The Minnesota Wild announced that TRIA Orthopedics is the presenting partner of Skate It Forward. Skate It Forward is an initiative of the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Wild Foundation supporting community hockey in Minnesota. As part of this new partnership, “Skate It Forward on Hockey Day Minnesota” will happen on Hockey Day Minnesota 2026. Community hockey families and supporters from across Minnesota and beyond will have the opportunity to contribute to the Skate It Forward initiative on Hockey Day Minnesota. TRIA Orthopedics will match all contributions made to Skate It Forward on Hockey Day Minnesota 2026.
“Community Hockey in Minnesota is special, unique, and the most successful hockey model for young people in North America by all measurements,” said Mike Snee, Minnesota Wild Foundation and Community Relations Vice President. “However, we can’t take community hockey for granted. Nationally, youth hockey is trending away from local delivery and towards for-profit clubs and frequent costly travel making the sport out of reach for many families. The mission of the Skate It Forward initiative is to preserve, strengthen, and celebrate community hockey in Minnesota and ensure that hockey remains affordable and accessible to as many kids as possible in The State of Hockey.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Minnesota Wild, the Minnesota Wild Foundation, and community hockey associations across the state,” said Megan Remark, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, HealthPartners care group. “Expanding our partnership with the Wild to support Skate It Forward on Hockey Day Minnesota extends our commitment to young hockey players and their families on and off the ice. We are proud to help make hockey as accessible as possible in Minnesota as part of our continued investment in the health and strength of our state.”
The Minnesota Wild also announced 11 pilot community hockey associations will receive grants from Skate It Forward, made possible by TRIA Orthopedics. The following hockey associations will receive a $250 recruiting grant for every first-year player under age 8 who registers for the 2025-26 season: Anoka, Bloomington Jefferson, Delano, Langford Park, Minnesota Sled Hockey, Mounds View Irondale, Osseo – Maple Grove, St. Paul Capitals, Waseca, Willmar, and Winona.
“We are grateful to TRIA Orthopedics for their tremendous generosity and support of Skate It Forward,” said Scott Peterson, Minnesota Wild Foundation Board Chair. “Both of our organizations share a desire to see even more girls and boys playing community hockey in Minnesota.”
The Minnesota Wild also received a significant contribution from the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund to help launch the Skate It Forward initiative.
“Hockey in Minnesota is more than a sport, it’s community,” said Bryan Smolinsk, NHL Regional Director for Learn to Play. “The NHL and NHLPA, with help from the Industry Growth Fund, are happy to partner with the Wild in support of the Skate it Forward initiative and make hockey accessible to more players across The State of Hockey.”
(info courtesy of Wild)
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