Since 1998, the Mighty Kids Inner-City Hockey Steering Committee and staff from the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Division, and Saint Paul Community Education have met with representatives from Saint Paul area youth hockey associations and the Minnesota Hockey Diversity Committee to develop a framework for a more comprehensive hockey program which addresses the barriers that have deterred inner-city youth from participating in the sport of hockey.
The Mighty Kids Steering Committee has had great success in getting our diverse community youth involved in the sport of hockey by providing ice time, equipment and instructors. The primary objective of this program is hockey/skating skill development, mentoring, building relationships within the community and developing self-esteem. The program accommodates more than 400 kids per year.
According to the committee, the NHLPA’s Goals and Dreams grant will provide 30 youth hockey players with equipment and the opportunity to stay involved in the sport as they move to the next level. We are extremely appreciative to have received the grant.
Chairman of the Goals and Dreams fund, Devin Smith, commented on the success of the program. “Over the last 10 years, NHL players have donated more than $17 million to fund and assist grassroots hockey programs around the world. We’ve sent equipment everywhere from
In 1999, the NHLPA launched the Goals and Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. The players’ program has donated full sets of hockey equipment to more than 13,000 economically challenged children in 22 countries and assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas world-wide. To date, Goals and Dreams has donated more than $17-million to grassroots hockey programs around the world making it the largest program of its kind.
For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com.
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