Growing disabled hockey a family affair for Wild's Darby Hendrickson

Seven years ago, hockey across the United States, especially in Minnesota, was flourishing. At least, it was for some people.
Even with organizations like the
Minnesota Sled Hockey Association
and
Minnesota Special Hockey
already established, there wasn't always a high level of awareness regarding athletes who couldn't participate in standing or competitive hockey.

That's where Larry Hendrickson stepped in. Contacted by USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey to help grow the game and promote disabled hockey in all its forms, Hendrickson began the
Hendrickson Foundation
in 2011.
Its tagline: Hockey Changes Lives.
And nowhere is that mission more evident than in the staging of the Hendrickson Foundation National Hockey Festival, now in its second year.
The festival, which will take place Friday through Sunday at the National Sports Center in Blaine, has grown exponentially since its inaugural event last year. The unique tournament-style play allows players from three featured divisions -- sled hockey, special hockey and military veterans -- to not only compete and win but also gain confidence and build friendships throughout the myriad realms of Minnesota hockey.
"I just think it's a whole other lens of the game, and the game is fun and it's an opportunity for people who might not have thought they had it," said Darby Hendrickson, Minnesota Wild assistant coach and Larry Hendrickson's son. "It creates an atmosphere where people can get together and there's a cohesion and a camaraderie that we're all blessed to have in the game."
The Hendrickson Foundation and its banner event offer a clear representation of the tight-knit ties within the game. A family affair, the foundation is overseen by Larry while his children Danny and Christine are on the board; Darby and his other sister, Julie, remain actively involved, as well.
"He got real interested in the sled hockey, and obviously that's been in the Paralympics] and things like that and had some exposure," Darby said of his father. "He formed a board and they put it together, not only with the foundation to help sled hockey but also to be connected to the military, they have the Warriors program, and also special hockey.
"It was really his initiative … I've been fortunate to have a part, with our family. It brings people together in a positive light."
The viral hockey entertainers from "
[On the Bench
" are slated to appear in Blaine, along with Darby Hendrickson and three Wild players: Jason Zucker, Charlie Coyle and Chris Stewart. FOX Sports North on-air hosts will participate in a celebrity game; area police officers will play in a friendly game; there's even an opportunity for visitors to try sled hockey. With such a packed schedule, the festival expanded from one day to a three-day-long event in just one year.
Accordingly, a robust number of teams will compete. In partnership with
Minnesota Warriors
, six military veteran teams will play, including two segments each representing Minnesota and Duluth. Fourteen sled teams will compete, including seven youth teams and squads coming from as far as Edmonton and Winnipeg. Special hockey teams comprise the remainder of the 32 total teams, and will also take part in a jamboree.
The growth of the festival is on par with the larger trend of growth in disabled hockey.
The Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Hockey hosted the eighth annual
USA Hockey Sled Classic
in November 2017. In recent years, Minnesota Special Hockey has grown from two teams to catering to more than 225 athletes in 13 cities across the state. The Warriors have taken part in a variety of community events, including hosting a booth at the Minnesota State Fair in 2017 to increase awareness.
Darby Hendrickson said it's because of the dedication of everyone involved -- from the athletes and their friends and family, to the supportive hockey community around them, to volunteers and directors who work to maintain this level of participation and promotion.
"It's a group of people who not just have an event, but do it right," Hendrickson said. "It's not a fundraiser … it's a tournament for a lot of smiles, a big event for people to come away with just feeling good about being in the game."
There's something extra sweet about this year's festival for Hendrickson, too. With its February dates, the festival falls squarely within Hockey Is For Everyone month, an NHL initiative that strives to promote inclusivity and awareness for any and all hockey players.
The Hendrickson Foundation and its three divisions were all honored by the Wild this year. For Hendrickson, it was a proud moment as his family's hard work with the foundation and his own hard work behind the Wild bench blended together.
"It opens a bigger picture, not just of pro hockey teams but of the broader spectrum of people who want to play, and I think that's what's great about being around it," Hendrickson said. "You see so many people excited to go to the rink and want to be there."
Related:
- Hockey Is For Everyone: Hendrickson Foundation - Record 28 teams take part in sled classic