The Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy are teaming up to make a big impact on hockey in Minnesota through the Community Power Play Grant Program.
We’re awarding three one-time grants of $10,000 each during the 2025–26 NHL season to support organizations that grow the game and strengthen our hockey communities.
During the Overtime Period, the Period 1, 2 and 3 grant recipients will be put to a fan vote for the chance to be awarded an additional one-time grant of $20,000. Read about the grant recipients and vote for your favorite below!
Period 1 Grant Winner: Richfield Little Spartans
About
We are leading a grass roots effort to bring hockey back to Richfield! The Little Spartans Program is a low-cost, community-centered youth hockey initiative designed to introduce children in Richfield to the sport of hockey. Our mission is to remove financial and accessibility barriers so that all kids, regardless of background, can experience the joy, discipline, and teamwork that hockey provides.
How are you using your Period 1 grant?
The program provides free hockey equipment to families, but securing quality gear has been a challenge. Previously, equipment was often low-quality—expired helmets or sticks found at rinks. Ice time is costly, and without support, providing full equipment was difficult.
Thanks to funding, the program was able to support 105 kids this year, more than ever before. The grant also allowed the purchase of hockey bags, replacing the previous use of garbage or paper bags for carrying equipment. Now, every child receives a bag along with their gear, making participation easier and more organized.
How will you use the funds if you win the Overtime Grant?
The program would use funding to directly expand access by purchasing additional ice time, potentially adding a third hour. This would allow more than the current cap of 105 participants, as about 50–55 kids per sheet is optimal for meaningful practice.
Funding would also be used to replace outdated or missing equipment, such as expired helmets, worn gloves, and missing elbow pads, ensuring all participants have safe, functional gear. Additionally, funds would support scholarships for families who need financial assistance, allowing the program to remain low-cost and inclusive. Overall, the resources would help the program grow, improve safety, and increase participation for students across the district.
Period 2 Grant Winner: Thief River Falls Amateur Hockey Association
About
We are a youth hockey association that provide players between the ages of 3 and 15 equipment, ice time to practice and play sanctioned games under Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey.
How are you using your Period 2 grant?
This program will be used to reduce the cost of ice time for all of our members as well as keeping the costs low for our players that are starting out. Two of the arenas in our town have raised ice fees extremely high for our program to operate at the budget that we have been running on for quite a few years. We have found that parents do not put their children in hockey because of the financial burden this sport can take on their families. Allowing us to reduce ice time will allow us to keep the registration fees lower even with the rising cost of ice rentals. It will also allow us to free up money within our budget to help replace players equipment, allowing them to be safer on the ice, as well as offer other services that we were not able to do due to the lack of funding.
How will you use the funds if you win the Overtime Grant?
The program would use funding to directly expand access by purchasing additional ice time, potentially adding a third hour. This would allow more than the current cap of 105 participants, as about 50–55 kids per sheet is optimal for meaningful practice.
Funding would also be used to replace outdated or missing equipment, such as expired helmets, worn gloves, and missing elbow pads, ensuring all participants have safe, functional gear. Additionally, funds would support scholarships for families who need financial assistance, allowing the program to remain low-cost and inclusive. Overall, the resources would help the program grow, improve safety, and increase participation for students across the district.
Period 3 Grant Winner: Saint Paul Hockey Booster Club
About
The St Paul Hockey Boosters are a volunteer community organization created to support public high school hockey in St. Paul, Minnesota. We are made up of parents, students, and local community members who are dedicated to the growth and continuity of the St Paul Hockey program.
How are you using Period 3 Grant?
This project aims to create a permanent home for St. Paul Public Schools’ district-wide boys high school hockey program by adding a JV locker and storage space at Charles M. Schulz Arena.
Currently, JV players must use shared locker rooms and transport their equipment daily. The addition would provide a dedicated space for changing and storing gear throughout the season.
The initiative is driven by two key factors:
- Safety: Many JV players are underclassmen who cannot drive, and transportation options are limited without a bus system.
- Access: Not all families can reliably transport players to and from the arena each day. On-site equipment storage would reduce this barrier and allow more students across the district to participate.
Overall, the project supports a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable hockey program for SPPS students.
How will you use the funds if you win the Overtime Grant?
Funds will be used to continue advancing this effort while also supporting the ongoing maintenance and sustainability of Charles M. Schulz Arena—the shared home where all SPPS high school teams now practice and compete. Together, these investments will strengthen a more inclusive, accessible, and enduring hockey program for years to come.
How It Works
Each grant focuses on a different area of need:
Period 1 Grant
- Financial assistance to cover fees and equipment expenses related to participation in youth and amateur hockey.
Period 2 Grant
- Financial assistance to cover ice time expenses with the expressed purpose of making hockey more accessible for associations to support new or existing programming.
Period 3 Grant
- Investments and upgrades for local municipally owned rinks and facilities, including but not limited to ice-resurfacing machines, locker room improvements, and capital campaign initiatives.
Important Dates
Period 1 Applications:
- September 1 – October 15, 2025 | Winner Announced October 20
Period 2 Applications:
- November 1 – December 15, 2025 | Winner Announced December 30
Period 3 Applications:
- January 1 – February 15, 2026 | Winner Announced February 27, 2026
Funds will be distributed within 60 days of winner announcements, and all grants will be awarded by April 30, 2026.
Why Apply?
This is your chance to bring real change to your community — whether it’s helping kids lace up skates for the first time, giving teams more time on the ice, or upgrading rinks that bring people together.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include Minnesota-based:
- Youth and amateur hockey associations
- High school hockey programs
- Municipally owned rinks and facilities
Note: Applicants must be nonprofit organizations.
What We’re Looking For
Our review team will consider:
- How well the proposal aligns with grant goals
- The impact on the growth of hockey
- The number of people who will benefit
- Whether the project will happen without this funding
What’s Not Eligible
Funding cannot be used for:
- Individual benefits (such as salaries)
- Fundraisers or sponsorships (golf tournaments, galas, walks/runs, etc.)
- Programs outside Minnesota
- Religious or political organizations
- Requests made on behalf of another organization