To be eligible for Little Wild 2021, children must be born between April 1, 2012 and April 1, 2016.
*Please note, 5 year olds must have had their 5th birthday by April 1, 2021 to be eligible to participate.
The Minnesota Wild, in partnership with Hy-Vee, Minnesota Hockey, CCM, Pure Hockey, NHL, and NHLPA, are pleased to announce the return of the Little Wild Learn to Play program for its seventh season. The 2021 Little Wild Learn to Play program will be available for 40 kids at 15 locations across the State of Hockey but that number is subject to change based on guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health.
The Little Wild program is intended for first-time boys and girls hockey players ages 5-9. Eligible participants must be between the ages of 5-9 as of April 1, 2021. The program is intended for children who have not participated in organized youth hockey programs before or their first season participating was the 2020-2021 season. Children who have previously participated in Little Wild are not eligible to participate in the 2021 Little Wild program. Those in violation of this rule will not be allowed to participate and their registration fee will not be refunded.
All participants will receive four one-hour on-ice sessions led by the Minnesota Hockey ADM team and a full set of CCM hockey equipment. Kids who do not have skating experience are strongly encouraged to take skating lessons prior to their first Little Wild on-ice session. Keith Ballard will continue as the NHL Alumni Learn to Play Local Manager.
| LOCATION | RINK | DAY | DATES | TIME | REGISTRATION |
| Bloomington | Bloomington Ice Garden | Mon | 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26 | 7:00-8:00 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Brooklyn Park | Brooklyn Park Ice Arena | Tue | 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27 | 7:15-8:15 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Coon Rapids | Coon Rapids Ice Center | Tue | 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27 | 5:40-6:40 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Dodge County | Four Seasons Arena | Thu | 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29 | 5:45-6:45 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Duluth | Heritage Sports Center | Sun | 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2 | 5:15-6:15 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Eden Prairie | Eden Prairie Community Center | Tue | 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27 | 6:00-7:00 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Hastings | Hastings Civic Arena | Mon | 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26 | 6:00-7:00 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Minneapolis | Parade Ice Garden | Thu | 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29 | 6:30-7:30 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Moorhead | Cullen Hockey Center | Sun | 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2 | 3:00-4:00 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Plymouth | Plymouth Ice Center | Wed | 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28 | 6:00-7:00 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Rogers | Rogers Activity Center | Tue | 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27 | 5:30-6:30 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Rosemount | Rosemount Ice Arena | Tue | 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27 | 6:15-7:15 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Shakopee | Shakopee Ice Arena | Wed | 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28 | 5:15-6:15 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| St. Paul | TRIA Rink | Sun | 4/11, 4/25*, 5/2, 5/9 | 3:30-4:30 PM | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
| Woodbury | HealthEast Sports Center | Wed | 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28 | 5:20-6:20 pm | February 1, 2021 at 10 am |
ALL DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
All equipment fittings will be online for the April 2021 Little Wild program. Once registered, participants will receive the equipment fitting and ordering link via email. The equipment will be sent directly to the Little Wild participant.
To be eligible for Little Wild 2021, children must be born between April 1, 2012 and April 1, 2016.
*Please note, 5 year olds must have had their 5th birthday by April 1, 2021 to be eligible to participate.
The program is intended for children who have not participated in organized youth hockey programs before or their first season participating was the 2020-2021 season. Children who have previously participated in Little Wild are not eligible to participate in the 2021 Little Wild program. The Minnesota Wild and Little Wild Learn to Play reserve the right to cross-reference all participants and remove children who are ineligible without refund.
*If your child participated in a Learn to Skate program, he/she is eligible for Little Wild.
Registration opens at 10:00 am (CST) on Monday, February 1 at wild.com/littlewild.
Yes. We highly recommend skating lessons before the start of the Little Wild Program. Little Wild participants should be able to skate the width of the ice without assistance before their first Little Wild clinic. For further information on skating lessons, please check out your local community education or rinks for classes.
The total cost of the Little Wild Learn to Play Program is $135.00 (+$5 registration fee). This fee covers a full set of custom-fit CCM equipment from Pure Hockey, a Little Wild jersey, and four, one-hour skating sessions at your appointed location. Participants keep all equipment at the completion of the program.
When you register for the Little Wild Learn to Play Program, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to order equipment. The equipment will be sent directly to the Little Wild participant.
Yes. As long as you cancel before you order equipment, you will receive a full refund. Please contact us regarding your refund at 651-312-3443 or email littlewild@wild.com.
All coaches are USA Hockey certified ADM (American Development Model) coaches. Many are current Minnesota High School hockey coaches.
Welcome to the Little Wild team! You will receive an email from our program directing you to the next steps, including when and how to get fitted online for your full CCM equipment.
Each site has a maximum of 40 participants but there is a waiting list.. Should a cancellation arise, we will update the website to reflect an opening in the session. Payment will be due upon acceptance.
We hope your child thoroughly enjoyed their experience with Little Wild and ask all graduates of the program to register with USA Hockey for the 2021-2022 season (free for kids 4-6, ages 7+ will pay a $50 annual membership fee) and their local association for organized hockey. If your child is not ready for a full season, we suggest further skating lessons to continue developing your skater's ability and confidence on the ice.