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Born and sustained thanks to significant efforts by youth hockey parents, Minnesota Hockey and the local corporate community, the Titans offer a fun, competitive, inclusive and affordable program for city kids interested in playing. Co-ed programs are available for kids ages 4–13 and girls-only pro- grams (such as the co-op MSP Starwhals Hockey Club) for kids ages 8–15. As with most youth sports associations, the lifeblood that keeps everything going—such as spreading the word through community outreach, handing out fliers at area schools, helping with game and event operations—are the parent volunteers. " We work hard to make hockey affordable and get as many kids on the ice as we can," said Titans President Cory Larson. " We offer registration fee subsidizing, scholarships and pro- vide equipment for any skater that requests it. We don't want to turn anyone away for financial reasons. With that comes the challenge of raising funds and filling volunteer hours. Fortunately, we've had some consistent supporters, including some neighborhood programs, Minnesota Hockey and the Herb Brooks Foundation that have helped us over the years. But much is on the backs of the parents and small businesses in the neighborhood. With help from a variety of people and places, we've managed to keep it going, and growing." GROWING THE GAME With 90 players in the association, an increase from the 78 in 21-22 that were registered last season, Larson acknowledges that winning isn't a top priority. "The results of the games don't mean that much honestly," he said. " We want to be competitive, but we're more interested in the kids having a good experience, learning how to be a team- mate, enjoying themselves and growing as a person by playing the game of hockey. There's a stigma that the game is too expen- sive or dangerous. My goal is to eliminate that stigma." For a program like the Titans, increasing fundraising activi- ties, creating positive word of mouth and offering a variety of opportunities to attract players is critical. "Last year our Learn to Skate program was a six-week event, and this year we've expanded it so now it's a year-long pro- gram," Larson said. "Right now, we have 41 kids registered, skating once a week. So, it's been a really successful program and an opportunity for parents to get their kids skating with- out committing to hockey full-time. Some have converted to signing up which is great." PLAYER DEVELOPMENT In addition to utilizing the American Development Model in training, the Titans have also employed some creative initia- tives to encourage players, from 6U to 12U, to practice on their own to improve their skills and have fun. The 1,000 Shot Challenge is one of those initiatives. Registered players must practice shooting on their own—in their garage, basement, backyard or other location away from the rink—and track the number of shots they 've taken. Players who complete 1,000 shots during the designated time period will receive a "1,000 Shot Club" patch. There's also the Titan's Rink Rats program, another initia- tive that encourages skating and player development outside of the association's formal practice or game schedule. The program recognizes Titans players who log hours skating solo or with family or friends at their neighborhood park, backyard rink or indoor open skating event. "It's a great way for players to improve their skills without it costing any additional dollars," said Larson. " We encourage them to do that and recognize them with an award at the end of the season. Some kids just love it. They 're logging their time and very motivated. Some of the kids do it just to be out there with their friends and that's perfect. That's what the game is all about." 17 M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M