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14 MHJ // 2019-2020 MINNESOTA HOCKEY SEASON PRIMER Welcome to the 2019-2020 Minnesota Hockey season! This season, as always, promises to be another exciting year. As the new president of Minnesota Hockey, I look forward to building on the great momentum of my predecessor Dave Margenau who has led this organization for the past nine seasons. A huge THANK YOU is owed to Dave for his leadership! Because of the efforts of passionate volunteers from the grassroots of local associations to the Minnesota Hockey Board of Directors, Minnesota Hockey continues to be one of the most respected hockey organizations in the country. Our unique community-based hockey model continues to provide opportunities for participants to experience the game, from four years old to adulthood, regard- less of skill or limitation. We are truly blessed to live and play here, but we must continuously challenge ourselves to pur- sue opportunities to become even better. Minnesota continues to lead the nation in players at all age levels, includ- ing those at the NHL and college hockey. Perhaps even more exciting, the commit- ment of association volunteers through- out the state to recruit and retain new families in their communities continues to fuel the growth of our beloved sport. This past season, Minnesota Hockey registered over 18,700 players at the Mite/8U level, which leads the nation and is an increase of 2,000 players over the past five years. This season USA Hockey has devel- oped the Declaration of Safety, Fair Play, & Respect initiative, and I am confident Minnesota Hockey will be a leader in the implementation of the effort to keep the game safe and enjoyable for all partici- pants. This initiative is a significant under- taking to modernize the culture of our game, and it will take the support of all, from the players, coaches, officials, admin- istrators and parents/fans, for this effort to have the maximum impact. Join me in embracing the direction of this initiative by viewing USA Hockey's new standards of acceptable body contact and checking at: minnesotahockey.org/safety. As with each year, Minnesota Hockey provides opportunities for players to not only develop their skills in the game, but to also showcase what they can do. We are proud of our CCM High Performance Spring programs, Summer camps and Fall Tier I Leagues. This past season the MN Hockey Board of Directors agreed to create the Fall Prospects Leagues to cre- ate new and expanded opportunities for even more players to develop and show- case their skills. Currently, Minnesota Hockey is in the process of developing more exciting events for players of all abilities to build on the success of our Ice Bowl Squirt C Tournament. Stay tuned for more news on these! I would also like to highlight the great efforts of volunteers who have made Minnesota Hockey a leader in Disabled hockey in the nation. We have thriv- ing Sled Hockey, Warriors Hockey and Special Hockey programs providing opportunities for many who otherwise would not be able to experience this great game. Over the past year, Minnesota Hockey, along with our great partners in the Minnesota Wild and UBS Financial, launched the Blind Hockey program and hosted the USA Hockey Blind Hockey Summit in St. Paul. It was another great opportunity to ensure hockey is truly for everyone in Minnesota! I look forward to another great sea- son in 2019-2020 and thank all the vol- unteers, staff, partners of Minnesota Hockey and members who continue to make it the premier and respected hock- ey program it is. Have a GREAT and EXCITING 2019-2020 SEASON! Steven Oleheiser President, Minnnesota Hockey Steven Oleheiser` Word of mouth & social media are the top two ways new families hear about hockey. Invite a friend to Try Hockey For Free! PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE