HBF programs provide over 1,000 instructional opportunties in 2015-16
Blaine, Minn. (April 22, 2016) – When the Herb Brooks Foundation (HBF) headed into the 2015-16 season last fall, Executive Director John McClellan set an ambitious goal.
“We wanted to create over 1,000 opportunities for kids to be exposed to the great sport of hockey,” said McClellan.
The Foundation defines an “opportunity” as one child participating in one program. Some children participate in multiple programs. For example some of the participants in the Rink Rats Program, a winter after school program, also sign up for a Spring Clinic, in March and April.
When the HBF hockey season wrapped up in April, Herb Brooks Foundation Program Director Amy Alt reported 1,005 total opportunities.
Rink Rats kids attended the NHL's Stadium Series game at TCF Bank Stadium, compliments of the NHL and the Minnesota Wild.
Ambitious goal set. Ambitious goal met.
The mission of the HBF is to grow the game of hockey. And the Foundation runs varied programs to accomplish that goal. Here are some examples:
The core program is Rink Rats, an after-school program in Minneapolis and Saint Paul that introduces hockey to inner-city kids who otherwise would not be exposed to the sport. The Herb Brooks Foundation provides skates, sticks, helmets and qualified coaches, all for free.
Thanks to the support of the National Hockey League, the Foundation treated 25 youth players to a field trip to attend the Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks Stadium Series Game at TCF Bank Stadium, February 21.
The Saint Paul Police Athletic League provided volunteer coaches for Rink Rats programs in Saint Paul.
Twenty-four of the Rink Rats skaters attended the Let’s Play Hockey Expo at the Saint Paul RiverCentre during the Boy’s State High School Hockey Tournament.
Forty-seven Rink Rats participated in a learn-to-skate and learn-to-play hockey clinic at Parade Ice Garden In Minneapolis in April. Another 60 kids filled the rink at the Vadnais Sports Center for three weeks in April at the HBF Spring Clinic, where the coaches include police officers from the Saint Paul Police Athletic League and the University of Minnesota Women’s Hockey Team. NBC Sports shot a story at one of the Saint Paul Spring Clinic events, to run during their Stanley Cup playoff coverage. They even brought the Stanley Cup to the arena so the kids could pose for photos with the most famous trophy in hockey.
NBC Sports arranged for the Stanley Cup to make a special appearance at the Vadnais Spring Clinic.
“Looking to the future, our challenge will be to secure the necessary resources to allow these programs to continue growing at a manageable pace,” said McClellan. “The challenge for Director Alt will be to keep the programs staffed and managed with quality coaches.
“We’re really proud that we’ve been able to introduce so many kids to a new sport, and to teach valuable life skills,” said Alt.
The major Herb Brooks Foundation program sponsor is Morrie’s Automotive Group. Other sponsors include FHIT Training Center, Ramsey County, the National Hockey League Players Association, RBC Wealth Management, Dave’s Sport Shop and the Minnesota Wild Foundation.