DECEMBER.2015 // MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM
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Last year the association launched the Little Lady Lumberjacks pro-
gram. The program saw 74 girls sign up between the ages of 4 and 10
who had not previously played hockey. Local volunteers from the high
school girls' team and the BSU women's team served as coaches. The
program was so successful it won a USA Hockey Grow-the-Game Award.
Their efforts don't end there. This season, the association partnered
with the Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Hockey and Total Hockey to host
a Little Wild Learn-to-Play program. Sixty new players from around the
community and neighboring towns signed up to participate, and half of
those have registered with BYHA for the 2015-16 season.
BYHA's programs get kids on the ice. And once they play, usually they
want to stay.
"It really makes it nice to encourage people to try it and play," Rupp
said. "It's such a great game, once you try it, you love it."
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Last season, the Bemidji High School boys' team returned to the state
tournament for the first time in 29 years. That success has generated
excitement throughout the community for the 2015-16 season at all
levels of play.
"It was pretty special," Rupp said. "It's cool because that group of
parents and kids has really done a lot for the program and are really
involved in the youth program.
"We're excited for the future of Bemidji hockey as a whole."
"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"
APRIL 37, 2016
PERFECT GIFT FOR THE HOCKEY ENTHUSIAST
#1 STEVE JANASZAK
#3 KEN MORROW
#5 MIKE RAMSEY
#8 DAVE SILK
#9 NEAL BROTEN
#10 MARK JOHNSON
#15 MARK WELLS
#21 MIKE ERUZIONE
#23 DAVE CHRISTIAN
#25 BUZZ SCHNEIDER
#28 JOHN HARRINGTON
1980 USA HOCKEY PLAYERS ATTENDING
(subject to change)