Hockey plays an important role in the development of kids, not just intop great hockey players or athletes, but also great people. As this week’s article on ‘Coachable Moments’ mentions, these lessons aren’t automatically picked up by kids.  Parents and coaches need to make a conscious effort to facilitate them.

The HEP Essay Contest can help kids learn these life lessons by encouraging them to explain what important concepts like sportsmanship, teamwork, respect, community and a passion for athletics mean to them. Over the contest’s seven seasons, a total of 782 essays have been received from players of all ages and backgrounds.

“The HEP Essay Contest has continued to grow since its inception in 2006,” said Steve Morse, HEP Committee Chair. “The HEP Essay Contest gives kids the ability to share what makes hockey so special in this state, and also spread positive messages that they’ve learned from their coaches, parents and teammates.”

All registered Minnesota Hockey participants are encouraged to enter the 2013-14 HEP Essay Contest, presented by Park Dental, by completing the following: “I can make my team better by…”.

The top three essays, as selected by the HEP Committee, will be featured during the Fox Sports North broadcast of Hockey Day Minnesota on January 18, 2014. They will also be featured in Let’s Play Hockey magazine and have the opportunity to attend a Minnesota Wild home game this season. The contest winner will be randomly selected among the three finalists and will receive a “dream day” experience on a Minnesota Wild game day during the 2014-15 season.

The winner of the 2013 HEP Essay Contest was Sam Lahl, a Squirt player in the Bloomington Jefferson association. Sam will receive a Minnesota Wild gameday experience including ice time at Xcel Energy Center and a suite at a Wild game for himself and his team during the 2013-14 season. His winning submission can be found here. 

Submissions will be accepted from October 1 through November 30. Original essays should be limited to 250 words or less, and should include the child’s name, hockey association, team/classification, address, phone number and email address. Submissions can be sent to:

Minnesota Hockey

Attn: HEP Essay Contest

317 Washington Street

Saint Paul, MN 55102