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Hockey is hard enough.

Getting on the ice should be easy.

Inspired by the pay it forward movement, Skate It Forward is a philanthropic initiative of the Minnesota Wild Foundation dedicated to preserving, strengthening, and celebrating community hockey in Minnesota.

Community hockey is the combination of local non-profit community hockey associations, vibrant statewide high school hockey, and municipally operated ice arenas that make hockey much more accessible and affordable in Minnesota compared to anywhere else in the nation.Skate It Forward will reinvest proceeds back into community hockey in Minnesota with the primary objective of encouraging even more kids in Minnesota to play hockey.

Recent News

Preserving, Strengthening, and Celebrating Community Hockey Home Ice Advantage: Increasing Access & Affordability in Minnesota

Minnesota Wild Foundation Hockey Grant Application

The Minnesota Wild Foundation is proud to announce the opening of 2025–2026 Minnesota Wild Foundation Hockey Grant applications supporting programs that Skate It Forward by growing the game and expanding access and opportunities across the State of Hockey.

The Minnesota Wild Foundation believes that Hockey Is For Everyone - no matter what your background, zip code, or financial circumstances. In support of the Minnesota Wild's new Skate It Forward endeavor, these grants are designed to break down barriers and create opportunities to discover, play, and fall in love with hockey.

Application grants are closed for the 2025-26 season, please check back in the fall for information on 2026-27 grants.

One Winona: The Making of a Hockey Town

In the southeastern corner of the State of Hockey sits a small town with big hockey dreams. Winona, Minnesota, was one of eleven cities selected to receive pilot Skate It Forward grants from the Minnesota Wild Foundation this year to increase hockey participation in their communities. ONE WINONA: The Making of a Hockey Town is a one-time special, produced by the Minnesota Wild in association with TRIA Orthopedics, that provides an intimate portrait of what it takes to become a hockey town, and more importantly, why you’d want to be one in the first place.

ONE WINONA: The Making of a Hockey Town is both a hockey story and a people story, introducing viewers to the passionate group determined to make Winona a hockey town by doing things in a different way. In Winona, they’re not just trying to make hockey players, they’re trying to make an entire community fall in love with hockey.

ONE WINONA: The Making of a Hockey Town will premiere on FanDuel Sports Network following the 8 p.m. CT broadcast of the Minnesota Wild vs. Florida Panthers game on Hockey Day Minnesota this Saturday, January 24. The special will also be available at 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, January 25, on the State of Hockey YouTube channel.

Watch One Winona

Minnesota Community Hockey News

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Community Hockey Builders of the Game

The Minnesota Wild's "Community Hockey Builders of the Game" program presented by Andersen Windows, recognizes dedicated advocates for growing community hockey at the grassroots level within a Skate It Forward Pilot Association. These individuals embody the spirit of the State of Hockey through tireless efforts to make the sport more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all. Through leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment, they help build stronger communities and inspire the next generation of players and fans.

Selected candidates will receive four game tickets, Wild merchandise, in-arena recognition and be featured on the Wild Gives Back social channels.

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