The Minnesota Wild, Let’s Play Hockey and Minnesota Hockey will partner for the tenth straight year for the annual Used Hockey Equipment Drive across the Twin Cities. Berger Transfer will place drop-off boxes at select arenas and hockey shops starting Thursday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Oct. 5.

From 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Oct. 13, thousands of pieces of donated equipment will be distributed free to hockey associations and individuals at Xcel Energy Center. Goal equipment, sticks and helmets are always the most in need.

Sponsors and partners for the program, in alphabetical order, include: Berger Transfer, FOX Sports North, Herb Brooks Foundation, KFAN, Let’s Play  Hockey, Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Association, Minnesota Hockey, Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association, Minnesota Wild, Pure Hockey, Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League and Westwood Sports.

“There are a lot of families out there who could really utilize gently used equipment that other families no longer need,” said Bryan Zollman, publisher of Let’s Play Hockey. “Our goal is to help give as many kids as possible the opportunity to play this great sport. The used hockey equipment drive helps families get involved and stay involved in the game.”

Drop-off locations this year include: Apple Valley Sports Arena, Bloomington Ice Garden, Braemar Arena (Edina), Burnsville Ice Center, Eagan Civic Arena, Hastings Civic Arena, HealthEast Sports Center (Woodbury), Lakeville Ames Arena, Maple Grove Community Center, Minnetonka Ice Arena, New Hope Ice Arena, Plymouth Ice Center, Rogers Activity Center, Rosemount Community Center, Schwan Super Rink (Blaine), St. Croix Valley Recreation Center (Stillwater), St. Louis Park Recreation Center, Tartan Arena (Oakdale), Waconia Ice Arena and White Bear Lake Sports Center. Pure Hockey in Burnsville, Edina, Maplewood and Minnetonka, and Westwood Sports in Apple Valley are also drop-off locations.