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momentum and inertia got going," Hanson said. "Paul Larson was the president for Washburn and Steve Jecha was the presi- dent for Southwest. These were two guys that were very passionate about growing the team. Since then, they've built and main- tained a very strong board that's willing to go out and get things done." BANDING TOGETHER Minneapolis Hockey prides itself in creating fun, unique experiences for players, including a cultural exchange program with Sweden that exposes players to the game of bandy. Bandy—which is often described as field hockey on skates—is played on a sheet of ice the size of a soccer field. Each team is made up of 11 players. Those players aim to score by hitting a ball the size of a tennis ball into the other team's net with a curved stick. "Steve Jecha played bandy, and he struck up a cultural exchange program that's been going on now for about 20 years," Hanson said. "We have the Swedish American Bandy Camp. They bring in Swedish bandy coaches every summer and expose kids to the game of bandy and to the culture of Sweden." Every other year, a group of players travels to Vasteras, Sweden to play bandy. "They also practice some hockey with the local clubs over there in Vasteras and have a lot of cultural enrichment programs," Hanson said. "They do a home stay with Swedish players and go to school for a morn- ing in Sweden. They really get to experience what it's like in Sweden." The program has fostered strong friendships and relationships on and off the ice. Many players even opt to play recreational bandy on Sunday nights at the Guidant John Rose MN OVAL in Roseville, which is the only refriger- ated bandy rink in the country. "It's just a way to get them on the ice—get them more ice touches and get them skat- ing," Hanson said. CREATING LASTING EXPERIENCES Set in the heart of a diverse socioeconomic area, Minneapolis Hockey is committed to making sure all kids get an opportunity to play. Thanks to scholarship funds, the association has been able to grow the game and provide players with an outlet they can enjoy for life. "What really makes it fun for the kids—and this goes back to our mission statement or value statement—is creating lasting experi- ences through teamwork, respect and fun," Hanson said. Whether that's making new friends in Sweden or looking forward to practice after school, those experiences have helped the association continue to attract new skat- ers and transform itself into a competitive youth program. When Hockey Day Minnesota 2020 came to Minneapolis, spectators basked in the his- toric hockey culture and bright future of the city. Thanks to the volunteers and their grassroots efforts, that century-old culture is as strong as ever. "Everybody wants to win, but we're not always just about winning games," Hanson said. "We want to teach the game of hockey, make sure the kids have fun while learning it and respect the game. But ultimately, it's about helping create young, respectful and productive kids in society." N O V. / D E C . 2 0 2 0 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 13 "Everybody wants to win, but we're not always just about winning games. We want to teach the game of hockey, make sure the kids have fun while learning it and respect the game. But ultimately, it's about helping create young, respectful and productive kids in society." Dating back to 2008, Minneapolis youth hockey numbers have surged from 300 to 747. –Tim Hanson President of Minneapolis Hockey