On Hockey Day Minnesota 2017, Minnesota Hockey announced Ty Hansen of Rosemount Area Hockey Association as the winner of the 2017 HEP Essay Contest, presented by Park Dental. 

Hansen was one of three contest finalists that were highlighted on Fox Sports North (FSN) throughout the course of Hockey Day Minnesota.  The other finalists were Sam Fronek, a Bantam player from Eden Prairie Hockey Association, and Abigail Ziehl, a 12U player from Bloomington Girls Hockey. The finalists were selected by a committee based on participants' responses to this year's topic, "Playing in the State of Hockey is special because…"

As the winner of the contest, Hansen will receive a Minnesota Wild dream day during the 2017-18 hockey season.