In its six-year history, the Strike It Wild Bowling Event has raised $166,000 for the Wild Foundation and local charities including the American Diabetes Association's Minneapolis-Saint Paul office, Children's Minnesota and DinoMights. This year's money raised supported Gillette Children's, as well as the relationships with Treasure Island Resort and Casino and the Prairie Island Indian Community have supported the Minnesota Wild Foundation through community giving since its inception in 2009.
Last season, Treasure Island Resort & Casino launched The Big Assist Program. For every assist by a Wild player, Treasure Island Resort & Casino donated $200 to the Wild Foundation to support diversity in hockey programming. The Prairie Island Indian Community donated $109,900 to the Minnesota Wild Foundation from The Big Assist Program. Through initiatives like The Big Assist Program, the Prairie Island Indian Community has donated more than $1.1 million to the Minnesota Wild Foundation. Through two regular season games, Treasure Island has already committed to donate $3,200 and the running total can be found here.
"We rely on fundraising events like this for our fundraising efforts," said Schuldt. "It's just a great day."
Here are a few of the sights and sounds from the 2022 Strike It Wild.
Owen's Hockey Family
Owen Nei might not play organized hockey anymore, but the 13-year-old continues to be a part of the Wild hockey family.
Nei was born with a thinner spinal column at the brain stem area. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and Goldenhar syndrome, resulting in more than a dozen surgeries. Because of the rare medical condition, the high-risk of injury playing hockey forced him to retire from a game he started playing at age five.
A friend of former Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk, and a longtime representative for Gillette Children's St. Paul and the Minnesota Wild's and Hiway Credit Union Hockey Kids4Kids program, Nei was joined by defenseman Andrej Sustr on his lane.
"My bowling game is terrible," said Nei with a smile. "I've got to think of a better attack."
Nei's family has been Wild season ticket holders since day one. His mom, Kim, said she can never find the words to explain her gratitude for the franchise and all it's done for her youngest son.
"They have offered us so much support," she said. "All that they do, it really makes Owen feel special. As a mom, that's everything."
Looking the Part
Each Wild player donned a red and black bowling shirt to get into the bowling vibe. While no one brought their own shoes, and everyone was using a house ball, there were plenty of players who looked every bit of a bowler.
"Jon Merrill might take this shirt and start wearing it out," forward Matt Boldy joked. "He's looking good in that shirt."
Coupled with a mullet and mustache, Merrill said he might look like a lane shark, but admitted he's a "very average" bowler. Who would his go-to teammate be for bowling?
"I'd want Alex Goligoski on my team," said Merrill. "Just an older guy because I feel like older people know how to bowl or something."
Kirill the Bowling Thrill
Paired in groups with neighboring lanes, Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello had a friendly competition brewing each time one would step up to the line.
Kaprizov bested his liney, bowling 206 in one game which included a turkey.
"I don't even know if they have bowling alleys over there," said captain Jared Spurgeon with a laugh.
"Of course he is doing well," said Merrill of Kaprizov. "Those two are always battling with eachother. It's fun."
For the Kids
The pregame autograph lines for each player at each of the 24 lanes was extensive. A number of toothless grins and signatures were present.
"It's a lot of fun to come out here and say 'hi' to the fans," said Marc-Andre Fleury, who it seemed had a sharpie glued to his hand most of the day. "It's a lot of fun."
From the kids at the bowling alley, to the ones who will benefit from the Foundation's fundraising, it was a special day for a whole lot of youngins.
"I think once you have kids yourself, you realize how important that is for communities and organizations to be supported," said Spurgeon. "Anyway that we can give back, we want to do that. We have a great group of guys that look forward to these things, so it was a great day."
