St. Paul, MN – October 27, 2020 – Minnesota Hockey president Steve Oleheiser announced today that the organization has named Jeffrey Baidoo as Equity Advisor. In this volunteer role, Baidoo will lead a Minnesota Hockey committee charged with developing, implementing and tracking progress with ongoing strategic initiatives that enrich the welcoming culture in hockey, as well as initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in associations throughout the state.

Baidoo, a native of Edmonton Alberta, is a graduate of Waseca High School and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and is currently a Fan Relations Account Executive with the Minnesota Wild. Baidoo is also serving on the Board of St. Paul Rotary Club #10. Baidoo is an active member of USA Hockey’s Equity advisement team, which is currently in the training phase of a nationwide effort to implement a strategy to embrace and advance diversity in hockey.  

“I’m excited to bring my passion for hockey to support and show an appreciation for people with gender differences, multicultural backgrounds, and various life experiences to embrace unification and opportunity within the Minnesota Hockey community, said Baidoo.”

In his role with the committee, Baidoo will lead the group in addressing issues of racism, discrimination and anti-semitism that are reported to Minnesota Hockey. Those reports can now be submitted via email to: Diversity@minnesotahockey.org. Additionally, the committee will serve as a guide for Minnesota Hockey in efforts to promote increasing diversity in Minnesota Hockey. This will include marketing campaigns, events and educational programs to share hockey with families from all backgrounds and ethnicities.

“The addition of Jeff Baidoo is a wonderful and necessary step as we continue our efforts to truly make the game of hockey a sport for everybody in Minnesota,” said Minnesota Hockey President, Steve Oleheiser. “There is a lack of diversity among the decision makers in Minnesota Hockey, and Jeff will be a voice for others that may not have felt they’ve had one in the past. We are excited to bring his talent and insight to our organization.”

Minnesota Hockey is committed to making hockey more inclusive for all players, and will be working with several partners in this process, including the Minnesota Wild, as well as Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, a member of the recently formed Hockey Diversity Alliance. Minnesota Hockey has also partnered with the University of Minnesota’s Global Institute for Responsible Sport Organizations (GIRSO) Social Innovation in Sport Competition. This effort will partner student groups with Minnesota Hockey to come up with a social innovative strategy to address diversity and inclusion within hockey in Minnesota. The competition will begin in January, 2021.