one game on Sunday.  (Sunday's games are "All Star" games, where players will be matched by skill level making teams as even as possible).  

Games will be held at the Madison Ice Arena, 725 Forward Drive, Madison Wisconsin.  All players are responsible for their own transportation, meals and hotel.  However, there is a $200 travel stipend for each MSH player that participates with MSH in the Wisconsin tournament.  These funds will be paid after the tournament is complete.  Only MSH players who participate in all of their games at the tournament are eligible to receive the $200 travel stipend.  Hotel information will be sent out when we receive the player's registration.  Game schedules will be sent out once teams are formed, likely mid-February.

Please fill out the registration form by clicking the link below.  Please do not register unless you commit to attending.   If you are a Certified Coach and would like to attend, please reach out to Holly Tchida directly at holly.tchida@mnspecialhockey.org.  

Registration deadline is Thursday, February 6, 2025.  

Register here:  https://mnspecialhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/537460027


5. Hockey Day Minnesota in Shakopee - Volunteers Needed

Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 has started (runs this week January 22-25) and is located this year at ValleyFair in Shakopee.  This is a wonderful event and they are still in need of volunteers for many positions, including parking lot attendants, warming house attendants, and much more.  Volunteers get free admission for the day they volunteer.  For more information and for the volunteer signup page, go to: 

Volunteers – Hockey Day Minnesota 2025