Congratulations to Dave Kesper of the MAML Moose Youth Hockey Association on being named February’s Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month! Kesper has volunteered his time in a variety of ways including coaching, serving as an EMT during home hockey tournaments and helping engineer and build a new warming house at the rink.

One parent lauded Kesper’s many contributions to the community and hockey association, noting that he also buys ice time out of his own pocket to allow the kids to get on the ice for informal and fun scrimmages.

Through donating so much of his personal time, there’s no question Kesper has made significant contributions to his community and the sport, so we caught up with him to see what motivates him.

MH: You’ve volunteered your time in a number of ways. What does it mean to you, to give in any way you can?

DK: It makes yourself feel good, but it’s good to be a part of an organization. Monticello is a very small town, a small community. And I think we’re a very close knit community whether it’s the hockey association or the Chamber of Commerce or other events. Our community pulls together quite a bit to do those things and support each other.

MH: What do you consider to be your most significant contribution?

DK: I don’t know. Probably the warming house. Coaching, I don’t view that as a big contribution. We have a lot of coaches out there and I’m far from the most skilled and knowledgeable hockey coach out there. But it’s fun to get out with the kids and help out.

MH: How did you originally get involved with the warming house project? You’ve been a big part of the process.

DK: A friend of mine, Rob Brooks, who is the Vice President of the association, brought it up to me a few years ago as my kids started playing hockey. I was coaching then. He just brought it up and I was more than willing to help out with whatever I could. It turned into a much larger project than I think myself and everyone involved ever anticipated it to be. It’s starting to wrap up now. There’s been a lot of compliments on it and I think association will benefit from it greatly.

MH: Out of all these things you have done, how did you originally get involved?

DK: I wanted to help coach my kids skate when they started and be out there. Just getting to know the other coaches and some of the board members who are also coaches, it just kind of snowballed from there.

MH: What keeps you motivated to keep giving your time?

DK: I think it’s just giver’s gain. Good things happen to good people. And like I said, it’s just a very tight knit community. We’re all there to help and support each other with different causes. I’m a volunteer fire fighter for the city of Monticello. The hockey association has donated funds to the fire department for different things over the years. It just keeps going around and around. 

Minnesota Hockey and Total Hockey give Dave Kesper a big thank you for all of his contributions to youth hockey in Monticello!  Just like he mentioned, we pride ourselves on every association being key part of their community, but we couldn't do it with out thousands of selfless volunteers.

Know a volunteer in your community who is doing an amazing job? Nominate him or her today for the Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month! Each recipient receives a certificate recognizing their hard work and a $100 Total Hockey gift card to use online or in the store. Nominators also receive a $50 Total Hockey gift card.