Last week, Minnesota Hockey, in partnership with Park Dental and the Minnesota Wild, hosted a group of coaches for the Coaching Excellence Award Program in Saint Paul. The coaches were rewarded for their efforts with a Minnesota Wild practice, a chance to meet Head Coach Mike Yeo and lunch at Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub.

The Coaching Excellence Award Program, presented by Park Dental, honors youth hockey coaches across Minnesota whose behaviors provide for a positive athletic experience, allowing players to develop to their greatest potential, have fun and learn to love the game.

"The Coaching Excellence Award is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions these coaches make to a wonderful youth hockey culture in Minnesota,” said Dave Margenau, President of Minnesota Hockey. “And we appreciate the tremendous support our coaches receive from Park Dental and the Minnesota Wild."

The award is one of three areas of emphasis in Minnesota Hockey’s Hockey Education Program (HEP). HEP focuses on integrating a progressive approach to skill development with coaching excellence and accountability through Fair Play to ensure every player in Minnesota has a positive experience in youth hockey.

"Coaching Excellence has and will continue to be a key component for Minnesota Hockey and HEP,” said Margenau. “Since the introduction of HEP in 2004, much of the success we have had is a direct result from the quality of our coaches."

Parents, players, officials and other coaches can now nominate coaches for the 2013-2014 Coaching Excellence Award. Nominations will be reviewed and those meeting the 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, nominated coaches and nominators will have the opportunity to attend a Wild practice during the 2014-15 season.