Minnesota Wild Time Line page25

[November 20, 1998] -- The National Hockey League's (NHL) Minnesota Wild, in cooperation with the Minnesota Ice Arena Manager's Association (MIAMA) announced today the launch of the initial phase of a grass roots hockey program to promote the overall growth of amateur hockey throughout the Upper Midwest. The "Wild About Youth" program will be launched with life-size displays offering various Minnesota Wild products placed in over fifty arenas throughout the state of Minnesota. A portion of the profits from these products will benefit local arenas and youth hockey associations.

Featured on the life-size displays are Olympic Gold Medalists Alana Blahoski, Neal Broten and Karyn Bye who will assist in the development of the grass roots hockey program by building awareness and excitement in the game of hockey among Minnesota's youth. Blahoski, Broten and Bye were hired by the Minnesota Wild on September, 24th as grass roots hockey advisors.

"The 'Wild About Youth' program is our way of giving back directly to the hockey community and to the kids of Minnesota who are the future of the sport and deserve our support," said Minnesota Wild CEO Jac Sperling. "As the program develops, the Minnesota Wild's grass roots partnership with the local arenas will build upon Minnesota's rich hockey tradition."

Added Mark Vaughan, MIAMA President, "We are excited about this unique partnership with the Minnesota Wild, which will help promote the sport of hockey on a grass roots level across Minnesota."

The primary goals of the Minnesota Wild's "Wild About Youth" fan development program are to increase overall interest and participation in the sport of hockey, generate additional use and attendence at community arenas, generate new revenues for the participating arenas and local youth hockey associations and create a grass roots connection between the Minnesota Wild and the state's amatuer hockey participants and supporters. The overall goal is to create a community relations program that will provide boys and girls at all levels the opportunity to learn, participate in and enjoy the sport of hockey.

In the future, the Minnesota Wild will be developing several other initiatives for their fan development program.

For additional information regarding grass roots hockey programs, please contact the Minnesota Wild's Matt Majka at (651) 602-6007.