Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/476413
BY AARON PAITICH I n the corner of Southwest Minnesota sits a small town with a population less than 5,000 people. The South Dakotan border runs 15 miles west, and about 10 miles south sits the Iowan state line. This is the City of Luverne, Minn. This is a budding hockey town. STARTING FROM SCRATCH Growing the game in Luverne has its chal- lenges. It's not just the kids that are newbies. It's the parents, too. The city's first youth hockey program formed in 1977. "Any of our kids playing hockey here — a very small percentage of their parents played varsity hockey in Luverne. That's still true today," said Pat Von Tersch, president of Luverne Hockey Club. "When you think about the challenge associated with getting folks excited about playing hockey, especially in the beginning, it's tough. Your parents didn't do it. Your uncles or aunts didn't play. That's a tough transition." But it's a transition they're gradually finding success in. Von Tersch gets it. He grew up in a small, hockey-less town in west-central Iowa before his career moved him up to Luverne. Once he arrived, he could feel the passion and energy from the parents and volunteers within the hockey association. "What got us excited about hockey when we moved to this community was just friends and referrals," said Von Tersch. "This is something that's good for our kids and something that is fun for families. The camaraderie and all of that is what got us excited and interested in it." RECRUITING THE RED Luverne is bolstering its recruiting efforts at the younger ages. This is the first year they've offered a Learn to Skate program. The Blue Mound Figure Skaters are providing the instruction and Luverne Hockey Club covers the costs of the program for all kids. TUCKED AWAY IN THE STATE'S SOUTHWEST CORNER, MEET MINNESOTA'S NEWEST HOCKEY TOWN THE LOVE OF LUVERNE 14 MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // MARCH.2015 PHOTOS: JIM ROSVOLD; LUVERNE PARENTS