Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1547516
N O V / D E C 2 0 2 6 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 11 to play hockey. Now it's our job to maintain that high quality experience and keep kids wanting to come back." OMGHA had 1,155 registered players during the 2025-26 season and recently shared that it had eclipsed the 500 Mite play- er milestone. That kind of strength in num- bers will result in more than 12,000 DIBS hours being logged by volunteers over the course of the season. The association's efforts were recently recognized by the Minnesota Wild Foundation and its Skate it Forward program, which awarded OMGHA a grant to provide free full sets of hockey equipment and free registration for all new first-year Mite players for the 2026-27 season. ON-ICE SUCCESS OMGHA offers Try Hockey for Free events each month, fall camps for specific skills such as edge work, body contact and check- ing, goalie-dedicated programs and more, and then during the season special Skills Nights, which include off-ice training, work- ing on agility, strength and conditioning, followed by on-ice sessions often with some of the local high school players. Rogowski says there are skill development themes that rotate throughout the year. The results have been impressive. OMGHA has regularly qualified teams for Minnesota Hockey State Tournaments, including eight teams and three champions last season. While Osseo High School has its own proud hockey history, the Maple Grove Senior High boys' program has been consistently strong over the last decade, with five trips to the state tournament, including the title contest in 2022. Maple Grove's girls' program reached the cham- pionship game in 2016 and has returned to St. Paul four times since. This upcom- ing season, the girls have high expecta- tions, already with six players committed to Division 1 college programs. "Hockey is embraced so much in Maple Grove and the resources are second to none," said Crimson girls' head coach Jim Koltes. "The youth program and the high school program work hand in hand. And we have good coaches all the way through at every level. Our section is tough, but our goals every year are the section final and State Tournament. Job one is having the drive to get there. I believe our kids have it, especially the seniors." IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME With more than 60 teams in the program, ensuring adequate ice time is critical. Thankfully for OMGHA, players have access to skate on up to eight different ice sheets —three in Osseo, two in Brooklyn Park and now three at the 25-year-old Maple Grove Community Center, which is undergoing a massive remodel —funded by a local half- cent sales tax increase—to accommodate the growing demand. With this built-in infrastructure and wide- spread community support, plus leadership from Experience Maple Grove, the city was awarded the highly sought-after Hockey Day Minnesota event in 2028, which will be played at the city's Central Park. Hosting Hockey Day is no small task, but with the buzz in the hockey community already pal- pable more than a year out, Maple Grove is primed to put on a great show. " We couldn't be more excited," said Crimson boys' head coach Todd Berglund. "We played in the Hockey Day game in Shakopee and that experience for the kids was off the charts. To find out we're getting the event in Maple Grove, it's been a dream come true. It's a chance for every kid in the association to experience the joy of playing on that outdoor ice and will be a wonderful showcase for our city." "Hockey is embraced so much in Maple Grove and the resources are second to none. The youth program and the high school program work hand in hand."–Jim Koltes This fall, OMGHA hit the 500-Mite milestone! Hockey Day Minnesota is coming to Maple Grove in 2028!