Each year youth hockey players and parents partner with Minnesota Hockey to recognize youth hockey coaches with the Coaching Excellence Award. Recipients are nominated by their team members after a great youth hockey season in which the coach assisted players in developing to their greatest potential, having fun and learning to love the game.

The best youth coaches, regardless of what level they coach, often share many of the same characteristics. They have a passion for the game that they strive to share every time their team hits the ice. They work diligently to teach age-appropriate fundamental skills in a way that makes sense to their players, and they place an emphasis on teaching their players lessons such as teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and respect that go far beyond the wins and loss they experience.

Most importantly, great coaches care passionately about kids, and they show it every day.

Parents, players, officials and other coaches can nominate coaches for the 2022 Coaching Excellence Award up to the deadline of Sunday, March 20. Coaches who meet the award’s criteria will receive a recognition certificate. The certificate will be sent to the nominator at the end of this season so that the nominator can make the presentation to the coach at the team’s banquet. In addition, the coaches selected will have the opportunity to attend a Minnesota Wild practice during the 2022-23 season.

Nominate your coach today!