For the Minnesota Wild defenseman, that means committing to change at the grassroots level. The inaugural Matt Dumba Hockey Without Limits Camp on Saturday is another step toward that.
"[At the grassroots level] is where you can make the most change for the next generation of young hockey players and young leaders in our game," Dumba said. "I think having a camp like mine with as much inclusivity and diversity involved in it as there's going to be tomorrow, is something special; something hockey's really never seen before."
The Matt Dumba Hockey Without Limits Camp will take place from 8 a.m.-noon ET at the outdoor Guidant John Rose MN Oval in Roseville, Minnesota. Roughly 120 youth players, comprised of 40 each from The Herb Brooks Foundation, The Hendrickson Foundation and New Directions Youth Ministry, will take part in hour-long skill and development sessions led by coaches from Minnesota Hockey, the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in the state. The event is being held as part of Hockey Day Minnesota 2021.
Dumba said the idea for the youth camp came up last summer. He collaborated with the Wild community relations and partnerships departments, along with Minnesota Hockey, to help his vision come to fruition.
"I think it's just an awesome opportunity for the kids who don't necessarily get this opportunity to come to a hockey camp like this," said Dumba, who will be unable to attend the camp with the Wild hosting the Los Angeles Kings at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FS-N, FS-WI, FS-W, NHL.TV).
"It's awesome that these kids will be able to come out and show up. There's so many people who have popped up to help facilitate this in sponsors, really, I'm so thankful. At the end of the day, it will be super cool to see just the diversity amongst our group: White, Black, Hispanic kids, inner-city kids, it'll be super cool."
