Why this D1 coach wants Minnesota players

Inside Minnesota Hockey

www.minnesotahockey.org

Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey, is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota and the premier developer of hockey players in the state. With over 67,000 registered players and coaches, it is the largest state governing body for amateur hockey in the United States.

Why this DI coach wants Minnesota players

by STEVE MANN

No matter the field, sometimes getting an outsider’s perspective can shine a light on what’s working, what’s not and lead to fresh, new ways of thinking and doing things. When that outsider was also once an insider, that point of view comes with a unique credibility. On the subject of the “Minnesota model,” University of Vermont men’s hockey head coach Todd Woodcroft is one of those highly respected insider-outsiders. Woodcroft grew up in hockey-crazed Toronto and has led the Catamounts the last two seasons in Burlington. In between, one of Woodcroft’s career stops was a five-year stint in St. Paul with the expansion Minnesota Wild, for which he served as video coach and a scout, among other roles.

His years in Minnesota established a deep respect for the State of Hockey – both the passion fans have for the game, and the approach to youth player development and the community-based model, which are often touted as standards for programs across the country. “I didn’t know anything about Minnesota hockey when I got here,” he said. “I was a fan of the North Stars, so I remembered those great teams in the 1980s – Payne, Christoff, Giles, Broten – that was my first impression of Minnesota hockey.

“Then you get here and walk around the Xcel Energy Center and see all the high school jerseys, and you quickly realize there’s a rich hockey culture here with strong traditions, similar to what I experienced in Toronto. The tradition isn’t just about the professional team. Fans celebrate the college teams and the high school teams and women’s and girls’ hockey. It’s almost a more pure model of hockey development here because the focus is really on the amateurs.”

Commitment to the Game

When people in the game talk about Minnesota and what sets its hockey culture apart, what is often mentioned are things like opportunity, access to ice, community investment, six Division I men’s and women’s college teams, an incredibly supportive NHL squad and a high school state tournament scene that is unlike any other in the country.

– WOODCROFT –

continued on page 11

Minnesota Hockey partners with GameSheet

After earning overwhelmingly positive reviews during a pilot season (2020-21) in two Districts, Minnesota Hockey partnered with GameSheet for the 2021-22 season, making their transformational scoring platform available to all District leagues, Tournament, and Exhibition games.

What is GameSheet?

GameSheet is an innovative Hockey scoring platform whereby the traditional paper ‘score sheet’ has been transformed into a Wireless App with a digital equivalence allowing Score Keepers to intuitively score a game on an IPAD and generate an official signed score sheet for sanctioning. No internet is needed – it’s an App which solves the problem of connectivity in rinks. If there’s WiFi in the rink, games results are automatically streamed live back to League, Event or Association websites.

The GameSheet Scoring App makes busy hockey lives easier by automating the process of collecting game results, computing standings and compiling year over year stats direct from the scorekeeper’s booth. The solution eliminates the need for volunteers and league management to re-enter game data back into league/ team web sites and easily integrates into existing website platforms. The system automatically emails a signed digital copy of the score sheet to the Team Manager and Coach immediately after the game.

–GAMESHEET –

continued on page 11 Hard Ice divider program surpasses 100 sets

Minnesota Hockey, in partnership with Rink Systems, Inc., is offering its Hard Ice Divider Program for the ninth consecutive season with applications going through August, 2022. The program has helped supply over 100 sets of dividers to 75 youth hockey associations in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Hockey Hard Ice Divider Program was designed to aid community-based associations and their home rinks in promoting the growth of ice hockey through the implementation of cross and half-ice hockey, and it’s made a huge impact on the game throughout the state. Associations have utilized the boards to enhance a wide variety of age-appropriate programs include in-house mite and squirt programs, jamborees, tournaments and three-on-three or four-on-four leagues for older age groups.

Through the partnership, Rink Systems will also allow for associations that purchase hard ice dividers through the program to purchase junior size goal frames at a discounted rate. Junior size goal frames provide a more realistic playing experience for young goaltenders, enabling them to gain confidence and passion for position.

Minnesota Hockey affiliated associations interested in purchasing a “hard divider” system must complete an online application for the program and submit a deposit. Once approved, Minnesota Hockey associations will be able to purchase a set of boards, valued at $7,900, for just $5,400. Associations that take advantage of the hard ice divider subsidy will also be able to purchase the junior goal frames sets of two goal frames for $500, which are valued at $600.