Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/751248
...the more numbers we have on our girls' side, the more that experience for them can mirror the exact same experience the boys are getting." Moorhead focuses on growth at the grassroots level for boys and girls. DECEMBER.2016 // MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM 07 played in a Spud sweater. Some MYHA players today are second and third generation Spuds. Alumni return home to give their kids the same experience they had, helping strengthen the community and the program. A STRONG CULTURE With the strong community and its legacy alive and well, Moorhead has a strong on-ice culture that it hopes to continue to instill in the generations to come. "We want effort, we want our kids to be learning," Gramer said. "We want them to be able to feel free to create, make mistakes and develop as hockey players and people. And also have that translate throughout our entire organization." Their passion and pride goes hand in hand with their efforts to grow the game. As is consistent throughout youth hockey in Minnesota, Gramer said they aim to expose the game to as many kids as possible. In order to facilitate that goal, they also want to reduce the strain both financially and time-wise on families. The associa- tion is continually working to mature their finances in order to keep registration fees reasonable, create scholarships or offer reduced fees for families and subsidize the cost of equipment as needed, providing equipment for Mites through 8U. They've also focused on growing the girls' game. Two years ago, they had 101 girls. Last year that went up to 111, and this year they have 132 girls on the ice. The growth follows some specific initiatives they've put in place. "How that ties into our whole culture is, if we can continue to get those numbers up, we can continue to provide opportunities to whoever wants to play," Gramer said. "But specifically, the more numbers we have on our girls' side, the more that experience for them can mirror the exact same experience the boys are getting." "If someone wants to play hockey, they should be able to play." We're all Spuds and we're in this together."