SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota Wild unveiled a brand-new state-of-the-art training facility and mentoring room in the Northeast Ice Arena. The project was in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and built as a legacy to the 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic.
The Northeast Ice Arena has an indoor hockey rink, ice rink, lacrosse field, and soccer field, but no dryland training space. The brand-new space now includes state-of-the-art rubber and turf like the flooring in the Minnesota Wild’s training spaces; a speed, agility, and plyometric area; a strength and conditioning area with various weights and equipment for bodyweight training; as well as an area for cardiovascular conditioning with Airdyne Bikes and slide boards.
In addition to the dryland training facility, a mentoring room was built to support an ongoing collaboration between the Minnesota Wild, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Herb Brooks Foundation and local law enforcement. Local law enforcement from Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis will assist in staffing the facility and serve as mentors to youth participants.
“Hockey’s greatest value is the role it plays in building healthy and vibrant communities,” he said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs. “We are proud to join a coalition of community partners that recognize the true, deeper reasoning for why investments in multi-sport facilities are so vital – to expose new possibilities, teach life skills, improve physical and cognitive abilities, and increase social connectivity among all local children.”
“We are proud to partner with the NHL, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Herb Brooks Foundation and local law enforcement to provide all the youth and high school hockey players that use Northeast Ice Arena a state-of-the-art training facility. and mentoring room,” said Minnesota Wild President Matt Majka. “We couldn’t be happier with the results and truly appreciate all the support we received from our community partners in making this a reality.”
The Northeast Ice Arena facility, located within two miles of downtown Minneapolis, is owned and operated by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and serves as home ice for the Herb Brooks Foundation’s ‘Learn to Play’ and ‘Learn to Skate’ free Rink Rats hockey. programs, Minneapolis Boys and Girls JV and Varsity High School teams, the Minneapolis Storm and Minneapolis Titans Youth Hockey Associations, City of Lakes Youth Hockey Association, and other local community hockey programs.
“These state-of-the-art facilities are significant investments in the youth of Minneapolis and will help us provide safe, attractive and productive opportunities for children and teens for years to come,” said Al BangouraSuperintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
“We’re incredibly grateful for generous supporters like the NHL and Minnesota Wild, who share our commitment to investing in youth and building strong communities,” said Meg ForneyPresident of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
The Legacy initiative is an ongoing philanthropic endeavor through which the League and the local Club support community organizations in the host city of an NHL Event. Since 2003, the League, its Clubs and partners have donated more than $6 million to communities across North America. Legacy projects have aided thousands of hospital patients in recovery; helped at-risk youth and families gain better access to educational and vocational training; and provided greater access to people of all ages to learn and play hockey.
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