NICKNAME: Lumberjacks
DISTRICT: 16
HOME ICE:
Bemidji Community Arena
2014-15 REGISTRATION
NUMBERS: 305 (77% growth
from 2013-14)
PRESIDENT: Corey Rupp
06
STATE OF HOCKEY SPOTLIGHT
WHY THEY'RE AWESOME
Bemidji is a hockey town. From the old timers right on
down to the mites, hockey is in their blood. As a result, the
association, the high school and the city work together
to support four ice sheets in a town with a population of
14,000 people
THE BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY
INFLUENCE
Not all hockey towns can claim a strong connection with
Division I hockey—something BYHA president Corey Rupp
describes as huge for the youth players.
"Just being able to have that level of hockey played in our
community, right here in Bemidji for all of our kids to be able to
watch and see, it's so cool," Rupp said. "You see the players in the
community—they're always around, out at the rink with our
youth teams."
GROWING THE GAME
Over the last several seasons, BYHA has taken advan-
tage of the many programs available to help share the
sport. Annually, they host Try Hockey For Free days
and run their own program that allows new skaters
to play their first season of hockey free of charge with
equipment included.
YOUTH HOCKEY
ASSOCIATION
MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // DECEMBER.2015
Bemidji