July 6, 2009
By: David Swenson, Adult Director
Minnesota Hockey
Growth of Adult Hockey in Minnesota
What? Adults playing hockey in Minnesota is nothing new. If you have skill chances are you have found a group of players who welcome your playmaking ability. However, players new to the area or those among us with limited skill, but a strong desire to play the game, have looked to Minnesota Hockey as well as friends and colleges for direction and recommendations on how to get started.
Over the past few years Minnesota Hockey has seen a trend of players joining organized associations or groups that form tournament teams. The two largest organized adult groups are the Minnesota Wild Adult League operating out of the Schwan Super Rink and AHA Hockey which plays at multiple facilities within the Twin Cities metro area. Both leagues have skill levels to satisfy highly talented players as well as those aspiring to the NHL but who unfortunately got a late start.
While the Minnesota Wild Adult League concentrates it’s efforts in Blaine, the Adult Hockey Association has initiated efforts to expand in outstate Minnesota. The cities of Duluth and St. Cloud have been receptive to establishing programs that are geared toward the casual and beginner level players.
Together the Wild League and the Adult Hockey Association represent approximately 4,000 registered players and rank number two and three in the nation respectively according to recent USA Hockey data. These two leagues are definitely filling a need and represent an organized approach to registration with Minnesota Hockey.
Why Affiliate with Minnesota Hockey
Registering as a player with USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey is the first step toward playing in a sanctioned event. Not to bore you with all the details that excites only the Registrars among us, but generally speaking a “sanctioned event” is hockey technical speak for “everyone on the ice has signed up with USA Hockey / Minnesota Hockey”.
For those of you who grew up with the sport, chances are you have benefited from the many volunteers who managed the youth associations, coached the teams, and organized the tournaments and fundraisers. Registering with USA Hockey and the Minnesota Hockey affiliate is one way for you to give back to the game.
As a registered player, you will receive certain benefits by participating in sanctioned events. Registered players receive catastrophic medical coverage. Your league enjoys certain liability insurance coverage which allows it to rent ice at the best facilities in your area and may reduce your municipality’s risk and insurance cost. League safety may also improve by following the structured suspension review procedures as spelled out in the USA Hockey Playing Rules and Annual Guide.
All sanctioned events follow USA Hockey playing rules and require the officials to be certified. Everyone knows Referee certification improves their competence and consistency in calls, right? At a minimum certification helps to identify which officials are serious about the game and helps to provide training for referees. My experience is that certified officials are much more professional on the ice, and your kids may think the chest patch is pretty cool looking.
Finally, joining a sanctioned league or team allows you to participate in USA Hockey tournaments and festivals as well as Minnesota Hockey sponsored promotional events. Your league will benefit from advertising placements geared toward adult leagues.
Hockey for Life
Recently USA Hockey has begun a major initiative to increase the number of kids playing hockey. For those of you who desire to see the USA team compete well at the international level, your registration directly supports these growth and retention efforts. USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey down through the local associations are actively working on programs geared toward the casual and recreational youth player. By bringing more children into the sport and cultivating a love of the game, the pool of highly talented players as well as lifetime recreational players will grow. By assisting with this you are indirectly contributing to the growth of adult hockey and improved competition for your adult league or team.
Future Growth
In many ways Minnesota is well ahead of other areas of the nation when it comes to players who have come to enjoy hockey as a life sport. Unfortunately the percentage of adult players who register with USA Hockey / Minnesota Hockey is behind other areas in the country.
As the Adult Director for Minnesota Hockey I will continue working with the players, teams, and associations that have chosen to register with our national and state governing body. As you contemplate whether this makes sense for your situation, please contact me with any questions or thoughts to support the growth of adult hockey. Playing the game with your friends and family is a community event. Please support community efforts to grow the game by registering with Minnesota Hockey.
Written by,
David Swenson, Adult Director
Minnesota Hockey
David Swenson has been involved in ice hockey since learning to skate at age 5 on the neighborhood pond in Plymouth, MN. His first team was the Pony (Squirt) Bruins, a house league team in the Wayzata Youth Hockey Association. He has served on the Board of Minnesota hockey since 2005, and is a member of the USA Hockey Adult Council. In addition Dave has been involved with the Adult Hockey Association as both a player and Board Member since September, 2001 and is an Assistant Coach for both his daughter’s and son’s teams in the Edina Hockey Association.
