Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1457826
MAKING STRIDES DinoMights primarily serves diverse schools located in lower-income neighborhoods in Minneapolis, and also in St. Paul since its expansion in 2017. Year-round programming is the core of its existence, but each spring, it also hosts its free, six-week Greg Carroll Learn 2 Skate Program. First-graders from those schools have the opportunity to take part in the program, and it's often the first time they've ever stepped on the ice. "I think one of the major questions when it comes to diversity in hockey in Minnesota is just, where's the welcome?" Harman said. "There are barriers that exist. But with the Greg Carroll Learn 2 Skate Program, it's a great way to go directly to the kids and say, 'you're welcome here.'" That initial welcome opens the door for them to participate and register in DinoMights' year- round programming. Though COVID-19 has affected DinoMights' ability to host its season- al Greg Carroll Learn 2 Skate Program over the past few years, that's not stopping it from finding creative ways to reach kids. In the 2021-22 season, there are more than 500 kids involved with DinoMights. Earlier this year, DinoMights partnered with the Herb Brooks Foundation to form the Friday Night Lights Girls' House League. Each Friday, DinoMights girls' players gath- er at the Billy Lindsay Outdoor Hockey Rink to play games against each other, and even meet local Minnesota Whitecaps players. DinoMights skaters also spent time in the spotlight before the 2022 Winter Classic game at Target Field, where they had the chance to skate on the auxiliary rinks before the Wild vs. Blues game. "On that day, we were at the heart of the hockey universe." Harman said. "It was such a unique experience." SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS While DinoMights is known for its hockey programs, it also places a large emphasis on setting kids up for academic excellence. "We tutor our kids all the way through high school graduation," Harman said. "For elementary tutoring, we're really focused on reading skills. Middle school is really about developing study skills, and then high school is really about creating an atmo- sphere of achievement and having a vision for your future." Harman has been involved in DinoMights since 2000, and has served as its Executive Director since 2007. He's thrilled when stu- dents discover a passion for hockey, but he knows it's important to think beyond just making a varsity team. "It's fun to compete for that and work for that, but that's just not everyone's goal," Harman said. At the same time, the program aims to ensure everyone has opportunities for social, spiritual and academic excellence. "Every single kid is going to be a student," Harman said. "Every single kid is going to be a family member and a community member. They all need to be good at those things, and those are all skills that can be built on your hockey team—whether that's the team that goes to a State Tournament, or the team that plays in a house rec setting." EMBRACING INCLUSION Harman hopes DinoMights' values and mis- sion will help inspire other associations. "There's a real uniqueness to what we do," Harman said. "What I hope is that the principles of what make DinoMights special could actually make a huge impact on some of the places in Minnesota where we're los- ing hockey." To Harman, that also means tirelessly making sure everyone has the chance to play. "Even when you have a big association, I think it's really important to be examining and saying, 'OK, we've got 1,000 kids. That's a lot. But is anyone being left out?'" Harman said. That principle of acceptance has guided DinoMights from the start. Harman still remembers the very first DinoMights game he coached. After the game, the kids invited him to tag along to the park down the street—a simple gesture still ingrained in his mind. "At that moment, I just felt so welcomed," Harman said. "That was the day I really felt like a DinoMight—all because they invited me to the park to play with them. I think that's the heart of hockey in Minnesota. That's what it's all about." M A R C H 2 0 2 2 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 19 DinoMights isn't just about hockey. Staff members tutor kids all the way from elementary to high school graduation, setting them up for success into adulthood.